Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Botticelli-Saville Comparitive Art Essay

The image of the nude is timeless, fundamental and universal. It has the ability to incite intense interest, yearning and even repulsion in the viewer. We often find that images of the nude reflect upon society’s attitudes towards beauty and gender issues. These issues are strongly highlighted in Jenny Saville’s nakedly confrontational ‘Propped’, which encompasses of a heavy-handed naked woman sitting on a stool. Her artwork forces the viewer to think of the female nude as not only an object, but also as a subject. Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ also addresses the issues of beauty and gender. In the artwork, Venus appears to be emerging from the sea, standing in a shell. Symbolising female desirability, the Early Renaissance painting is in accordance to the myth of her ‘birth’ as a fully grown woman. The shape and form in Propped is clearly drastically distorted. Saville has used foreshortening as a way to emphasise the weight and size of the figures body, most noticeably the small scale of the head, which looks incredibly small in contrast to the rest of the figure. Foreshortening and tone help to create a distinctive look of the figures legs and knees. There are various patches of light tones included across the chest area and knees, and the extreme distortion makes them look vast and almost bruised. There is limited colour used in the painting, mainly very natural pigments such as white, cream and light pink. Black has been used for the stool in the centre of the image, and coffee and olive colours can be seen in the background. There is also a text that can be seen scratched into the paint in mirror writing, running across and down the figures body which reads; ‘If we continue to speak in this sameness – speak as men have spoken for centuries, we will fail each other again’. Saville has painted the artwork to make a point; to make the viewer realise that fat is a feminist issue. The angle of view in the artwork is low, and the observer is made to look up at the figure. In Birth of Venus, Botticelli has used light, soothing colours throughout all aspects of the painting, including highlights added into Venus’ hair to possibly emphasise the femininity of her body. Distinctive linear style and brushstrokes have been used to ensure detail in the tones and textures of the painting. Botticelli was known for including the linear style into his artworks, a style that was revived in the late 19th century. The composition of the painting is impartially balanced. The artist has placed the figures in the artwork off to separate sides with Venus centred as the focal point. The weight and poses of the figures either side of Venus create symmetrical balance. The figure of Venus is slightly distorted. Botticelli has exaggerated the length of the neck and slope of the shoulders to enrich Venus’ natural elegance and grace. Flowing lines and decorative patterns can be seen throughout the artwork, most noticeably in the waves and leaves on the tree towards the right of the painting. Propped has the same effect as a striking photograph; that it is purposely intended to unsettle its viewer. It is a significant artwork in today’s society as it raises contemporary concerns about expectations of beauty in the female body. Unlike Birth of Venus, Propped presents us with the vibe that the observer is not necessarily male. Feminists have praised Saville for her work and her interpretation of the female nude, noting that she has reclaimed the image of women liberating it from the diminishing male gaze. Botticelli owes his inspiration for Birth of Venus to the classical ideals of ancient Greek art. At the time of its creation, almost all art was of a Christian theme. Nude women often symbolised sinful lust, however Venus remained to appear modest, attempting to hide her breasts with her hands and crotch area with her long, blonde, flowing hair. Venus strongly represented an Italian Renaissance ideal; blonde, pale-skinned voluptuous. Ideal female body figures continue to be a topic of discussion in our society today, as it was at the time Birth of Venus was produced. Both artists have used the female nude as a way to represent issues about expectations of beauty in the female body in different ways. Botticelli has depicted Venus, the pagan goddess of love, and the forerunner of spring. He has presented her as an ideal female figure for his time, consequently making her a symbol for female desirability. Jenny Saville, on the other hand, has dramatically cropped and foreshortened the female figure in her artwork in an attempt to emphasise the body’s physical bulk, creating a less than ideal female figure for contemporary society. Propped contains a strong cultural meaning, as do many of Saville’s works. Susie McKenzie speaks of her artworks in an interview with Saville in the Guardian on October 22nd 2005, stating that â€Å"Her exaggerated nudes point up, with an agonizing frankness, the disparity between the way women are perceived and the way that they feel about their bodies. † Saville has clearly represented the female nude in a way that may confront today’s society, daring her viewers to pass judgement on the figure in her artwork. Birth of Venus challenges the culture of Botticelli’s time, as it was a mythological painting, rather than relating to a religious theme as most art of that era did. Both artworks in question are figurative paintings of female nudes. Birth of Venus exists to represent the female nude as a symbol of desirability in women, as well as an icon of beauty and pleasure. Saville’s ‘Propped’ raises questions on the appearance and role of traditional paintings of the nude, such as Birth of Venus. Both artists gained inspiration from a variety of sources, all diverse from one another. Botticelli created Birth of Venus under the influences from classical ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as classical sculptures he would have seen belonging to the Medici family, a client of his own. Saville spent time quenching her fascination with the body, particularly female flesh, by spending many hours watching plastic surgeons manipulate flesh. Gender issues are a strong concept in both works. A male viewing Propped will generally react negatively to the female figure in contrast to the way they might perceive Birth of Venus. Because Birth of Venus is such a strong symbol of female desirability, a male viewer will usually prefer looking at Venus rather than the heavy-handed nude figure in Propped. Women will more commonly be able to relate to the figure in Propped than Birth of Venus as it centres on issues of expectations of beauty and the way a female may feel about her body, whereas some women could be intimidated by the ambiance of Venus. Both Propped and Birth of Venus are of immense scale. Birth of Venus was painted to fit an architectural setting. At the time of its production, Botticelli intended for the observers of his artwork to view the subject matter, Venus, as an earthly goddess who stimulated humans to physical love, or as a heavenly goddess who enthused intellectual love in them. The interpretation of today’s society will differ, due to the lack of knowledge of mythological and ancient Greek themes. It has been suggested that viewers of our time will look at the painting and feel their minds simply lifted to the realm of divine love. Saville’s work has been made to be presented in galleries and exhibitions. The scale of her work (213. x 183cm) is used to overwhelm the viewer, and demands an uncomfortable degree of intimacy between the gaze of the nude figure and the observer. Her purpose of creating the artwork was to raise questions about the expectations of beauty in today’s society. We are under the impression that the viewer of this type of artwork is generally female, and Saville wants her female observers to pass judgement of the figures enormous shape and size. Propped challenges the ideal view of women, as it depicts a hefty female nude figure rather than a slim one, which is usually preferred in current society. Birth of Venus, however, provokes themes of beauty and lust, ideal to men and perhaps most other viewers. It is important to keep in mind that both artworks have been painted by different genders. Saville raises concerns about the representation of the female nude, which could be connected to the fact that she relates to the figure as a woman, and possibly faces the pressures of the anticipation and desire for beauty in her own life. Botticelli represents both beauty and pleasure in the symbolical Birth of Venus. It is an important painting not only for the Renaissance, but for our society also. This may be because Venus characterized the idealistic figure of a woman, an issue that is consistently apparent in everyday life for not only women, but also men. Women may feel intimidated or disconcerted when viewing Venus as they could feel personally uncomfortable with their own figure. Its main intention is to bring pleasure to the male eye. In brief, both artworks continue to play a significant role in society today because of these intentions, gender issues and representation of the female nude.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Marketing Strategies of Colgate Palmolive Ltd

Project Report A STUDY ON MARKETING STRATEGIES OF COLGATE PALMOLIVE LTD. Submitted to: Dr. D. K. Agarwal Submitted by: DINESH CHAUHAN[62014] VIVEK DHAR [62066] FORE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT NEW DELHI Contents ? Introduction1 ? Objective2 ? Methodology3 ? Company Profile4 ? Company Strategy6 ? Marketing Mix15 ? SWOT Analysis26 ? Survey Findings28 ? Retailers Survey34 ? Conclusion37 ? Suggestions39 ? Consumer Questionnaire ? Retailer Questionnaire ? Bibliography INTRODUCTION As early as 3000 B. C. Egyptians used toothbrushes fashioned from twigs. In the 20th century a major design advance occurred in 1938 with the launch of Dr. West’s Miracle Tuft toothbrush, the first nylon bristle brush. Until the late 1970’s toothbrushes were widely viewed by consumer as a commodity and were primarily purchases on price. The involvement remained low and the companies also treated their toothbrushes as an extension, to get their consumers to use their toothpastes. Typically in the Indian market the percentage of toothbrush users has slowly inched upwards. As it has always been associated by the non-users as a non-essential item more so because of their fierce loyalty to the margosa twigg(Datun) and the index finger. The market of late has been the entry of several foreign players and the marketing game has assumed a totally new dimension. Companies are trying to shift to â€Å"PULL† strategy of long term returns and the inclination of consumers to shell out a few rupees extra to ensure a more wholesome care of their teeth and gum. This has resulted in rapid growth in value terms. Added to this is the initiative of the companies to focus on expanding the market by bringing the over 65% non-users in their consumer fold. With such vast potential to be exploited, the entry of several new players with their innovative ideas and experience in similar developing markets, the industry is likely to see a lot of action in the immediate future. OBJECTIVE The above of the project was manifold. ? First of all a general idea of the toothbrush industry – its competitiveness, volume and potential was to be adjudged. Next was to go on to analysis of the attitudes of a typical consumer and his/her idea/perception of this low involvement category product. ? This was to be followed up with the study of Colgate Plus toothbrush, as a typical product of the company, Colgate Palmolive and its standing in the market vis-a-vis other players, especially new entrants. ? To amalgamate all above to conclude as to what was to be the future/probable course of the toothbrush industry and Colgate Plus tooth brush in particular. METHODOLOGY 1. To get an idea of the industry, I went through all the relevant literature we could lay my hands upon. This included A & M’s, Business Today’s. 2. For consumer attitudes, I prepared a questionnaire that was circulated among 70 odd people, well spread out across the whole of Delhi. The same was done with the retailers to try and see the conformity in findings in some specific attributes. 3. The questionnaire was to structured that an idea of brand image and relative studying of various brand could also be elicited. 4. The findings were synthesized, and keeping in mind the new entrants, their potential and the potential of the market, projections were made and conclusions were drawn. COMPANY PROFILE A household name for paste and tooth powder, Colgate Palmolive (India) was established on 23rd September 1937 as a private limited company in Bombay, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Colgate Palmolive Co. Of USA Initially it started with trading activity and later set up manufacturing operations in 1949 at Sewry (Bombay). The company became a public limited company on 5th October 1978. In 1990-91 the company commissioned facilities for fatty acid and toilet soap at Waluj (Aurangabad). The plants at Sewri and Waluj manufacture oral care products like dental creams, tooth powder tooth brushes and personal care products like toilet soaps, shampoo, which are marketed under various brand names such as Colgate, Palmolive, Halo, Protex and Charmis. The company’s distribution network covers 1700 stockists and 4,50,000 retailers with ware house facilities in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Madras ( and a new addition at Faridabad). The company has its own Research and development facilities and had also been getting the R&D benefits of the parent company. It has a well established quality Control Department at Sewri & Waluj. For 40 years, since inception till 1978, Colgate was carrying on its business in India with a paid up capital of Rs. 1. 5 lakh made up of 1500 equity shares of Rs. 100 each, when it was increases to Rs. 1. 96 crore, by a bonus issue in the ratio of 130:1. To comply with the FERA regulations, Colgate Palmolive, USA diluted its share holding to 40% in the Indian company, through an offer of sale to the Indian public in October 1978. Following FERA relaxation, the foreign shareholding was increased from 40% to 51% in September 1993. Colgate Palmolive (CP) is a global leader in household and personal care products. In 1991, it had sales of $ 6. 06 billion and a gross profit of $ 2. 76 billion, its world wide R&D expenditures were $ 114 million and media advertising expenditure totalled $ 428 million. Colgate Palmolive’s five year plan for 1991 to 1995 emphasized new product launches and entry into new Geographic markets, along with improved efficiencies in manufacturing and distribution and a continuing focus on core consumer products. In 1921 $ 243 million was spend to upgrade 25 of Colgate Palmolive’s 91 manufacturing plants, 275 new products were introduced world-wide; several strategic acquisitions (e. g. of the Mennen men’s toiletries company) were completed and manufacturing began in China and Eastern Europe. Since 1985, gross margins had climbed from 39% to 45% while annual volume growth since 1986 had averaged 5% International sales Colgate Palmolive’s strong unit, accounted for 64% of sales and 6% of profits in 1991. COMPANY STRATEGY – ORAL CARE AND TOOTHBRUSH INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR Volume is the key† says Richard Usuquen, VP Marketing Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd. To expand the market in all ranges, CP has an ongoing RURAL VAN PROGRAMME and SCHOOL PROGRAMME covering 14 million villages and 80 million consumers, teaching people brush or even clean their teeth with the fingers. CP’s action centring around finely balancing the urban market – (59. 5%) and rural markets (68% share) . So while the company has introduced such premium packaging as stand up toothpaste tubes with flip-up caps in the urban market, it is also selling sachets of Colgate dental cream at low prices. This focus on volumes is also evident in the toothbrush market, estimated at 400 million units per annum. C-P is the toothbrush leader in India with an approximately 60% market share, but since ‘95 it is facing challenges from HLL which has already garnered 8% market share. Usuquen says â€Å"The penetration of brushes in India is very low, so more than market share, it is important to grow the market†. To that end CP has actively introduced line extensions across all three segments – economy, middle and premium since last year. At the entry level it has adopted the sleeve packaging, with no individual cases. The focus is on driving volumes through the price-sensitive segment. The mid-price market has been the introduction of the HIGH KLEEN range, while the upper end has seen the zig – zag and Double – Action launches. For the economy segment, a price focus has been adopted. On offer are five toothbrushes each from the CP and Cibacca stables to rural consumers, at prices low enough to generate trial. For the urban market, the focus is on maintaining novelty value by introducing new variants and added features. Whatever is new, people buy. So the idea is to accelerate choice through a variety of product features†. CP’s perception of the Indian market is of one where people welcome change but clamour for high end products at cheaply prices. The answer to this conundrum as per the company’s strategy is to â€Å"†¦.. Optimise cost and formulation and the proceses and come up with efficient manufacturing to answer this â€Å". CP’s strategy is to pour in a lot of investment in the Indian market in terms of capital expenditure and organizational support and each out to the deepest interiors. SEGMENTATION The toothbrush industry can be regarded as a component of the Oral Care industry which broadly comprises tooth paste, mouth wash and floss, besides tooth brushes and a large unorganized naturally available cleaning mediums viz. Index Finger, Neem twigs etc. But Colgate Plus need not to bothered about latter as it operates in a different category. The tooth brush industry can be segmented in the basis of social class & income group (Demographic Segmentation ), price (Product segmentation), benefit (behavioural segmentation), the last being the most important. DEMOGRAPHIC SEGMENTATION ACCORDING TO PRICE |Segment |Category |Brands |Characteristic | |Low income rural class |Economy |Promise, Cibaca |Looking for low price | |Middle income group semi urban |Standard |Colgate Classic Pepsodent popular | Value for money | |consumer | | | |Upper middle income urban |Premium |Colgate Plus, Classic, Ajay, Royal |High quality cleaning efficiency | |consumers | | | | |Upper class urban sophisticate |Super Premium |Oral B, Aquafresh, Jordan, Close Up|Unique, attribute, dentists | | | | |recommendation | The last two categories merge, since Colgate Plus is intelligently positioned in between the two to maintain a high quality in age as well as encourage switches from standard category to up grade PSYCHOGRAPHICS |Variations in Product |Jazzy looks, Transparent handle|Simpleton looks, Modest |Mix of the two : transparent | | |Flashy colours Superior Packing|packaging, Solid colours |handle but not very flash | | | | |packaging. |Urban sophisticate |Chooses with care, sports it as|Abhors |Abhors | | |a status symbol while | | | | |interacting in group travels | | | |Semi urban Non Chalant User |Aspires for it, but finds it |Very often goes for this as it |Some times this | | |difficult to afford; tries it |serves is purpose without much | | | |seldom |expenditure | | |Rural User |Does not have access/can’t | Is the only option Datun |Generally can’t afford this | | |think of | |either | |Tooth brushes brands |Oral B, Jordan, Aqua fresh etc. |Promise, Forhans etc. |Cibaca, Ajanta, Ajay etc. | The overall response reflects a gradual move in the direction of the premium to super premium segment as it is once in three months/four months purchase, thus being successful in luring all customers (except the rural user who are a small minority of the Market) to try out the ones that are places at a higher price on account of their trendy looks and overall appeal of style and splendor. BENEFIT SEGMENTATION |User Characteristic |Invalid oral health consumer |Involved oral health Consumer |Uninvolved Oral Health Consumer| | |Therapeutic Brushers |Cosmetic Brushers |Non-chalant Brushers | |Product Differentiater |Search functionally superior |Search for product that |Views products as same Lack of | | |product with many attributes. effectively delivers cosmetic |interest | | | |benefits | | |Advertising appeal |Put off by hardsell Prefers |Influenced by promotion, |Relatively unaware of ads can | | |dentist recommendation or |hammering on a USP |at most be influenced by price | | |in formed opinion | |offs, package deals | |Buying behaviour |Buys for himself, will go to a |Buys and uses for himself. |Buys for family. , will pick up| | |specialised store |Will not go beyond a large |any brand available. | | | |shop, supermarket | | |Regularity of usage |Brushes after every meal |Brushes mostly once, sometimes |At most once a day | | | |twice | | |Brand loyalty High |Low |Nil | |Price (Willing to pay) |>20 |15-20 | Rs. 20 |3. 0 |25. 0 |7. 5 | |ASCRIBED TO | | | | |No specific reason |59. 4 |33. 3 |50. 0 | |word of mouth |15. 6 |16. 7 |19. 1 | |impressed with advt. |9. 3 |20. |11. 9 | |shopkeeper insisted |15. 6 |20. 8 |14. 3 | |dentists advice |6. 3 |8. 3 |4. 8 | |REPLACEMENT FREQUENCY | | | | |0-1 MONTHS |23. 5 |12. 5 |17. 4 | |1-2 MONTHS |26. 5 |29. |28. 3 | |2-3 MONTHS |23. 5 |29. 2 |30. 4 | |3-4 MONTHS |23. 5 |16. 7 |19. 6 | |> 4 MONTHS |2. 9 |16. 7 |4. 3 | |FREQ. OF BRUSHING | | | | |Once (per day) |50. 0 |28. |46. 7 | |Twice |44. 2 |68. 0 |46. 8 | |after eve ry meal |2. 9 |4. 0 |2. 2 | |Not very particular |2. 9 |0. 0 |2. 2 | |pressed with Advertisement | | | | |YES |11. 1 |22. 2 |12. | |NO |88. 9 |78. 0 |87. 1 | RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF ATTRIBUTES | |MALES |FEMALES |TOTAL |RANK | |PRICE |62. 7 |57. 3 |61. 2 |5 | |PACKAGING |40. 2 |49. 3 |44. 6 |8 | |DURABILITY |74. 5 |74. 7 |75. |2 | |LONG HANDLE |51. 9 |60. 0 |57. 0 |6 | |FLEXIBLE NECK |52. 9 |60. 0 |57. 1 |6 | |COMFY. ANGLE |68. 6 |78. 7 |73. 7 |3 | |SOFT BRISTLES |78. 4 |86. 7 |82. 9 |1 | |LOOKS |46. 1 |40. 0 |44. 9 | |DIAMOND HEAD |36. 3 |41. 3 |38. 9 |10 | |GRIP |58. 8 |68. 0 |63. 4 |4 | |INDICATOR |28. 4 |41. 3 |34. 3 |11 | COLGATE PLUS USERS RESPONSE | |Males |Females |Total | | |v. Good | |COLGATE PLUS |30. 96 | |CIBACA |14. 28 | |ORAL-B |16. 66 | |CLOSE-UP |9. 52 | |PEPSODENT POPULAR |7. 14 | |JORDAN |9. 2 | |OTHERS |11. 90 | BRAND RECALL |BRANDS |PERCENTAGE | |COLGATE PLUS |20. 47 | |PEPSODENT POPULAR |11. 02 | |CIBACA |10. 4 | |ORAL-B |9. 54 | |AQUA-FRESH |7. 59 | |AJANTA |7. 09 | |OTHERS |28. 35 | Only about 5% of the respondents could not remember which toothbrush they were presently using which were excluded from the above computing. RETAILER’S SURVEY FEATURES |No. f Respondents |: |20 | |Areas covered |: |Defence Colony, South Avenue, Khan Market, North Campus, Sarojini| | | |Nagar | |Nature of survey |: |Structured Questionnaire | |Objective |: |a) To gather the respond to new entrants vis-a-vis Colgate Plus | | | |as perceived by retailers. | | | |B) Retailers favorite brand(s) | | | |Margins offered | |Limitations |: |Given the areas covered, the response was bound to be asked in | | | |favour of the upper class users. | F INDINGS |A. Availability | | | |Easy |: |Classic, Aqua-Fresh, Oral-B, Pepsodent, Colgate Plus | |Not Easy |: |Royal, Forhans, Cibaca, Jordan, Prudent. | |B. Sales | | | |High |: |Colgate Plus, Cibaca, Classic, Pepsodent, Oral-B | |Satisfactory |: |Close-up, Ajanta, Ajay, Jordan, Aqua-Fresh | |C. Profit Margins | | | |Highest |: |Classic, Royal | |High |: |Jordan | |Medium |: |Oral-B, Aqua-Fresh, Reach, Cibaca | |Low |: |Colgate Plus, Pepsodent, Close-up | * Highest Margin : 35-40%Lowest Margin – 10-15% N. B. Colgate Plus features in the lowest level of margin and yet commands the highest market share. The low margin was however denied by the Sales Office of Colgate-Palmolive at Delhi, who claimed to offer equal to that of the industry standards. Colgate Plus was not backed up by any appraisal system whatsoever. Supply is kept regular on weekly basis. D. Retailer’s Perception Of Preferences |BY BRAND NAME |36. % | |CHEAP BRUSH |9. 3% | |SPECIFY PRICE RANGE |15. 9% | |EXPENSIVE |21. 5% | |TRY NEW ONESE |16. 8 | E. Retails insisted on â€Å"Pushing† Classic as it was moderately priced and yet offered a very good margin. * The â€Å"D† above was also substantiated by our consumer survey. CONCLUSION The present day brushing habits of the Indian society as a whole leaves a lot to be desired – 41 toothbrushes are sold for every 100 persons per year! Total units sold add u to a little over 400 million, growing at the rate of 10% p. a in volume terms and 25% in value terms (difference explained by the shift to upper end of the market). This implies not much inroad has been made into the rural and semi-urban market. Non-users constitute about 65% of total population. While the global brands try to create new markets and add new dimensions, there is much greater latent demand. Out of their stable of marketing strategies, advertising till now had been low priority for the players (this was confirmed in our survey as 88. % of respondents don’t recall the ads). This indicates companies find it formidable to change the low involvement level psyche of consumers and the route of aggressive sales promotion by way of price offs, POP displays, tied sales and generous trade margin s still hold the key to increasing off take of toothbrushes. No one has made a serious attempt in the virgin territory of 65% non-users (CP’s Rural Van Programme is a recent drive). The thought of doing a Nirma to the toothbrush market has escaped everyone. Despite packaging constituting a substantial (upto 40%) of the cost of a toothbrush it has found to have influenced the purchasing decisions of the buyers. In our survey consumers corroborated to this effect (refer to the survey findings). Companies could rethink their strategy of increasing differentiability by packaging and instead invest in product development for the same. SUGGESTIONS Some possible product improvisations Attached straight tongue cleaner cased in the toothbrush handle. Cartoons character printed on the handle to attract kids. Padding on the handle end to massage the gums. Casing the toothbrush (for kids) in a toy form. Neck with adjustable handle. Get a certificate by the Indian Dental Association (IDA) for the toothbrush, like the Colgate Calciguard Toothpaste. Segregate the toothbrush types for different age groups, e. g. , Children – Thicker handle for better grip, bright colours and cartoons printed on the handle. Young People of Teenager – more trendy colours and designs, like stripes or polka dotted, more vibrant colours. Adults – Simple designs and sober and decent colours. For the new entrant Introduce the product with the offer of one free toothbrush with the purchase of a brush which will help in blocking and prepointing the purchase of the buyer. As the target segment is the premium segment therefore, premium pricing of the product is necessary. Price the product at Rs. 251 -* or at Rs. 301- and not at Rs. 361 or Rs. 221- because the shopkeepers face a problem in returning small changes of Rs. 31 or Rs. 31- and Rs. 1 so they sometimes avoid the product as confessed by the shopkeeper. Add value to the product by giving tips on taking good oral care, in the back side of the package or a free pamphlet with the purchase of a brush, like brushing twice a day, flossing, polishing , regular dental check-up by your dentist, this shows a caring and concerned attitude by the company. With the purchase of a toothbrush, give a free coupons which is to be filled in by the consumer and can be used by him or her for getting a free dental check-up as when and where specified in the advertisement in the newspaper. This kind of scheme can be implemented by the company once in two three months. However, these suggestions can be used by the big players in the market or the new entrant, who has to be a big player because a large investment is needed for such heavy sales promotion and also an attempt should be made to convert this low involvement product into a high involvement as it is concerned with personal card and hygiene and a product of daily use. CONSUMER QUESTIONNAIRE 1. AGE : ( 15-30 Years ( 30-40 Years ( 40-50 years (Above 50 years 2. SEX : ( Male ( Female 3. OCCUPATION : ( Govt. Service( Self-employed ( Corporate Executive ( Student ( Others (specify __________________) 4. MARITAL STATUS 🙠 Single ( Married with children ( Married without children 5. AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME/ALLOWANCE ( Rs. 20000 6. Which toothbrush do you generally use? 7. Name any other five toothbrushes that you can recall 12345 8. Who purchases your toothbrush? ( Myself( A family member( A Subordinate 9. Do you ask for a toothbrush by name? ( Yes ( No 10. How much are you ready to spend on a toothbrush? ( Rs. 5-10( Rs. 10-15( Rs. 15-20( > Rs. 20 11. What prompted you to purchase your current toothbrush? ( Dentist’s advice ( Impressed with the advertisement ( Shopkeeper gave it to me ( A well-wisher recommended it to me ( Just bought it no specific reason. 12. How often do you replace your toothbrush? (0-1 month( 1-2 months( 2-3 months( 3-4 months ( > 4 months 13. How often do you brush your teeth a day? ( Once ( Twice ( After every meal( Not particular 14. What according to you are the relative importances of the following? | |V. Imp |Imp. |Not so Imp. Doesn’t matter | |PRICE | | | | | |PACKAGING | | | | | |DURABILITY | | | | | |FLEXIBLE NECK | | | | | |COMFORTABLE ANGLE | | | | | |SOFTNESS OF BRISTLES | | | | | |LOOKS (TRANSPARENT HANDLE ETC. ) | | | | | |DIAMOND HEAD | | | | | |GRIP | | | | | |INDICATOR | | | | | 15. Has any toothbrush ad (seen on TV/in a magazine) made an impact on you? |YES |NO |IF YES, THEN WHY | |ORAL-B | | | | |AQUA FRESH | | | | |ROYAL | | | | |COLGATE PLUS | | | | 16. Kindly answer the following in case you have used Colgate Plus/Aqua Fresh toothbrushes: | |AQUA FRESH |COLGATE PLUS | |QUALITY |*V. GOOD * GOOD |* V. GOOD * GOOD | | |* MODERATE |* MODERATE | | |* NO GOOD |* NO GOOD | |AVAILABILITY |* EASY * NOT SO EASY * DIFFICULT |* EASY * NOT SO EASY * DIFFICULT | |IF IT WORTH THE PRICE |* YES *NO |* YES * NO | | |* CAN’T SAY |*CAN’T SAY | |IF THE BRAND IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEN I |* WILL WAIT |* WILL WAIT | | |* WILL NOT WAIT |* WILL NOT WAIT | THANK YOU FOR SPARING YOUR VALUABLE TIME!! RETAILER QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Location of the store : 2. Selling toothbrushes since 3. Brands stocked ( Colgate Plus( Cibaca Supreme( Aqua Fresh ( Jordan( Oral-B( Royal ( Pepsodent( Promise( Ajay ( Ajanta( Classic 4. Which are the top three toothbrushes in terms of exist sales? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In case not covered above. What is the status of: 1. Aquafresh( Good( Picking up Moderate( Poor 2. Colgate Plus( Good( Picking up Moderate( Poor 6. How do consumers ask for a tooth brush? (Rank them) (a) Ask by brand name(b) Ask for a cheap brush (c) Specify a price range(d) Go for an expensive brush (e) Keep trying newer ones 7. Which of these two companies make it a point to: (a) Get a regular feedback Aquafresh( Yes( No Colgate Plus( Yes( No (b) Maintain regular supply Aquafresh( Yes( No Colgate Plus( Yes( No 8. Rank your profit margin for the following brands: 1. Cibaca Supreme2. Colgate Plus 3. Oral-B4. Aqua Fresh 5. Classic 6. Ajanta 7. Pepsodent 8. Jordan 9. What is your a) Highest Margin b) Lowest Margin 10. If the consumer does not ask for a specific toothbrush then which one would you offer him? Why? BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Business Today Library 2. A&M Issues of June ‘05, June ‘05, April ‘2006 3. CII Library 4. FORE Library 5. Kotler Philip (Principles of Marketing) 6. Kotler, Philip (Marketing Management). ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere thanks to Prof. N. S. Uppal for entrusting me with a challenging project and along with it, his help and encouragement has been exemplary. I wish to place my sincere gratitude to the officials of concerned organization and libraries who in spite of their busy schedule always spared their time whenever needed. ———————– [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]

Cost Analysis

Table of content Introduction: Financing decisions and investment decisions are considered to be two of the most vital decisions that corporations have to take. Cost analysis is one of the factors that should be taken into consideration while evaluating financial and investment decisions. This paper reviews the concept of cost analysis, how it is used in decision making, and how firms usually involve cost analysis in evaluating different projects. Furthermore, the paper discusses some of the main concepts that are derived from cost analysis such as cost allocation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. In addition, some of the advantages and disadvantages of cost analysis will be discussed. Moreover, the concept of intangible cost analysis will be introduced. Then, the results and findings of the research paper will be illustrated. Finally, few recommendations that are based on the results and findings will be made. Literature Review: Due to its high importance in the decision making process, cost analysis has been discussed in many books by several authors who illustrated different aspects of cost analysis. In his book â€Å"cost-benefit analysis,† E. J. Mishan discussed in depth the concept of cost-benefit analysis, which is a form of cost analysis. Professor Mishan focused on some of the key concepts that are related to cost-benefit analysis. The author started his book with few examples of cost analysis in order to illustrate to the reader the meaning of cost-benefit analysis. Then, Mr. Mishan illustrated the economical aspect of cost-benefit analysis and showed how opportunity cost could be related to cost-benefit analysis. Furthermore, Mr. Mishan tried to show how cost-benefit analysis is limited and can be used partially in the decision making process. A notable section of Mr. Mishan’s book is certainty equivalence. In this section, the author developed an assumption that â€Å"enables us formally to rank a number of alternative uncertain benefits without first reducing each to a certainty equivalent. In his article â€Å"Ways to Deliver More for Less,† Harry E. Roberts, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Boscov’s Department Stores, discussed how cost analysis can be used to reduce IT spending. Mr. Roberts discussed how the IT budgeting has changed over time. The author suggested ways to enable Information Technology, which is a cost center rather than a profit center, to â€Å"deliver more than what is expected and at a lower cost than what was budgeted. † Then, Mr. Roberts suggested that a revision for different costs, such as variable costs, fixed costs, and payroll costs, should be made. The author concluded his research by emphasizing on the fact that â€Å"every dollar invested on a cost item must deliver as much value to the business as its highest-margin product or service. † Cost Analysis: Definition According to The U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, cost analysis can be defined as â€Å"the process of obtaining cost breakdowns, verifying cost data, evaluating specific elements of costs and examining data to determine necessity, reasonableness, and appropriateness of the costs. Both financing and investment decisions are highly affected by cost analysis as corporations usually pay a great deal of attention to the different types of costs that are involved in the different projects that will be taken into consideration either to raise funds or to invest surplus funds that a corporation has. Sometimes cost analysis is perceived as a tool that is used only to reduce costs. In contrast to this point of view, cost analysis is believe d to be a tool that helps management to choose the best possible solution or project among many different alternatives. In their article â€Å"â€Å"Using Cost Analysis In Evaluation,† Meg Sewell and Mary Marczak believe that cost analysis methods and uses are â€Å"complex, require very sophisticated technical skills and training in methodology and in principles of economics, and should not be taken lightly. † Three Types of Cost Analysis: Three of the main concepts that are derived from cost analysis are cost allocation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. These three methods are usually used simultaneously in order for corporations to evaluate different decisions or projects. Some of these methods might seem simple and easy to use; however, they should never be ignored or taken slightly as they can be of great benefit in determining the right decisions. Cost Allocation: Cost allocation is the simplest among the three concepts that were mentioned earlier. Sewell and Marczak stated that cost allocation refers to â€Å"setting up budgeting and accounting systems in a way that allows program managers to determine a unit cost or cost per unit of service. Furthermore, Sewell and Marczak illustrated that in many corporations, cost allocation is used to provide â€Å"some of the basic information needed to conduct more ambitious cost analyses such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-effectiveness analysis. † Therefore, it can be concluded that cost allocation is a prerequisite to both cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis. Example: The following table shows the monthly cost allocation for 3 different projects It is important to note that firm s usually allocate their costs based on previous experience and estimation. However, firms should expect costs to change, which can be due to financial crises, inflation, or other factors, and try to adapt their cost allocation systems in such a way that it will handle the new changes. Based on the costing method that the company uses, such as activity-based costing, a more detailed cost allocation system can be structured in order to determine the unit cost as precisely as possible Once costs have been identified and allocated, more advanced cost analysis methods, such as cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis, are used. Cost-effectiveness Analysis: According to Sewell and Marczak, the concept of cost-effectiveness analysis holds that â€Å"a certain benefit or outcome is desired, and that there are several alternative ways to achieve it. † However, cost-effectiveness analysis should not be used separately during the process of evaluating projects or decisions as it will favor the cheapest option. Instead, cost-effectiveness analysis should be used along with cost allocation and cost-benefit analysis in order to provide more precise and more informative outcomes. It is important to mention that cost-effectiveness is a comparative tool that compares the cost of separate projects and favors the least expensive one. If we only used cost-effectiveness to decide which machine to buy, machine 1 will be favored by cost-effectiveness since it will generate products cheaper than machine 2. However, this is not necessarily the correct decision since cost-effectiveness analysis fails to take into consideration certain criteria such as the time each machine requires to generate the product and the quality of the generated products. Cost-benefit Analysis: According to smbtn. com, cost-benefit analysis can be best described as â€Å"An analysis tool that measures the results or benefits of a decision compared with the required costs. † Cost-benefit analysis is perceived as a powerful tool that management usually use whenever a â€Å"buy-or-build† decision needs to be taken. Buy-or-build decisions are usually taken when a firm faces a situation where it has two options: (1) To buy or outsource a certain part of its business (2) To internally manufacture or perform a certain part of its business. Cost-benefit analysis can assist in taking buy-or-build decisions as it will illustrate the benefits and costs that are expected if buy decision or build decision is taken. Cost-benefit analysis consists of several tools, such as benefit-to-costs ratio, that are used to analyze and compare benefits and costs that are involved in a certain project. According to Sewell and Marczak, benefit-to-costs ratio is â€Å"the total monetary cost of the benefits or outcomes divided by the total monetary costs of obtaining them. Despite the fact the cost-benefit seems to be the most powerful tool to analyze costs and taking cost related decisions, it should be used along with other tools such as cost-effectiveness analysis and cost allocation. Using cost-benefit analysis separately from other tools can result in misleading decisions that can cost management dearly. If the benefits-to-costs ratio is greater than 1, then the project should be analyzed further, compared to other projects and taken into consideration as a potential project that the firm can invest in or use to raise funds. Advantages of Cost Analysis: Cost analysis can be of great help for management as it can be used as a tool in the decision making process. Some of the most important advantages of cost analysis are: Cost analysis can clarify all costs that are involved in a certain project. Cost analysis will draw attention to costs that may not be obvious at first. Consequently, allowing managers to take more precise financing or investment decisions. Cost analysis can help management prioritize tasks and processes when budgets are limited. It is believed that managers can distribute budgets more effectively when all costs are identified; therefore, it will be possible to get the most out of available resources. Disadvantages of cost analysis: On the other hand, cost analysis is not always sufficient by its own for management to make decisions. Some of the facts that cost analysis cannot provide information about are: _As Sewell and Marczak mentioned, cost analysis cannot always tell â€Å"whether the least expensive alternative is always the best alternative. _† Cost analysis by its own is not always enough to determine the best alternative. Usually, other criteria that cannot be determined by cost analysis, such as time, have an effect on the decision making process. Cost analysis is very complex and requires great deal of skills and expertise. Cost analysis requires not only background in finance and accounting, but also economic and decision making skills. It is common nowadays for organizations to outsource cost analysis if it cannot be done effectively in-house. According to _Sewell and Marczak, â€Å"sometimes costs and monetary values are considered less important than other, more intangible values or program outcomes. † Intangible cost analysis: Despite the fact that corporations frequently use cost analysis in evaluating the different decisions that have to be made, intangible cost analysis is not always taken into consideration. In his book â€Å"Intangible Management: Tools for Solving the Accounting and Management Crisis,† Ken Stanfield described intangible cost analysis as set of processes that â€Å"[allow] executives to identify, measure, and reduce costs that the organization has always been aware of, but has not been able to previously measure and control. Intangible cost analysis allows corporations to increase efficiency and productivity as well as decrease costs. According to Stanfield, in contrast to old cost analysis methods where tangible costs were the most important selection criteria, modern cost analysis methods favors alternatives, decisions, or projects â€Å"with the lowest total real cost (tangible costs + intangible costs). † Some of the intangible costs that should be taken into consideration are knowledge costs, time costs, and relationship management costs. Many organizations started to take intangible costs more seriously and established departments that are dedicated to deal with such costs such as knowledge management department. Intangible cost analysis is more complex than tangible cost analysis due to the fact that it depends on estimation skills and past experience. Therefore, possessing intangible cost analysis skills can be considered as a competitive advantage as it will result in better cost management and lower incurred costs. Results and Findings: Cost analysis is one of the most sophisticated concepts in business, and many economists wrote several books about it. The following points illustrate the results and findings of the research paper: Cost analysis consists of multiple tools and techniques that are usually used simultaneously to reach the best decision possible. Cost analysis not only allows firms to find ways to reduce costs, but it also suggests methods that can be applied to turn a cost center into profit center. It is vital for decision makers to be aware that cost analysis consists of tools that can estimate costs, which might differ from costs that will be incurred in reality. Intangible cost analysis should not be taken slightly as it has a great affect on the business of any company, especially on the long run. Cost analysis fails to take into consideration some factors such as time and quality Cost analysis needs advanced skills and is considered to be a competitive advantage for firms that have employees specialized in it. Recommendations and Conclusion: Using multiple cost analysis tools, which is due to the fact that the use of only one or few tools will result in misleading decisions Pay great attention to intangible cost analysis as it can make the difference between success and failure. Take into consideration factors that cannot be quantified and analyzed such as time and quality. Due to the fact that cost analysis has become a vital part of the decision making process, firms have to ensure that they possess the required cost analysis skills or outsource to specialized cost analysis firms. In conclusion, it is vital to emphasize on the fact that cost analysis is just one tool that can be used in the decision making process. Financing decisions and investments decisions are so critical that many tools and selection criteria have to be used while analyzing and evaluating these decisions. Nowadays, the world is facing a financial crisis that is affecting all companies; consequently, firms are starting to analyze costs to determine how best to protect themselves. Bibliography Mishan, E. J. Cost Benefit Analysis: An Informal Introduction, 1982. Ramji, Al-Noor, Linda Reino, Harry E. Roberts, eds. , Inside The Minds: Ways To Reduce It Spending : Leading Executives On Managing Costs, Negotiating Pricing & Reducing Overall Technology Expenditures. United States of America: Aspatore, 2004. Sewell, Meg and Mary Marczak. Using Cost Analysis In Evaluation. The University of Arizona; available from http://ag. arizona. edu/fcs/cyfernet/cyfar/Costben2. htm; Internet; accessed 1 November 2008. Stanfield, Ken. Intangible Management: Tools for Solving the Accounting and Management Crisis. Academic Press; 1st edition (July 1, 2002). The U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement: Federal Assistance Manual. Washington, D. C. , 1998; available from http://www. osmre. gov/fam/defin. htm; Internet; accessed 16 November 2008.

Monday, July 29, 2019

EQUITY AND TRUST (LAW) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EQUITY AND TRUST (LAW) - Case Study Example The law requires that a trustee exercises the same degree of diligence that a man of ordinary prudence would exercise in the management of his affairs. In this report we shall examine the role of the trustees and the standard care he is required to take in some specific instances and also the reasons for the difference in the standards of care in such instances in the light of established case laws and the provisions of the Trustee Act 2000. " As a general rule, a trustee sufficiently discharges his duty if he takes, in managing he trust affairs, all those precautions which an ordinary prudent man of business would take in managing similar affairs of his own"- this was the court ruling in the appeal case of Speight v. Gaunt as early as in the year 1883. According to this settled law the standard care that a trustee is expected to take is limited to the extent that the trustee takes all precautions in administering the trust assets by taking such care which an ordinary prudent man of business would be taking in his own case. The trustee is exonerated from his liability so long as he proves that he has strictly followed the covenants of the trust deed and there is no willful deviation from the purposes for which the trust properties were put to use. The trustee is not expected to use any special skill or expertise with regard to the investment of the trust properties. As has been decided in the case of Fales v. Canada Per manent Trust Co.(1977) 2 SCR 302 "that of a man of ordinary prudence in managing his own affairs and traditionally the standard has been applied equally to professional and non-professional trustees. The standard has been of general application and objective". Hence traditionally there had been no distinction between professional and non professional trustees in the matter of deciding on the standard care to be exercised by the trustees with regard to the trust properties. This was the legal position at a time when the investment opportunities that were available for the trust properties were limited and hence there was no major problem encountered with the administration of the trust properties. However with the passage of time the possible avenues for investments had increased and this has created additional responsibilities for the trustees to consider the portfolios or assets in which they contemplate to invest the trust properties and decide whether the properties would be safe in such investments. Case of Learoyd v. Whiteley (1887) 12 App. Cas.727: "When the trustee serves both a life tenant and a remainderman beneficiary, the trustee must invest impartially and balance the preservation of the property for the remainderman with the need to produce a reasonable income for the life tenant"- this was the observation made in the case of Learoyd v. Whitely (1887) as regards the fiduciary position of the trustees. This ruling altered the degree of the standard care to be exercised by the trustees in that the responsibility of the trustee is extended to ensure that the safety of the investments is also taken into account while investing the trust property, so that the capital is not eroded. The argument of reliance by the trustee on a third person supposed to be an expert on the investments of the sort covered by the case will not exonerate the trustee from his fiduciary liability to the

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Review Restaurant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review Restaurant - Research Paper Example I visited the Olive Garden Restaurant in the mid afternoon when it is less crowded, so that I could definitely secure a place there. The place was styled in a typically Tuscan farmhouse fashion, which radiated a spirit of being welcomed. The lighting was adjusted to a comfort mode, highlighting the dà ©cor, without taxing the eyes. I must say the seating arrangement was contrived, keeping in mind the comfort and privacy of the people visiting the place. Overall, the atmosphere there was imbued with a sense of comfort and hospitality. The meal at the restaurant was served in a typical Italian manner, starting with a first course and followed by a second course usually comprising of some soup or pasta, sumptuously marked by an entrà ©e, comprising of side dishes and dessert. I must say that the food had its good and bad points. Overall the cuisine there was rich in carbohydrates, and fats, to the accompaniment of little protein and too few greens. The lasagna they served was delicious with the tomato sauce carrying just the right blend of sweetness. I found the pasta a little plain and drab. A bit of cheese and some mild sauce would have certainly accentuated its flavor. The chicken breast that was well pounded and fried in butter, dressed with an aptly flavored tomato sauce was a real delight. Though, by the time I was done with it, I could have evaded the dessert, but considering its yummy, sticky and sweet look, I could not help savoring it. Certainly, a visit to a restaurant could leave much to be desired, if the staff there does not evince just the right attitude and spirit (Daily Post, 2005). On that context, the waiters at Olive Garden managed to wrench a perfect score from me. The waiters were neatly dressed in black and white, to the accompaniment of gold hued aprons. Their attitude effused with pride and courtesy and a desire to serve the guests. The made it a point to keep my glass filled with water till the end. I was

Saturday, July 27, 2019

International human resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International human resources - Essay Example patriate managers are given the responsibility of synchronizing different cultures while managing human resource for a multi-national corporation in a foreign country. The culture and business environment of a multi-national corporations vary with regions and countries. ‘International human resource management’ deals with the HRM activities of a multi-national corporation. It assists the expatriate HR managers of multi-national corporations to understand the organizational culture of the MNC and the local culture of that particular country. The functions and responsibilities of domestic human resource management and international human resource management are different in many aspects. The latter requires greater responsibility as it necessitates greater level of coordination, risk, involvement in personal lives of employees. This paper will attempt to analyze the human resource of Ford Motor Company of United States of America (USA). In the next section, the cultural context of USA MNC and the local culture will be discussed and the challenges faced by the expatriate managers will be analyzed. The overall findings will be concluded and some essential recommendations will be provided to overcome those challenges. The core functions of the human resources management are similar irrespective of countries and organizations. However, the difference in cultures poses certain hindrances for the expatriate managers. Differences existing between Asia Pacific, Middle East and USA are difficult to assimilate. The culture of USA is an immigrant one, along with the Native Americans many immigrants from different countries have been residing in USA. Greet Hofstede has identified six dimensions of the cultures that vary from country to country. These dimensions are â€Å"power distance index (PDI), individualism (IDV), uncertainty avoidance index (UAI), masculinity (MAS) and long-term orientation (LTO)† (Falkenreck, 2009, p.59). Figure 1 depicts the ‘Greet Hofstede

Friday, July 26, 2019

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Statement Example Family background influences the career choice of one, especially in traditional societies like China. For example, a doctor’s children tend to study medicine; a bureaucrat’s children opt for civil service qualifications; a carpenter’s son learns carpentry from childhood, and so on. My father runs a factory-supported business enterprise, and it was but natural for me to pursue education and training courses, which would help me in future to participate in managing the family business. Quite honestly, I am as much responsible for this decision as my parents have been, since that is how it is in my country – the elders exert considerable influence in matters of education. Fortunately, my own positive inclination towards economics as the major subject sealed the issue. Our factory in China employing nearly 600 persons produces a wide variety of stainless steel cookware items. This is a fairly large business and it inevitably creeps into our everyday Shen 2 li ves, all the time. Family discussions or little talks around the dining table or even while on holidays always end up in business matters, and I was thus exposed to the affairs of our business since childhood. This has kindled an interest in me – first in general factory affairs, and later as I grew up, in the nitty-gritty of running a profitable business venture. I was often to be seen at my father’s office and factory, observing at firsthand how he handled his routine work, how he interacted with his staff and workers, and how he dealt with his clients. It is an invaluable experience for me to become aware of the practical world of business, and for my father’s staff and workmen to recognize me as one among them. This was my informal internship and background to my choosing economics as the academic option. Since completing high school studies, I have been attending working in my father’s office and factory more formally. I do this even now, whenever, I travel home on vacation. I have been assigned work in different departments, under the guidance of senior staff. I have worked in the factory assisting the manager and learning the production processes, staff deployment, order processing and dispatches; in office duties, I have done document preparation and presentation, raising bills and follow up for collecting payments; in the human resource department, I have come to know of staff management, salary administration and training; in the finance department, I was exposed to the different aspects of the relationship between a business and the banks like capital investments, working capital and stock/bills hypothecation, cash flow issues etc. All in all, I should say that I have just begun to appreciate the intricacies of business management and felt the need for a proper professional qualification for a fuller understanding of the processes, especially relating to the economics and financing of a running business. As a first step i n this direction, I have selected the subjects of macro and micro-economics, statistics, Shen 3 social sciences and business for my major at the SBCC. I have begun to enjoy solving problems in the economics subject. After completing my graduation/post-graduation in University of California, I wish to return to China and play an important role in the development of our enterprise. 2. What character or attitude

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Corporate Income Taxes - Reorganizations and Consolidated Tax Returns Research Paper

Corporate Income Taxes - Reorganizations and Consolidated Tax Returns - Research Paper Example One disadvantage of this type of reorganization is the dealing with dissenting shareholders if the laws in place require a consent to the deal by majority shareholders of the acquiring and acquired corporations. Some of these dissenting shareholders are difficult to deal with. Moreover, the law requires that all liabilities of the target company be assumed by the acquiring one (Ginsburg, 2012). Type B reorganizations have the advantage of isolating the liabilities of the target in a subsidiary. As such, these commitments do not affect the principal acquiring corporation. Moreover, the assets and contracts that are deemed non-transferrable are not lost in the reorganization. Type B reorganizations are simple and easy to carry out. They involve no losses or gains by either the shareholders or the corporations involved. These reorganizations have the disadvantage that only the voting stock can be used as consideration by the acquiring company. Another disadvantage of the same is the fact that the minority shareholders of the target can bring problems to the acquiring company and its operations. Thus, for the acquiring company to be safe, it has to acquire 100% of the target company’s stock. The type C reorganizations have the characteristic of one company acquiring all the assets of the target. It exchanges these assets for its voting stock, as well as a limited collection of some of its other property. One of the advantages of this reorganization is the fact that the acquiring company can choose the liabilities of the target that it wants to assume. In so doing, the acquiring company is not overwhelmed with the unwanted liabilities of the acquired corporation and does not undergo much struggle in offsetting them. An acquiring company chooses the commitments that it knows it can easily meet and settle. Another advantage is the fact that the

Credit Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Credit Management - Essay Example The six specific items of information those are available from a cooperative bank source are agreement details, government registration, balance sheet details, tax return details, reserve bank registration and annual banking transactions. (Lock, 330) It should be taken into account the relevancy of marketable securities depend on the nature of those marketable securities depending on the formulated ascertained value projected. From the credit-grantor's standpoint the best possible marketable securities would be those that are easily liquidated and low in risk. (Lock, 19) The major advantage of a customer's accounts receivable that is ageing is that this would be one of the most applicable means of security possible. Apart from that there remains chance that if used properly this customer's accounts receivable would fetch more premium than the customer's own capacity. (Lock, 176) To ascertain the consistency of the customer over a period of time the value of "Spreading" successive balance sheets on comparison forms is one of the most advantageous instruments for the credit grantor. This is the best possible proof of the customer's credibility. (Lock, 119) There are several advantages of setting credit lines for established customers but the most important could be defined as mutual benefit in terms of trust obtained. The second can be treated as goodwill calculation theory that allows the client to benefit from the credit line. Thirdly it becomes important for the company to overlook few objectives as the customer is tested and proved. (Lock, 22) 9.) You hold a $30,000.00 order from a customer whose regular line of credit is $10,000.00. The customer explains that this out-of-routine order will cover their needs for the next 90 days. The customer has always been prompt and owes nothing at present. Explain why you would accept this order for triple your credit line The prime reason of granting this order to the customer is that the customer's credibility is well tested and proved. Thus it becomes obvious that the customer is to be trusted as a credit line is already established. However, with the assurance from the customer it could be enumerated safe to grant this order. (Lock,