In What Ways Do the Central Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Engage the Audience Essay Example For Students

In What Ways Do the Central Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Engage the Audience Essay Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, a popular play that continues to capture the imagination and emotions of people around the world. The drama portrays the passionate, violent and often desperate lives of the youth of Verona. Even today, the tragedy resembles a blueprint of the problems that the adolescents of the twentieth century must face each day. In this play, Shakespeare explores the pitfalls of young love and the consequences they face from their actions. They explained their love to be true love and they knew that they had to be together, even though their families were enemies and it was truly forbidden for the two of them to marry. This created countless problems for these two young lovers, whose lives ended as a result of this feud. This play is extremely popular. Even so long after it had been written. This play is very popular with all ages. It is especially popular with teenagers. It is so popular with teenagers because it is easy for them to relate to Romeo and Juliet. Who or what is responsible for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, is a tragic love story about two young lovers whose love was destined for destruction. These two young star-crossed lovers did not imagine that their love would lead to the tragedies that it did. They did nothing wrong except fall in love. Three aspects of their destruction included the feud between the two, Friar Lawrence because of his irresponsible actions and the most important aspect of all is fate. The feud was an aspect of this tragedy as the obstacle of not being able to see each other proved too great. In a way, Friar Lawrence can also be to blame as he did agree to marry Romeo and Juliet without their parents consent. I believe fate played the most important part in the tragic end. It seems this tragedy was unavoidable. The feud between the families partly caused the deaths. They were not allowed to see each other. Perhaps if they were allowed to and the parents knew about the situation, Romeo and Juliet may have been convinced by their parents that they were moving too fast and possibly would have agreed to wait. If all the above happened, it is highly unlikely it would have all ended tragically. The hate between the families was so great that even the servants hated each other. The fight scene at the beginning of the play shows this, (act 1 scene 1 line 1). This feud caused countless problems for the two young lovers. Friar Lawrence was also responsible. It was his idea for Juliet to fake her death. His plan failed and Romeo and Juliets lives ended. Perhaps if the Friar had taken his own advice, and not allowed Romeo and Juliet to rush their marriage, they might have lived. There is no doubt that Friar Lawrence is responsible, but to what extent? It can be said that the feud between the families forced the Friar to act like he did. He only wanted Romeo and Juliet to be happy so he did what he thought was necessary, but this does not excuse him, nothing can. What he did was wrong. He shouldnt have agreed to marry the two without their parents consent. He should have informed the parents of the situation. The Friar was a good man. The prince also thought so and didnt punish the Friar. (act 5 scene 3 line 274-275). Even though he meant well, he was still wrong. .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .postImageUrl , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:hover , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:visited , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:active { border:0!important; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:active , .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8 .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc9e6aabb22fdf204aa8e7420f2d6a1d8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: With particular reference to Act 4 scene 1 how far is Shylock presented as a victim or a villain within the play EssayFate was also a factor of the tragedy, but to what extent? Before judging to what extent fate was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, we need to define what fate is. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, fate is the inevitable destiny or necessity destined term of life; doom. So basically fate is a pre-arranged sequence of events in someones life. In Romeo and Juliet, was fate the main cause of the deaths of the young couple, or was their death caused by the mistakes of themselves and others? Today, most people choose to believe that they have responsibility and control their own lives. They believe that their problems are caused by the actions of themselves or those who are around them. From one point of view, it is true that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were caused by the mistakes they made themselves, but from another, it couldnt have been avoided. In my opinion, it was fate. This is because the sender of the message was not allowed into Mantua. Even if he did get in, Romeo wouldnt have received the message as he was already informed by Baltazar that Juliet had passed away and hurried to Verona. In result he thought Juliet was dead and he killed himself. Some say if the message was sent sooner by Friar Lawrence, they may have lived, but I disagree. Simply because what happened didnt seem like a coincidence. Too many things happened for it to be coincidence. It could only have been fate. Shakespeares use of language engages the audience in the tragedy. Throughout the play, his language of love makes the audience feel empathy for the Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare writes things such as, Shakespeare used many oxymorons in the story of Romeo and Juliet. These oxymorons show contrast in the play. The main contrast is of love and hate which is the central theme. The whole play is based around the fact that Romeo and Juliet love each other but the hatred between their families creates many problems for them. The prologue played a very important part in the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet. It tells the audience the basic story line of the play. The prologue talks about tragedy and this makes it seem that everything that happens in the play is pre-destined. This also creates a sense of dramatic irony, as the audience knows that everything will end in tragedy. In conclusion the central tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is very engaging, even so many years after it was first written. It is so popular because it is based on love and hate, which is universal and something every one of us can relate to. Teenagers find this play very easy to relate to, especially those who have experienced young love and realise the pressures they must face.

Stone Backpack of Perfectionism free essay sample

I walk treacherously back to my dorm with a stone backpack of perfectionism. It haunts me daily. I get to my dorm. I take off my backpack. In my stone backpack of perfectionism is filled with preconceptions. These preconceptions are like red markers. When I see red on my paper I get scared because I know that means my work wasn’t good enough. My preconceptions vary from thinking â€Å"I will fail†, â€Å"I won’t make the word count†, â€Å"My professor won’t understand where I’m coming from†, â€Å"My grammar will be incorrect†, â€Å"My ideas won’t be clear†. The more red bold markers that fill my backpack the heavier it weighs me down. These red markers represent the preconceptions that fill my backpack. These preconceptions started from when they were my reality. When I was younger seeing an F wasn’t something new. Making the word count was a shocker for me. We will write a custom essay sample on Stone Backpack of Perfectionism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A teacher understanding where I’m coming from never happened. My thoughts were always all over the place. Seeing my grammar correct was a rare occasion. My ideas were usually just as all over the place as my thoughts were. Each preconception is its own red marker. These red markers have made me feel petrified as a kid and still do now. These preconceptions and need for perfection started at a very young age. Since I can remember I’ve always strived for perfection especially in school. Due to having a learning disability school has always been a struggle but that’s never stopped me from trying to be perfect. Inside my backpack are blocks. The blocks are from testing. When I had to do testing there was a block activity when you would use blocks to match a picture. The pressure that was put on me when testing as a child made me feel anxious. Perfectionism to me is like a phobia, it’s the fear of making a mistake. I feel as though the results of my mistake will be catastrophic when I do make a mistake. This catastrophic mistake is like a black hole to me. The black hole is life less and draining. It sucks out my ability to write, focus, and fathom ideas. This black hole weighs me down even more than the red markers do. Having an abusive father never made anything easier. Although the idea of someone may seem light, my dad is the heaviest object in my backpack. The pressure of him always around makes me always strive for perfection in fear of what he may do if I dont reach it. Since I can remember I’ve always felt as if I was walking on eggshells. My dad always expected perfection and nothing less. Because of that I always strived for it. Having something less than perfect meant consequences and that scared me so I always tried my best to please him. When I lived with my dad it was always unexpected as to what was going to happen. Carrying around a stone backpack of perfectionism is like having a constant reminder to try to be perfect but it always backfires because perfection isn’t easy nor is it real. Unfortunately, for myself and for people like me that strive for perfection they end up in a never ending cycle of disappointment. I aim for the best grade possible but when I end up with a check/check plus I feel pathetic. I feel that I could’ve tried harder or that my effort, dedication, and hard-work that I did put in goes unnoticed. It’s like a stab in the back, and that knife remains in my backpack to stab me again. There have been numerous times where this has happened and it only gets worse in my opinion. People always say the feeling of failure gets better but it’s just a sharper pain next time around. Next time I do try harder. I put in more effort. I’m more dedicated. I work harder and this time I end up with the same grade. By doing this I make myself stuck in a never ending cycle of setting myself up for failure by having unrealistic expectations of perfection. Having unrealistic expectations just ends up leaving me disappointed. It’s one ticket to a never ending roller coaster of more downs than ups sitting at the bottom of my backpack. Striving for perfection is something I think everyone has tried to do at least once in their life but I feel like we forget that perfection isnt real. There’s a unicorn in my backpack to remind me the perfection isn’t real. I’ve learned that perfection isn’t real but constructing goals and wanting to achieve them isn’t wrong either. Sometimes people, including myself reach a self-destructive mindset where they train themselves to think or have been trained by others to think that they aren’t good enough if they don’t have perfection or their less than someone else. I now know that isn’t true. To represent my self-destructive behavior is a toy monster truck in my backpack. I can remember how rough my younger brother would be when he’d play with his toy trucks. He would break them sometimes. For me I sleep for endless hours to cope with getting a bad grade. It leaves me broken just like those toy trucks. From my time in ENL 105 I’ve learned what I have about perfection. Most importantly that it isn’t real. Perfection is like a mind game. It plays with your head, your thoughts, your goals. Wanting to achieve perfection can be disastrous. On my way to finding voice and through feedback and realization I have come to terms with the fact that my best is my best and that’s okay. I should still set goals and try my best to achieve them. Achieving my best is me putting in hard work, determination, and perseverance. It looks like me in my dorm, hopefully quiet, typing away for hours. To keep me focused I have prescribed Adderall in my backpack. Hard work, determination, and perseverance also looks like my code meshing/ code switching paper where I received a check plus. This made me feel good about myself, I had a smile on my face and that’s why there’s a smiley face sticker in my backpack. In my backpack is multiple erasers for all the mistakes I’ll make but will erase and continue trying. When I was younger I struggled to find my voice. When Im struggling my voice is weak and tired. Papers were always a struggle. As I grew older it became a bit more manageable but I did still struggle. Now in ENL 105 I have found my voice. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t struggle at times but I have resources and people that are willing to help me now. My voice now has gotten stronger. ENL 105 has taught me a lot. It’s taught me being in the present moment, different audiences, voice, no voice, real voice, writers block, new vocabulary, denotation, connotation, summary, paraphrase, quotation, prewriting, and intrapersonal rhetoric. Being in classroom 101A has been transforming. I’ve become a better writer. Lastly, inside my backpack is teddy bear that represents Professor Peary and all that she has taught me and all that I have gained from the class and will carry on to ENL 110.

The 2 Main Forms of Energy

The 2 Main Forms of Energy Although there are several types of energy, scientists can group them into two main categories: kinetic energy and potential energy. Here is a look at the forms of energy, with examples of each type. Kinetic Energy Kinetic energy is energy of motion. Atoms and their components are in motion, so all matter possesses kinetic energy. On a larger scale, any object in motion has kinetic energy. A common formula for kinetic energy is for a moving mass: KE 1/2 mv2 KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity. A typical unit for kinetic energy is the joule. Potential Energy Potential energy is energy that matter gains from its arrangement or position. The object has the potential to do work. Examples of potential energy include a sled at the top of a hill or a pendulum at the top of its swing. One of the most common equations for potential energy can be used to determine the energy of an object with respect to its height above a base: E mgh PE is potential energy, m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height. A common unit of potential energy is the joule (J). Because potential energy reflects the position of an object, it can have a negative sign. Whether it is positive or negative depends on whether work is done by the system or on the system. Other Types of Energy While classical mechanics classifies all energy as either kinetic or potential, there are other forms of energy. Other forms of energy include: gravitational energy - the energy resulting from the attraction of two masses to each other.electric energy - energy from a static or moving electrical charge.magnetic energy - energy from the attraction of opposite magnetic fields, repulsion of like fields, or from an associated electric field.nuclear energy - energy from the strong force that bonds protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.thermal energy - also called heat, this is energy that can be measured as temperature. It reflects the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules.chemical energy - energy contained in chemical bonds between atoms and molecule.mechanical energy - the sum of the kinetic and potential energy.radiant energy - energy from electromagnetic radiation, including visible light and x-rays (for example). Â  An object may possess both kinetic and potential energy. For example, a car driving down a mountain has kinetic energy from its movement and potential energy from its position relative to sea level. Energy can change from one form into others. For example, a lightning strike can convert electrical energy into light energy, thermal energy, and sound energy. Conservation of Energy While energy can change forms, it is conserved. In other words, the total energy of a system is a constant value. This is often written in terms of kinetic (KE) and potential energy (PE): KE PE Constant A swinging pendulum is an excellent example. As a pendulum swings, it has maximum potential energy at the top of the arc, yet zero kinetic energy. At the bottom of the arc, it has no potential energy, yet maximum kinetic energy.

or the supernatural in the medieval lay Essay Example

The role of fairies and/or the supernatural in the medieval lay Essay Example The role of fairies and/or the supernatural in the medieval lay Paper The role of fairies and/or the supernatural in the medieval lay Paper Essay Topic: Literature Medieval lays are essentially tales of romance, often of Celtic origin. Similar patterns of events, or certain features are common in many lays, for example the theme of deeply felt love or a complex love situation where two lovers are separated, go through a period of grief and are eventually reunited. This pattern of events can been compared to rites of passage, as will be discussed later. The mixture between reality and the otherworld is a key aspect of the medieval lays. The supernatural is not over-emphasised, instead it works alongside the reality of the lay, making it much more believable to the audience. Fairies and the supernatural play a particularly important role in Sir Orfeo, based on the classical Orpheus myth. Sir Orfeo enters the fairy-kingdom to rescue his wife Heurodis who has been snatched by the fairy king. Sir Orfeo is able to charm the fairy king with his harp-playing ability, and the fairy king agrees to let Heurodis go. Other lays containing elements of the supernatural include Lanval taken from the Lais of Marie De France, and the Franklins Tale from Chaucers Canterbury Tales. Lanval is lead into the otherworld by two beautiful maids to see their fairy-mistress. She gives him everything he desires, but makes him promise that he will never speak a word of their love to anyone, otherwise he will never see her again. On returning to his own world, Queen Guinevere makes a pass at him but he refuses, insults her in his anger, and talks of his love for the fairy-mistress. Despite this, she forgives him and rescues him from his trial before King Arthur and they return to Avalon. In the Franklins Tale, Dorigen marries Arveragus (a Knight), but then he has to leave to go to England. Dorigen is heart-broken and inconsolable. She attends a May dance, where Aurelius falls in love with her. She makes a rash promise that, should he be able to remove all the rocks from the coast (so that her husband can return safely), she would love him. The supernatural in this lay is when Aurelius meets an Astrologer, whom he pays to make an illusion that the rocks have disappeared. Aurelius goes back to Dorigen to claim his reward. However, her husband returns and Aurelius takes pity on Dorigen, releasing her from the oath she swore. Motifs and Celtic tradition relating to fairies and the supernatural Many of the medieval lays contain motifs relating to the supernatural. It is common, for example, for mortals to be snatched away by the fairies when lying in a meadow or under a tree particularly the ympe-tree described in Sir Orfeo. In Celtic tradition is it believed that those who lie or fall asleep under a tree or in a meadow place themselves in the power of the fairies. In Sir Orfeo, Heurodis first encounter with the fairy king occurs whilst she is asleep under an ympe-tree. The use of the orchard/meadow in the lays creates the impression of a walled-garden used so often in medieval romance, which should signify safety and serenity. The fairies, however, often appear in this environment sometimes through dreams (as is the case in Sir Orfeo where Heurodis is first visited by the fairy king in her dreams). This motif is also used in Lanval, where the fairy mistresss two maids approach him while he is laying by a stream in a meadow. Unlike Heurodis encounter, Lanval is approached whilst he is awake, which to some extent makes is less fantastical and more realistic to the audience. The maids appear to be much more like mortals. Other motifs relate to the idea of rite of passage, as discussed earlier. The transition stage is the most important in the lays, as it is the point in which the supernatural usually plays the most important role. It is apparent that the transition stage is often a period of immense grief and sorrow, and involves some kind of complication for the lovers involved. In Sir Orfeo, he comes across the fairy king on a hunt after being separated from Heurodis, and his quest to reclaim her from the fairy kingdom begins. Also, Lanval meets the fairy mistress when he has been separated from King Arthurs court. The three stages in the Franklins Tale are not as obvious because there are two possible elements of separation one of Dorigen from her husband, and one of Aurelius from Dorigen. The encounters with Aurelius and the supernatural could, however, be interpreted as an obstacle to Dorigens marriage an obstacle that they are able to overcome. The fact that the supernatural encounters generally occur during the most important stage shows a heavy reliance on the supernatural for the progression of events in the lays. This is characteristic of medieval lays and, to some extent, the way in which it is used distinguishes the lays from other medieval romance. Sir Orfeo is based entirely around Heurodis being snatched away by the fairy king. Similarly, Aurelius being able to fulfil his promise to Dorigen in the Franklins Tale is totally reliant upon supernatural intervention in the form of the astrologer. Portrayal of fairies, the otherworld and the supernatural in medieval lays It is common in Celtic tradition for mortals to be snatched away by fairies and taken into their kingdom. The image that Sir Orfeo sees when he enters the fairy kingdom is that of all those who have been snatched away, frozen in their last state as they were on Earth. Heurodis is shown to him asleep under a similar tree in the fairy kingdom to that she was snatched from in the mortal world. This not only stresses the significance of the orchard motif, but it also suggests that these surroundings provide some kind of gateway between the two worlds. It is no coincidence that the writer describes Heurodis sitting under similar trees in both worlds. If this environment does act as a gateway, it may be seen as a ray of hope for Sir Orfeo as there is a possibility of transporting Heurodis back. The similarity between the mortal world and the fairy world in Sir Orfeo is a striking feature of the lay. When Heurodis is snatched away an taken into the fairy kingdom, she is shown castels and tours, rivers, forestes, frith with flours (Johnson 1987:6) This same line is repeated to describe what Sir Orfeo has left behind in his kingdom when he goes to live alone in the woods. Again, it is not a coincidence that exactly the same line is repeated for both worlds. This makes the two worlds much more alike, reducing the strangeness of the fairy world. Here the poet is trying to create a world that is familiar to the audience. It is easier to accept the supernatural, as it is closer to reality. Similarly, in Lanval there is a strong sense of reality despite his love being immortal. Here, the supernatural elements of his fairy-mistress and being taken into the otherworld are balanced with the very real issue of Lanval facing a legal system and ultimately death because of his encounter. The supernatural is not for fun, it creates some element of danger for the mortals involved. Lanval and the Franklins tale are not supernatural in the same way as Sir Orfeo. The supernatural elements in the two are played-down, and much more believable to the medieval audience. In Lanval the fairy-mistress appears mortal until the very end of the lay where we are told she returns to Avalon the fairy kingdom. In the Franklins Tale, the supernatural is in the form of an astrologer/sorcerer. The fact that he is more closely related to natural magic is more believable, and shows that the supernatural plays a structural role rather than just making the lays more interesting. Other similarities can be seen in Sir Orfeo, where the hunt with the fairy king and his thousand Knights is reflected in the mortal world by Sir Orfeo and his ten hundred Knightes (Johnson 1987:7) when they try to protect Heurodis from being snatched away. The fact that one world seems to be a reflection of the other means that the presence of the supernatural within the lays does not detract from the main theme usually love. The similarities between the two worlds emphasise the theme of what a good ruler should be. The fairy king displays chivalrous behaviour similar to that of Sir Orfeo by keeping his word and letting Heurodis go back to the mortal world, despite the fact that he is under no obligation to do so. If the fairy king did not conform to these rules, Sir Orfeos method of rescuing Heurodis would not have been successful. The immortal also appear more humanly as they can, to some extent, be controlled or subtly manipulated by mortals. Sir Orfeo, for example, is able to charm the fairy king with his harp-playing ability into making him promise to let Heurodis go. This is also true in Lanval, where despite her promise that Lanval would never see her again if he spoke of their love, the fairy mistress remained loyal to him by rescuing him from King Arthurs court. Conclusion It is apparent from the three lays discussed that the structure of the lays relies heavily upon the supernatural, it is essential to the development of events rather than being added for decoration. In each of the lays it is presented in a way that makes it reflect the mortal world in values as well as appearance, particularly in Sir Orfeo. It also acts to highlight the rites of passage motif, as the supernatural encounters occur in the transitional stage. Finally, it acts to emphasise the values and lessons to be learned from the lays, such as the values needed to be a good leader as with the fairy king and Sir Orfeo; also the importance of being true and forgiving like Aurelius in the Franklins Tale and the fairy mistress in Lanval. Overall, the supernatural plays an essential structural role, but does not undermine the main themes of the lays instead it makes them clearer and for the audience to see.

The Pepsi Challenge Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Pepsi Challenge - Case Study Example The case study deals with Pespi Inc. and the issues it faces with the implementation of enterprise software platform throughout the length and breadth of the organisation. The organisation faces challenges on several fronts. It confronts resistance to change - from the different business divisions, high costs of implementation and labour issues. The organisation's transition to a techno savvy business entity has not been smooth and this report aims to analyse the different incidents which that comes across. Autonomy and fragmentation are the biggest obstacles that the organisation has to resolve. Autonomy is charectised by the reluctance of the different divisions to follow suit in pursuance of a central data warehousing system -because of a variety of reasons. Fragmentation is apparent due to the different software and hardware supports on which the different sections of this huge organisation runs. The purpose of this report is to firstly identify the chief areas of concern that the organisation is facing, and secondly suggest alternatives to the top management so that these problems can be overcome. The case brief outlines the steps that the management has already taken to chalk out a path for the organisation towards becoming an IT backed system - which also includes the problems it has encountered on the way. This report aims to explore newer opportunities that could have gone unnoticed by the management. It is understood that the organisation is huge - Pepsi operates in over 200 countries and the group revenues were to the tune of 43,251 million U.S. dollars in the fiscal year of 2008 (We are Performance with Purpose - Pepsico 2008 Annual Report, 2008). So the challenges that such a company would face while implementing a different outlook towards IT would, invariably be enormous. Background The background of the report is a case brief which deals at length with Pepsi, the issues it faces with the implementation of enterprise software and the efforts that need to be taken by the company in order to overcome the situation. The organisation is faced with several challenges - it operates in a highly competitive market, which is heavily dependent on the prices of the raw material and with issues to tackle major socio - political issues across the globe. It is in this background that the company has embarked on a mission to come up with a leaner supply chain and better data warehousing. "We depend on information technology as an enabler to improve the effectiveness of our operations and to interface with our customers, as well as to maintain financial accuracy and efficiency", states the latest annual report of the company (We are Performance with Purpose - Pepsico 2008 Annual Report, 2008). Approach/ Methodology/ Theoretical Framework The case brief required a thorough analysis. It was found necessary to visit the official

Procter & Gamble Company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Procter & Gamble Company - Research Paper Example The company, which has been in the industry for 174 years, has earned a great number of recognitions over the years. These included, to cite a few, a 6th ranking on Fortune’s â€Å"Global Most Admired Companies†, a 2nd on Fortune’s â€Å"Top Companies for Leaders† survey, top rankings on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index from 2000 to 2010, and most innovative manufacturer in the consumer packaged goods industry for the last decade given by the Symphony IRI group. In addition, P&G has also been recognized by the National Association for Female Executives (Top 50 Companies for Executive Women) and Black Enterprise magazine (40 Best Companies for Diversity); awards related to creating a diverse workplace. On top of that, P&G has been consistently a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, made up of 17 corporations that spend more than $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers, since 2005 (Procter & Gamble Co., 2011). P&G serves consumer, household and phar maceutical goods to consumers in more than 180 countries. Having around 127,000 employees for ground operations in 80 countries (Procter & Gamble Co., 2011) , the company makes at least 250 brands in six main categories: laundry and cleaning (detergents), paper goods (toilet paper), beauty care (cosmetics and shampoos), food and beverages (coffee and snacks), feminine care (sanitary towels) and health care (toothpaste and medicine), (Corporate Watch , 2002). Among the quality and leadership brands manufactured by the company are Ivory, Pampers, Tide, Ariel, Always, Whisper, Pantene, Folgers, Charmin, Downy, Lenor, Iams, Crest, Oral B, Actonel, Duracell, Olay, head & Shoulders, Wella, Gilette, and Braun (Procter & Gamble Co., 2006). History P&G has changed the lifestyle of consumers worldwide, the history of which can be rooted way back in 1837 in Cincinnati, Ohio. William Procter, who was originally from England, and James Gamble, an immigrant from Ireland, had crossed paths when th ey married sisters Olivia and Elizabeth Norris (Procter & Gamble Co., 2006). The partnership of the two was suggested by their mutual father-in-law, Alexander Norris, who stated that both William’s trade, candle making and James’ which was soap making would utilize lye from animal fat and wood ashes that were prominent in Cincinnati (FundingUniverse, 2003). At that time of the business establishment, Williams and James used a forward-looking approach despite the financial panic across US wherein banks were bankrupt and competition among soap and candle makers were tough. Despite the years leading to civil war in the 1850s, P&G was able to obtain large contracts from the national government to provide the Union army with soap and candle products (Dyer, Dalzell, & Olegario, 2004). Furthermore, Williams and James’ company was able to start one of the first profit-sharing programs in the US, and also invested in a research laboratory (Procter & Gamble Co., 2006). It was in the 1890s when P&G developed and sold 30 different types of soap, which included the famous brand Ivory and soaps for dishwashing and washing clothes. The effective advertisements of the products through the use of radio â€Å"soap operas†, product sampling and promotional premiums increased the demand which led to expansion of operations in Kansas City, Kansas and Ontario, Canada. Another world-wide known product introduced by P&G in 1946 was Tide. The introduction of Tide was remarkably successful which paved the way to having new markets across continents (Procter & Gamble Co., 2006). A few years following the sensation of Tide, several products were brought into the market. The first fluoride toothpaste, Crest, became popularly known as it was endorsed by the American Dental

Own Business Essay Example for Free

Own Business Essay If I were to start my own business, the first decision I would make would be in deciding what product or service my company would produce or provide. For example, do I have a greater interest in the area of production or service? In deciding this, I would research the market to determine if there was a need for the product or service I was considering. I would also conduct research to determine what area (s) would be some of the better areas to begin the type of business I plan on undertaking. Things I might consider would be the competition, noticeable need for my product or service in the area and even presenting the idea at a public meeting in the area while evaluating the response I receive. Another key type of decision would be determining the size of the business. Along with determining for example whether the business would be a small business, medium-size or large business, I would need to determine the staffing needs of the business. As Al Coke stated in the book, â€Å"Seven Steps to a Successful Business Plan,† â€Å"What are your short-term and long-term staffing requirements? What kinds of skills will be needed at each level, now and in the future? † (Coke, 2002). Along the same line, what types of employees will be needed for the positions. If my company is involved in technology, I would need to hire individuals with training and education in the technology field. Deciding upon which tools and equipment will be needed for the operation of the business I have chosen would be another key decision needed to be made. For example, if I were considering opening a restaurant, I would need to look into the prices, types and sizes of the various commercial cooking equiptment available. One could include the company’s vision and mission statements as key decisions when starting up a company. As stated in Mr. Coke’s own words, â€Å"You must have two stakes in the ground to build a story and a subsequent business plan: vision and mission. One creates passion and the other provides purpose (Coke, 2002, p. 111). There would be different financial decisions to be made. For example, how much will I need or can I afford for start-up costs? What are the long-term capital investment requirements? In writing all of the financial decisions down, a good question to ask would be, â€Å"Do the financial numbers make good business sense? † (Coke, 2002, p. 33) Although the items listed above would just be some of the key decisions I would make when considering starting a business, I would definitely include a written business plan. In the business plan I would include information like that which I have listed above along with statistical information and data that I would use throughout my business inception and into the future.