How External Environmental Factors Impact Marketing Decisions essays

How External Environmental Factors Impact Marketing Decisions essays The field of marketing is a complex one. Those who work in it are charged with reaching the masses for the purpose of promotion, regardless of what may be going on in the world at the time. Marketing companies world wide have to remain ever mindful of external factors including legal, economical and technological aspects if they want to remain successful. Looking at these external environmental factors can provide foundational information for the planning of marketing strategy. This holds true whether the marketing is to target a global audience or remain in the domestic One of the most important things to incorporate into any marketing plan regardless of its size is the understanding of legal aspects. The legality of the world must be adhere to in any life plan but in marketing it can mean the difference between success and public humiliation. All one has to do is look through the news history and one will locate stories in which marketing went against the legal system and caused a company to close or a product to be pulled off the Market. Disregarding the legal aspects of marketing can be extremely expensive(Fitzpatrick, 2004). One example of this is a tactic called bait and switch. Advertising laws prevent the offering of one product or price to lure consumers in, and then claiming it was JUST sold and trying to steer them into purchasing a more expensive product. It is bait and switch if when the ad was placed there was knowledge that the advertised product It is illegal throughout America and ignoring the legal factor of marketing One such suit was against a bank in Rhode Island. The class action suit accused Fleet Bank of using age old familiar bait and switch tactics to lure new credit card customers to their offices. "During 1999 and 2000, Fleet conducted a nationwide advertising campaign, offering a non-introductory, fixed annual percentage rate of 8.5 percent or lower for...

Is Female Perception of the Body Image Affected by the Media

Is Female Perception of the Body Image Affected by the Media Here is an overview of the body-image issue. Read how magazines and fashion industry determine the standards of the female body. Mass Media Effect on How We Perceive Ourselves America certainly has many problems in its own society – institutionalized racism, poverty, ignorance, teen pregnancy and drug addiction. But another major problem lies within the work of the media, the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet) regarded collectively. The media, whether we realize it or not, dictates what we let into our lives; this certainly affects how we perceive ourselves – because we compare ourselves, and are compared, to celebrities and other people we see in the media. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY EXAMPLE: DOES VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA CAUSE VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN? Most times, these celebrities are quite perfect-looking individuals, and so everyday people can have a low self-esteem because of new low body image – and this definitely applies to many adults and most teens, male and female alike. However, in this case, an argument will be made that illustrates how media influence the female perception of the body image. Magazine Pics Install a Lack of Confidence Let’s look at how females are portrayed in publications and on the Internet. Go to a magazine stand – you’ll see attractive, strikingly beautiful women on just about every cover. It’s sickening. This definitely over-sexualizes and objectifies the female beauty. But it’s been that way a long time, though that doesn’t justify why it still exists. Also, on the Internet, in newspaper ads and on billboards in dodgy parts of town, are billions of erotic pictures and videos of women. For young girls and insecure women, this instills a lack of confidence in their own appearance, and a body-image problem emerges. This problem could last a lifetime; maybe it’s the reason they hit the gym, get elective surgery or buy an expensive Italian sports car. Thanks to the media, the American public – heck, the world, too – adores so many of the same people, actors, athletes, and billionaires, that the public feels lost in the midst of things – they feel overlooked, irrelevant and worthless. You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful. ? Amy Bloom Secondly, non-skinny, non-model-type women do appear on magazine covers, though, but they are usually overweight, maybe handsome and funny or overweight, plain looking and rich – like Queen Latifah, Oprah, Amy Schumer and Melissa McCarthy. This is terrible for a woman’s body image because it illustrates how – if you are an average-looking woman, maybe a little chubby, without a fortune, and not an actor or media mogul – you aren’t important enough to be on the cover of a magazine. Not that this means anything in the grand scheme of things, but it does happen and will continue to happen as long as the media is running the show and influencing people. Here’s the thing: wealthy billionaires run the media companies, mostly financially supported by the advertiser who depends on the consumer’s purchasing power. A woman with a low body image buys the products advertised to them in commercials hosted by beautiful bombshells of women. They purc hase many things advertised to them in order to fill the void they have created for themselves, deeply instilled by the media. People Can’t Take Their Own Mediocrity Lastly, the two aforementioned points illustrate how media influence the female perception of the body image, and this causes the everyday woman – bombarded by advertisements, commercials, magazine covers, Web articles – to feel inferior to the women they see on TV and in the movies. This is a terrible thing, for it tends to warp the minds of insecure people, men, and women alike, who aren’t confident and comfortable in their own skin, with their own imperfect appearance and body. This is quite tragic. This is perhaps why we still see suicides and homicidal rampages, alcoholic and drug binges – they can’t take their own mediocrity, their lack of celebrity, their ordinariness. We are trained to think, in this culture, that we are nothing if we are not of some renown. TV HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON TEENAGERS To conclude, let’s try hard to address this problem in the future. It’s easy to see how media influence the female’s perception of how they view their bodies, their looks. Women probably assess their value in comparison to the beauty or style or sexual features of a famous female. And because most everyday women in America do not look like Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie, many women feel inadequate and inferior and undesirable. Until the media actively tries to include the everyday American woman in advertisements, magazine covers, billboards and TV shows, America will have this problem – and it could have many socio-economic implications that could point to a shift in confidence, along with many mental-health and low self-esteem problems.

The United State Automotive Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The United State Automotive Industry - Essay Example From the paper it is clear that  most of the Japanese, Korean and India companies have assemblies in the U.S. such as Chrysler-Toyota, Hyundai Mercedes among others.   Moreover, more companies are coming to set up manufacturing plants due to the high demanding market in the country.   The latest company to come to the U.S. is Volkswagen in 2011.As the study stresses the automotive industry has different sectors that define the success of the industry. The industry has and engine plant that solely manufacture engine for the companies. In addition, the companies have separately and jointly own research and development department that researches on the efficiently way of producing vehicles at cheap costs and for a better environment. In addition, the industry I characterised by design and testing autonomous departments.  The automotive industry contributes approximately 4% to the country GDP. In addition, the industry directly employs 786,000 as of the end of 2012. The automotiv e industry employs a high percentage of indirect employee through distribution, suppliers and other service sectors. In 2012, the industry supplied vehicles and other parts for $225 billion to other countries of the world.  The industry faces the problem of polluting the environment as most of the vehicles are made to use petroleum. The industry, therefore, faces a tough time researching for efficient vehicles that are made to use efficient energy.

Mission, aims and objectives of Tesco PLC Essay

Mission, aims and objectives of Tesco PLC - Essay Example This way, Tesco seeks to be valued not only by its customers, but also by the communities it serves, its employees and its shareholders. This vision is a qualitative long term target for Tesco as a business thus one could arguably state that it describes the Group’s aims. The company used the above stated mission and vision statements to develop seven corporate objectives. These seven corporate objectives are quantifiable medium to long-term targets that inform Tesco’s corporate strategy. The first objective for Tesco is to continue to grow its UK core market. The UK is the largest business in the Group and a key driver of sales and profit. In 2011, the UK contributed 68% of the Group’s trading profit (Tesco 2011a). The second objective is to be an outstanding international retailer both in stores and online. The company is currently in 14 markets outside the UK that contribute 25% of the Group’s profits. The third objective is to be as strong in everyth ing the company sells as they are in food. This involves broadening their products and services offering. The fourth objective is to grow their broadening retail services in all the markets where the Group operates. Tesco has largely focused their retailing services within the UK market. The three remaining objectives are: to put the Group’s responsibilities to the communities it serves at the heart of what the organisation does; to be a creator of highly valued brands; and to build their team so that the organisation creates more value. Tesco’s organizational diagram Tesco is a large, multinational organisation. This naturally leads to the organisation adopting a huge and complex organisational structure that has to delegate roles and responsibilities across the world. The diagram shown above only covers the executive level of the Group and does not include the board of directors, to whom the Group CEO, Philip Clarke reports. Evaluate how the choice of structure of an organisation can affect the way the organization is run Organisational structure refers to the patterns of relationships between roles in an organisation and its different parts. Some define it as the system of organizational rules, divided into rules regulating the behaviour of people and rules regulating the functioning of machines (Scheidegger 1997). It deals with issues such as responsibility, authority, communication, coordination, and control. A more modern definition is suggested by McMillan (2002) who defined organizational structure as the visible and invisible architecture that connects and weaves together all aspects of an organisation’s activities so that it functions as a complete dynamic entity. How an organisation is run depends on the competitive strategy that is has adopted. For example pursuing a differentiation strategy requires the business to be run differently than when the business is pursuing a low cost leadership strategy. For this reason, Chand ler (1962) argued that structure follows strategy in organizations. Strategy is the determination of long-term goals and objectives, courses of action and allocation of resources, and structure is the way the organization is put together to administer that strategy, with all the

Sport marketing assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sport marketing assignment - Essay Example To begin with, Nike invested significant amounts of time and money into researching, testing and tinkering with new footwear designs to ensure its products delivered performance based innovation to the consumers. In relation to product innovation, the Company was geared towards delivering the most innovative, highest performing and sustainable products in football. Secondly, the Company used enablement innovation through the creation of new ways and tools for the FOT to become a better player. Thirdly, the Company intended to connect at a deeper level by getting under the FOT’s skin and continue its impact through any marketing activity that would let the Nike brand resonates emotionally with the consumer. Fourthly, the Company intended to create a message that will open a dialogue with the consumer, beyond a sales increase linked to the World Cup, a strategy meant to foster lasting customer loyalty (Hartman & Patricia 35). Finally, was to incorporate a timing strategy that would ensure that the Company wins the battle before the opening whistle even blows. Moreover, the Company perceived the World Cup as an amplifier and not a goal but as a means to an end and a moment in time. In conclusion, Nike Corporation is committed to ensuring that it manufactures high-end quality products for its consumers to gain a competitive advantage over other brands. The company has designed a winning marketing strategy meant to communicate clearly and effectively to the target athletic consumers and major football

Environmental Crisis and Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Environmental Crisis and Global Warming Essay The world and mankind are facing different critical issues and problems which we inevitably have to deal with. These concerns have great impact to our lives. Everyday people have to remind themselves of these various perils to their existence. The media together with different organizations help us to become more aware of the problems currently on our midst. People may not find it an alarming and serious issue since the danger at the present time is negligible but sooner or later we will come to realize that we really are into serious danger. Global issues are global concerns. It is felt around the world not just on a particular location. It is a world wide issue that needs to be address. There are many types and forms of current global issues that the world has to face. There is the economic crisis felt all over the world. Various health issues that came out as more people get vulnerable to cancer and other forms of illnesses. There is terrorism which is a crisis in peace and order and security. There is also issue on moral degradation of the society. Lastly is the global warming or global climatic change. Even though some believe global warming to be a hoax, severe weather repercussions and environmental crisis prove the opposite. This global warming is an alarming environmental problem on a global scale. Some people still have doubts if the global warming issue is real or is just an imaginary anxiety fabricated by scientist who has predicted it as a serious problem in the near future. There was hundreds of information released about the onset of global warming. Many people have made research and studies to investigate these phenomena. Documentaries are produce to open the minds and inform the public regarding the new findings regarding the problem. A personal observation on our environment and a closer study will help one to discover and learn more about the development regarding the current issue on global warming. Big Picture of the Environmental Crisis Global warming, what does it really mean? What causes global warming? What factors contribute to this problem? And what are the effects of global warming? All of these are the questions frequently asked regarding this global environmental issue. Global warming is commonly known as the warming of the planet cause by the greenhouse gases that trapped the heat. Global warming is also known as global climatic change or global climatic disruption. Global warming resulted from the increase in heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere that causes the amplified hydrological cycle resulting in increased precipitation and flooding in some regions and more severe aridity in other areas. (Woods Hole Research Center, 2008) The phrase â€Å"climatic change† is preferred recently to be use than global warming because it helps convey that there are other changes aside from rising temperatures. Global warming involves the average increase in temperature of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute in global climate patterns. Global warming and climatic change can be caused by a variety of factors, both natural and human-induced. (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) Ozone layer depletion is oftentimes confused with global warming. Climate change and ozone depletion are different from one another but interrelated issues. Ozone depletion is not the principal cause of climate change and climate change is not the principal cause of ozone depletion. However, ozone depleting gases- such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons are greenhouse gases that do contribute to climate change. Ozone itself is a greenhouse gas that has effect on climate. In addition, certain changes in earth’s climate could affect the future condition of the ozone layer. For example, low temperature and strong polar winds both affect the extent and severity of winter polar ozone depletion. (EPA, 2008) The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that helps regulate the earth’s temperature. Greenhouse gases (e. g. , carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons) act like insulating blanket, trapping solar energy that would otherwise escape into space. Without this natural greenhouse effect temperatures would be about 60oF lower than they are now and life as we all know it today would not be possible. However human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forest and industrialization have enhance the natural greenhouse effect, causing the earth’s average temperature to rise. (EPA, 2008) The greenhouse effect was first describes in theoretical terms by a Swedish researcher, Svante Arrhenius, in the late 1800s. However it wasn’t until the following century that Arrhenius’ theory was observed. In the 1930s, scientist realized that parts of the globe had warmed during the previous half-century. Then in early 1960s scientist discovered that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was rising. Researchers began to take interest and found a strong relationship in between the increasing carbon dioxide and average global temperature. (EPA, 2008) Human-induced global climatic change is under way. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) concluded that global mean surface air temperature has increased between about 0. 5 and 1. 1 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 100 years and anticipates a further continuing rise of 1. 8 to 6. 3 degrees Fahrenheit during the next century. Sea-level has risen on average 4-10 inches during the past 100 years and is expected to rise another 6 inches to 3 feet by 2100. (WHRC, 2008) Charts and graphs showed alarming trends. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has increase steadily over the past few years. The increase in the temperature is observed as well as the increase of the sea level. More disturbances in climate patterns have been greater in the previous years. These are environmental changes brought by this problem on global warming. Being Environmentally Conscious What are the ways to be conscious and aware of our impact on earth? People have to find ways or alternative energy resources. In the US for example the energy related activities account for over three quarters of human generated greenhouse emission, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. Enhanced energy efficiency is found to be one of the cheapest, most effective and safest ways to reduce global warming. Buildings should practice energy efficiency. Cutting the fuel cost on the road by effective gas mileage will also help. Making home appliances more energy efficient will significantly lessen energy consumption. (wecansolveit. org, 2008) Adoption of renewable resources will help break the addiction to fossil fuels like coal and oil by switching to renewable energy. These include wind power, solar thermal, solar photovoltaics and geothermal power. (wecansolveit. org, 2008) Campaigns like â€Å"Zero Waste for Zero Warming† should also be supported. Landfills were found to be the largest source of methane (CH4) in the US, a global warming gas 23 times more powerful than CO2. Toxic dumps, landfills and incinerators must not be tolerated. People should learn to recycle and avoid littering. We can also use cloth bags as shopping bags to minimize waste. We need to promote green homes and businesses therefore taking monitor of our own carbon footprint. (Global Day Action, 2007) The Outcome If We Don’t Change Things: Who and What Will Be Affected? Severe weather changes will be the outcome if global warming will not be resolve early. These includes climatic change that will contribute to more destructive hurricanes and floods like Katrina, Gustav and Ike that cost millions of damages to property and life. Severe droughts will be experience in other parts of the world, deadly heat waves, wildfires and ocean temperatures rising. It will also affect the precipitation by increasing about 5 percent in atmospheric water vapor over the oceans increasing the risk of heavy rain and snow events. Scientist also predicted that the global average sea level will rise by 7 to 24 inches by 2100 due to thermal expansion alone. Arctic’s average temperature increases are nearly twice that of the rest of the world. The arctic sea ice could virtually disappear during the summer of 2020. Melting of permafrost will continue. This permafrost is ice that has permanently frozen into the ground. The permafrost traps methane and when the melting continues it will release more of it into the atmosphere. Melting due to climate change is expected to reduce the size and extent of the polar ice caps, even taking to account the potential of more snow and ice accumulation atop the ice sheets due to increased precipitation. Temperature changes in the Arctic Circle also cause polar bears to die. Also temperatures below oceans caused destruction of coral reefs. Ecosystems will also be affected because of floods and drought could lead to the risk of extinction for some animals and plant species. Agriculture and farming will also be affected due to weather extremes. Human health will also be greatly affected which will result in increases cases of malaria and dengue outbreak. Heat-related illness and cold related illness will increase. (EPA, 2008). Sandra Steingraber the author of Living Downstream also mentioned that the increase in cancer cases is attributed to environmental influences. The US Climate Policy The United States Federal Government has established a comprehensive policy to address climate change. This policy has three basic objectives namely: slowing the growth of emissions, strengthening science, technology and institutions and enhancing international cooperation. The federal government is implementing this policy through voluntary and incentive based programs and has established major government-wide programs to advance climate technologies and improve climate science. (EPA, 2008) Some of these policies include the national goal to reduce emissions intensity, current and near tem greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, climate change technology program, climate change science program and international cooperation like the IPCC and the Asia Pacific Partnership on Ocean Development and Climate. Action on global warming by cities and local government includes building codes, zoning, transportation systems and electricity production campaigns. These include local regulation requiring newly constructed homes to be more energy efficient, a city or local subsidy to encourage homeowners to install electricity generating solar panels, local regulations requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20% of their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources. , changing the city’s or town’s zoning rules to require neighborhoods have a mix of housing, offices, industry, schools and stores close together to encourage walking and decrease the need for using cars among other regulations or local climate change policies. (American Support for Local Action on Global Warming) Conclusion Global warming is a real problem of our times. Some are skeptics and believe it is just a kind of â€Å"hysteria† by some scientists. Even if Al Gore emphasized global warming in his documentary film â€Å"The Inconvenient Truth† many still have doubts if it is real. Nature or what we call â€Å"mother earth† like humans need to be taken care of. It is our responsibility to manage our earth’s natural resources and to preserve our planet making it a livable place. If people will continue to abuse the environment and become careless in throwing toxic waste and emitting toxic gases our planet will eventually come to destruction someday. The predictions may not be far from real for us at the moment but it doesn’t mean we should neglect our responsibility in protecting our environment. There is still time for people to reduce the outcome of this event. People should start thinking seriously on how they can contribute in solving and altering the increasing scenario of global warming. Reference â€Å"American Support for Local Action on Global Warming† (2008) Yale School of Forestry And Environmental Studies. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://environment. yale. edu â€Å"Citizens’ Groups Reject Dirty Waste Technologies, Call For â€Å"Zero Waste for Zero Warming† (2007) Global Day Action Against Waste and Incineration. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://gda. no-burn. org â€Å"Enhance Energy Efficiency† (2008) Solutions-wecansolveit. org. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www. wecansolveit. org â€Å"Frequent Questions† (2008). Climate Change. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www. epa. gov â€Å"Global Climatic Disruption- Scientists’ Statement† (1997) Wood Hole Research Center. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www. whrc. org â€Å"U. S. Climate Policy and Actions† (2008) Climate Change-U. S. Policy. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www. epa. gov

services marketing Essay -- essays research papers

Services Marketing A service is the action of doing something for someone or something. It is largely intangible (i.e. not material). A product is tangible (i.e. material) since you can touch it and own it. A service tends to be an experience that is consumed at the point where it is purchased, and cannot be owned since is quickly perishes. A person could go to a cafà © one day and have excellent service, and then return the next day and have a poor experience. So often marketers talk about the nature of a service as: Inseparable - from the point where it is consumed, and from the provider of the service. For example, you cannot take a live theatre performance home to consume it ( a DVD of the same performance would be a product, not a service) Intangible - and cannot have a real, physical presence as does a product. For example, motor insurance may have a certificate, but the financial service itself cannot be touched i.e. it is intangible. Perishable - in that once it has occurred it cannot be repeated in exactly the same way. For example, once a 100 metres Olympic final has been run, there will be not other for 4 more years, and even then it will be staged in a different place with many different finalists. Variability - since the human involvement of service provision means that no two services will be completely identical. For example, returning to the same garage time and time again for a service on your car might see different levels of customer satisfaction, or speediness of work. Right of ownership - is not taken to the service, since you merely experience it. For example, an engineer may service your air-conditioning, but you do not own the service, the engineer or his equipment. You cannot sell it on once it has been consumed, and do not take ownership of it. Western economies have seen deterioration in their traditional manufacturing industries, and a growth in their service economies. Therefore the marketing mix has seen an extension and adaptation into the extended marketing mix for services, also known as the 7P's – physical evidence, process and people. Physical evidence is the material part of a service. Strictly speaking there are no physical attributes to a service, so a consumer tends to rely on material cues. There are many examples of physical evidence, including some of the following:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Packaging  · ... ... Service Many products, services and experiences are supported by customer services teams. Customer services provided expertise (e.g. on the selection of financial services), technical support(e.g. offering advice on IT and software) and coordinate the customer interface (e.g. controlling service engineers, or communicating with a salesman). The disposition and attitude of such people is vitally important to a company. The way in which a complaint is handled can mean the difference between retaining or losing a customer, or improving or ruining a company's reputation. Today, customer service can be face-to-face, over the telephone or using the Internet. People tend to buy from people that they like, and so effective customer service is vital. Customer services can add value by offering customers technical support and expertise and advice. Services Characteristics - the features of services that distinguish them from tangible products; these are intangibility, variability, inseparability and perishability. See Inseparability; Intangibility; Perishability; Variability. Services Marketing - the marketing of intangible products, such as hairdressing, cleaning, insurance and travel.