Rain In The City Of Mahtomedi Essays - Observational Astronomy

Rain In The City Of Mahtomedi The bright and sunny sky hid the fact that a storm was quickly approaching the city of Mahtomedi. The soft, warm wind was brushing against the merry faces of the residents. Children are playing basketball, teenagers are driving their cars and listening to deafening music. The calm pace of the waves attracted many boaters to the clear water. Even the gardeners were out on this beautiful day. Everyone was completely oblivious to the coming terror. The wind began to swirl and blew freezing air onto the town. Dark clouds stormed into the sky, churning and twisting with astonishing speed. The basketball hoop moved back and forth, being pushed by y the incredible strength of the wind. Flower pedals and leaves flew into the sky spinning at a dizzying rate. Cars were abandoned as fear struck teenagers ran into the ditch for shelter from the flying debris. Whitecaps crashed on the docks and shorelines, tearing up planks of wood and swirling into whirlpools. Then, one of the most powerful forc es on the face of the earth reached down with its mighty winds, shredding buildings and trees in seconds. After devouring home after home, it receded as if taunting its prey and showing the people that it is completely unpredictable. And then, as suddenly as it began, the clouds move on. Bringing their destruction with them. The waves become calm and reflect the bright sun shining through the clear sky. Children come out and begin to play. The gardeners return to their plants, clearing up the remaining debris. Teenagers get out of the ditch and run back to their cars, thrilled that they have a new story to tell. Slowly and gradually people return to their activities and life goes on. Creative Writing

New Echota-Cherokee Nation Capital essays

New Echota-Cherokee Nation Capital essays For many years the hopes of the Cherokee Nation were reliant upon the existence of their first national capital, New Echota. Today this historical site is located in Resaca, Georgia and houses an exhibit museum that is filled with many interesting artifacts discovered during the early 1950's, as well as, an open outdoor museum of several restored buildings that represent how the town would have looked during that era. Inside the visitors center is the exhibit museum. It tells the story of the Cherokee people. One of the exhibits is a wall on the Fire People. This wall contains artifacts such as arrowheads, the Anestsa Cherokee Stickball, Cherokee marbles, a stone ax, a bow and arrow, and the types of skins the Cherokee wore for clothing. It was amazing to see how they made use of the natural resources Earth provided them. Another exhibit is a wall that introduces the Cherokee to the American settlers. This exhibit describes some of the treaties that were signed between the Cherokee and the American Government. For example, the Treaty of 1819, where some four million acres of land in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee were lost by the Cherokee to the U.S.! It also shows the gradual process of how the Cherokee learned many of the ways of the frontiersmen and by the 1830's were living much like them. The Cherokee learned to farm and tilled their own land. One of the exhibits in the museum shows the types of tools the Indians received from the U.S. after the Treaty of Holston was signed. The Cherokee lived in small log cabins and had corn cribs, potato houses, stables and smokehouses. There were some Indians who owned their own stores, taverns and large plantations, and some even owned Negro slaves. One of most outstanding achievements of the Cherokee was the development of their written alphabet. This feat was tackled by a Cherokee, named Sequoyah and took many years to finish. This new alphabet wa...

The Many Meanings of Make

The Many Meanings of Make The Many Meanings of Make The Many Meanings of Make By Maeve Maddox What began as an effort to find out if make can be a linking verb has led me to discover the multitudinous uses of this humble verb. The verb make has been around so long that its etymology is obscure. It may go back to an Indo-European word meaning â€Å"to knead,† as in making dough. Its usual use is as a transitive verb, but it can also be used as an intransitive verb and a linking verb. Its first sense is ‘to produce, construct, assemble, frame, fashion.† It has numerous figurative meanings and occurs in many English idioms. Sometime when you have about an hour to spend, look up make in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here are just a few uses: make a fire: put together materials and set them alight make a will (or other document): draw up, compose, draft make a garden (park, road): prepare a site for a garden make a scene: display unbridled emotion make a wound (mark, hole, sound): cause or inflict make a fool of one’s self: embarrass oneself make fast: secure make away with: steal or kill made of: fashioned out of, as in This coat is made of leather. made of: (of a person) possessed of certain qualities, as in Let’s see what you’re made of. made in: manufactured, as in Made in Mexico made of money: extremely wealthy Some idioms differ according to context: to make a difference: 1. make a distinction, discriminate, act or treat differently 2. change a situation to make time: 1. to schedule one’s activities in order to enable something to be accomplished 2. to be successful in sexual advances Make is a frequent word in proverbs: Haste makes waste. Light purse makes a heavy heart. Might makes right. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Practice makes perfect. So, did I ever find out if make can be a linking verb? According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, it can. Here are some examples given of make functioning as a linking verb: She would have made an excellent teacher. This room would make a nice office. A hundred cents make one euro. That makes the third time he’s failed his driving test. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Royal Order of Adjectives "Gratitude" or "Gratefulness"?40 Idioms with First

Shifting cultural attitudes towards smoking Essay

Shifting cultural attitudes towards smoking - Essay Example Attitudes towards smoking have undergone considerable changes over the past six decades. In the 1950s, there was minimal, if any, awareness amongst the population regarding the effects of smoking.In fact smoking became a common practice amongst physicians after the World War I. Doctors did not warn people against engaging in smoking, active or passive; some of them were even involved in the promotion of the tobacco industry without disclosing the deleterious nature of smoking (Novella). Advertising companies employed such tactics to make people believe that smoking was not harmful since a large proportion of the doctors smoked. In fact doctors used to recommend patients to smoke to pacify their nerves as exemplified by the advertisements of Camel cigarettes â€Å"If you are acting grumpy, then have a smoke and mellow out† (Hoover). Advertisements in the 1940s and 1950s used to reflect the same consumer trend. In one such advertisement, a doctor is questioned â€Å"what brand of cigarettes do you smoke, doctor?† (Novella). Novella observes that the 1950s represented a paternalistic relationship between the doctor and the patient. The doctor used to be the final authority and no one used to doubt his judgment. However the 1950s saw a change in the cultural attitudes towards smoking. This change is attributable to the completion of three significant epidemiological studies which concluded a strong relationship between smoking and cancer.... According to Job Fowles, a Harvard University Graduate, by analyzing six advertisements between 1940 and 2000, one can appreciate how subtly advertising has encouraged youth to initiate smoking. One of the reasons why such advertisements have been successful is because they tend to create the impression that smoking can provide what the youth are looking for. Typically, these advertisements have attracted the youth by promoting that they deliver prominence and a means of escape and affiliation to the youth; this has been at least the case for the earlier smoking advertisements. An advertisement of Philip Morris in 1956, for example, focused more on how younger generation, having â€Å"fresher, unspoiled tastes† are able to appreciate the â€Å"gentleness and delicate flavor† of the cigarettes (Media Awareness Network). Marlboro, in 1955, started featuring well-built men with tattooed arms and the 1960s saw the company showing cowboys and the American West. A lot of mone y was put into the advertisements of tobacco by tobacco companies, working towards making people believe that smoking was a trendy and fashionable thing. Smoking was classy and enjoyable and was expected to provide sex appeal, style and longevity (Chickenhead Productions). Indy Speedway reviewed the changes in cigarette advertisements over the past few decades. According to it, Camel cigarettes introduced the images of men and commercialized their toughness even in the 1970s. They emphasized on the uniqueness and physical appearance of the men. The advertisements of Camel cigarettes also featured women, admiring the men, and every advertisement used to have a different woman staring at the men. Indy

Finance and Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Finance and Accounting - Essay Example Both these ratios address the bankruptcy issue. According to the calculated ratios, Qatar Telecom’s liquidity position seems to be strong as compared to Vodafone in both the years 2010 and 2011. Qatar Telecom’s personal liquidity ratios have deteriorated in 2011, compared to 2010, but then even the company has a stronger position as compared to Vodafone, which almost has balanced proportion between its current liabilities and its current assets. Vodafone’s personal current and acid test ratio has reduced in the year 2011 and it currently has a ratio of 0.49:1 and a 0.48:1 current and acid test ratio. Gearing Ratios Gearing ratios analyze the proportion of debt to equity within the financing of a company. These ratios illustrate as to how much a company is financed via and how much via equity. A company having more loans and less equity is said to be highly geared and is considered to be more risky but having said that, it can never be stated that a low geared com pany is good, since it is considered to be taking less initiative, hence a balance is to be maintained. According to the calculated ratios, Qatar Telecom is highly geared as compared to Vodafone. The ratios clearly illustrates that the Qtel’s debt financing is 1.59 times its equity financing. Qtel has reduced its debt financing by paying off some of its debt as compared to the year 2010 but this has not been a significant reduction. Qtel’s debts almost amount to 61% (0.61) of their total assets, hence it can be seen that the company has heavily relied upon debts. Vodafone on the other hand has too little debt financing and it can be seen from the ratios that the company prefers equity financing over debt financing. As...By June 2008, Vodafone received was awarded telecom operating license within the country, making the company as the second mobile phone service provider within the country. Vodafone started its services within Qatar on 1st March 2009. This ratio provides an idea to the investors as to the return that that would extract from the company. The return on investment for Qtel has improved and has increased by 1.79% (5.82-4.03). Vodafone’s return on investment has also improved but the company’s losses would not be able to make them give any good to their investors. Since both the companies operate within the same sector, a fair comparison between the performances of the two would be more fruitful. The best technique available to analyze the financial performance of both the companies would be to use ratio analysis. There are various ratios which can be used to evaluate the performance. Following are the ratios which have been calculated to assess the financial performance of both the telecom service providers. From the ratios, it can be derived that the financial performance of Qtel is way better than Vodafone but it can be argued that Vodafone is still within its early and growing phase and that the company has shown good prospects, hence it can improve with the passage of time.

Death benefits Essay Example for Free

Death benefits Essay Scholars such as Gnckenzie (2007) advised people to take action before the 1st of July in order to ensure that they stand an opportunity to benefit under the new super rules. Among the things people were advised to do were to make a clear review on their nominations of death benefits, to make sure that they were still appropriate and in the current manner. Doing a review on insurance cover was also necessary to consider whether the amount in the account should be increased or not. Another strategy was to do a combination of all or part of the money for those who started their funds before 1983, the 1st of July. The set one million as a limit was also supposed to be utilized by people if they were to get advantage in the new changes. According to Betamann (2006) a person was supposed to make sure that they had effectively quoted the number on the tax file (TFN) to make good use of the new rules on their superannuation funds. Co-contributions were to be appropriately made to the government for the people whose contributions on the super is non-concessional, all these were recommended to be done before 1st July 2007. People were also advised to review their arrangements on salary contributions and confirm that the contributions they made did not go above the set limits. The set one million as a limit should be utilized by people if they are to get advantage in the new changes. A recommendation was also made that one should make sure that they have effectively quoted the TFN to make good use of the new rules on their superannuation funds. Co-contributions should be appropriately made to the government for the people whose contributions on the super is non-concessional. Annette (2006) advised people to make a review on minimum payments allocated on pension and be careful about the amount of money they withdraw, because if one withdraws a lot of money, then it means their accounts would soon run out. There was an advice to people to make applications for the health card of the seniors if they were legible for that. Checking whether one would suitably fit in the non-commutable to be able to enjoy the benefit of exception on the asset test which is on a 50% limit. Conclusion By and large the, the changes made on the 2007 simplified superannuation Act as Gnckenzie (2007) stated, have had a great improvement on the lives of the employees who were approaching retirement period. The exemption of tax, tax deduction, reduction of tax on death penalties and tax free death benefits upon the immediate dependents are among the benefits the seniors have enjoyed. However, the limitations introduced in the Act may have negative effects on the retirees who may not be able to comply. If a retiree takes action on the advice offered by the scholars, then they stand a great chance to take advantage of the 1st of July simplified superannuation Act. References Annette, N. (2006).Choices of Individual Investment and Retirement Enhancement: The Subcommittee Hearing. New York: McGraw Publishers. Batemann, H. (2006). Retirement Provision in Scary Markets (3rd ed. ). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Clare, S. (2005). Retirement in Australia and Superannuation: The Government Fund. Cambridge: Anderson Publishers. Cohen, P. (1998). Superannuation and Retirement (2nd ed. ). Chicago: Moody Press Gnckenzie, R. (2007). The Book That talks On Money: How to Manage Your Money Well. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hacking :: Essays Papers

Hacking Computer Crime It's the weekend, you have nothing to do so you decide to play around on your computer. You turn it on and then start up, you start calling people with your modem, connecting to another world, with people just like you at a button press away. This is all fine but what happens when you start getting into other peoples computer files. Then it becomes a crime, but what is a computer crime really, obviously it involves the use of a computer but what are these crimes. Well they are: Hacking, Phreaking, & Software Piracy. To begin I will start with Hacking, what is hacking. Hacking is basically using your computer to "Hack" your way into another. They use programs called scanners which randomly dials numbers any generating tones or carriers are recorded. These numbers are looked at by hackers and then used again, when the hacker calls up the number and gets on he's presented with a logon prompt, this is where the hacking really begins, the hacker tries to bypass this anyway he knows how to and tries to gain access to the system. Why do they do it, well lets go to a book and see "Avid young computer hackers in their preteens and teens are frequently involved in computer crimes that take the form of trespassing, invasion of privacy, or vandalism. Quite often they are mearly out for a fun and games evening, and they get entangled in the illegal use of their machines without realizing the full import of what they are doing", I have a hard time believing that so lets see what a "hacker" has to say about what he does "Just as they were enthraled with their pursuit of information, so are we. The thrill of the hack is not in breaking the law, it's in the pursuit and capture of knowledge.", as you can see the "hacker" doesn't go out to do destroy things although some do. It's in the pursuit of knowledge. Of course this is still against the law. But where did all of this start, MIT is where hacking started the people there would learn and explore computer systems all around the world. In the views of professional hacking is like drugs or any other addictive substance, it's an addiction for the mind and once started it's difficult to stop. This could be true, as hackers know what they are doing is wrong and they know odds are they will be caught.

Porter Five Force Analysis of Indian Food Processing Industry

Porter’s five force analysis of food processing industry| MARKETING STRATEGY| HITESH VAVAIYA| Table of Contents Acknowledgement3 Introduction of Report3 Research Objective4 Introduction of Food Processing Industry4 The History of Food Processing Industry4 Supply chain of food processing industry and factor affecting each activity5 Agriculture5 Food processing5 Indian Food Processing Industry7 History of food processing Industry in India7 Current Market Overview9 Indian Food Processing Industry Performance11Food Processing Sector overview11 Major Players of Food Processing Industry14 Indian Food Processing Companies Profiles14 Major Indian player in Food processing Industry Overview15 I. T. C LTD15 GODREJ PROFILE15 MTR Foods Limited Profile16 Parle Limited Profile17 Dabur India Limited Profile17 Analysis18 Porter Five Forces Analysis for Indian Food Processing Analysis18 Threat of Entry (high)19 Rivalry between Established Competitors (low)21 Bargaining Power of Buyers (low)23 Bargaining Power of Suppliers (low)25Threat of Substitutes (high)26 Conclusion27 Bibliography29 Acknowledgement I take the opportunity, while presenting this report and to express my gratitude to all those who afford their valuable help and time to help me to complete the project successfully. A number of people provided us their assistance, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Without them this project would not have been possible. Firstly, I would like to thank our institute IIPM and our honorable prof. partho sir for giving me such an opportunity to work on such a project. got a chance to put all our classroom theories and practices for understanding and analyzing the working of the real Indian scenario. Introduction of Report This report provides an overview of our food production and consumption system, its impacts on the environment and its vulnerability to environmental problems and resource constraints. The aim of the report is to identify any significant challenges to the future security of the food system in India that arise from environmental and resource issues, and the risks, constraints and social or political responses to these.The report also considers a range of response strategies being developed and explored at various points across the food system. The ‘food system’ includes the interdependent parts of the system that provides food for local consumption and for export. It includes all the components and processes by which food is produced (grown and/or processed), stored and distributed, delivered to end-consumers and consumed (including further processing and storage) – as well as all the processes that deal with waste along the ‘food chain’ The report covers an overview of the Indian food processing industry.The report will focus on the dynamics of the industry, the market segments, the growth of the sectors in India and what are the challenges and opportunities that the industry is facing. On the competitive la ndscape, the report lays out the major food processing companies that functions within the Indian industry and the strategies these companies are following to capture the major chunk of the market share. The concluding part of the report covers the drivers of the industry and the future Prospects of the food processing industry in India.Research Objective To analyze the market share of organized Food Processing sector compare to other unorganized Food Processing sector To study the future growth of food processing in india To study the sustainability of Indian food processing industry To study the resources and the constraints of the Indian food processing industry To study the effect of MNC’s in the Indian food processing industry To study the driving forces those are affecting Indian food processing industry Introduction of Food Processing Industry The History of Food Processing IndustryThe origin of food processing goes all the way back to ancient Egypt, yet the period of those developments seems to symbolize the history of the culture of mankind. Nowadays, bread, which is characterized by its use of the fermentation action of yeast and which uses wheat flour as its raw material, is baked all over the world. The origins of beer also go back to Babylon and Egypt in the period from 3,000 to 5,000 BC. The foundation of the modern industry was built up with the introduction of machinery and technology of new methods from Germany.Nowadays, the processed foods that are thriving in grocery shops are modern processed foods and traditional foods, but their manufacturing technology, process control and manufacturing and packaging environmental facilities have been advanced and rationalized to an incomparable extent in the last 30 years. As a result, products with high quality and uniformity are now being manufactured. This is based on the advancement of food science, and is, moreover, due to the general introduction of hygienics, applied microbiology, mechanic al engineering, chemical engineering, electronic engineering and high-polymer technology.The most remarkable developments until now have been convenient pre-cooked frozen foods, retort pouch foods and dried foods. The mass production of excellent quality processed foods without using unnecessary food additives has been made possible in the last 30 years by grading and inspecting the process materials, carrying out proper inspections of processed foods, and advances in processing technology, installation and packaging technology and materials. http://www. bisnetindia. com/bishtml/060012502441. htm Supply chain of food processing industry and factor affecting each activity AgricultureAgriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). The practice of agriculture is also known as â€Å"farming†, while scientists, inventors and others devoted to improving far ming methods and implements are also said to be engaged in agriculture. More people in the world are involved in agriculture as their primary economic activity than in any other, yet it only accounts for twelve percent of the world's GDP.Total agricultural trade consists of food and non- food commodities in both raw and processed forms. Classification of agricultural trade is a breakdown of agricultural trade into four components. * bulk commodities, * processed intermediate products, * fresh horticultural products, * Processed consumer goods. Over the years the share of bulk commodities in total agricultural trade has gone down. Decreased demand for bulk commodities has been compensated by the growth in intermediate processed products, which are essentially processed bulk commodities.Processed intermediate products such as vegetable oils, flour etc. The share of fresh horticultural products, i. e. products that are consumed without further processing, in total agricultural trade is nearly constant. Recent improvements in transportation technology have played a role in promoting trade of fresh products. The faster growing categories in agricultural trade are non-bulk packaged processed food products, which are marketed under different brands. Developed countries have played an important role in promoting trade in processed food products.Share of these countries in import of processed food products is more than developing countries, whereas in case of bulk commodities share of developing countries exceeds the import of developed countries. Food processing Food processing is the methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for human consumption. Food processing takes clean, harvested or slaughtered and butchered components and uses them to produce marketable food products. Consumer expenditure on processed food and drink 2001–07 (US$ billion), as shown in below ChartGraph:-1. 1 Consumer expenditure on food Sources: – Food Corp oration of India, web http://fciweb. nic/Consumerexpen/. in Whole Food processing industry in divided mainly six sectors which are as shown in figure 3 and food product cover in these sectors and shown in table 2 Figure: – 1. 3. Major sector in food processing industry Table:-1. 2 Segmenting food product according to Food processing Sector Indian Food Processing Industry History of food processing Industry in IndiaFood processing dates back to the prehistoric ages when crude processing incorporated slaughtering, fermenting, sun drying, preserving with salt, and various types of cooking (such as roasting, smoking, steaming, and oven baking). Salt-preservation was especially common for foods that constituted warrior and sailors' diets, up until the introduction of canning methods. Evidence for the existence of these methods exists in the writings of the ancient Greek , Chaldean, Egyptian and Roman civilisations as well as archaeological evidence from Europe, North and South Ame rica and Asia.These tried and tested processing techniques remained essentially the same until the advent of the industrial revolution. Examples of ready-meals also exist from pre industrial revolution times such as the Cornish pasty and the Haggis. Modern food processing technology in the 19th and 20th century was largely developed to serve military needs. In 1809 Nicolas Appert invented a vacuum bottling technique that would supply food for French troops, and this contributed to the development of tinning and then canning by Peter Durand in 1810.Although initially expensive and somewhat hazardous due to the lead used in cans, canned goods would later become a staple around the world. Pasteurization, discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1862, was a significant advance in ensuring the micro-biological safety of food. In the 20th century, World War II, the space race and the rising consumer society in developed countries (including the United States) contributed to the growth of food proce ssing with such advances as spray drying, juice concentrates, freeze drying and the introduction of artificial sweeteners, coloring agents, and preservatives such as sodium benzoate.In the late 20th century products such as dried instant soups, reconstituted fruits and juices, and self cooking meals such as MRE food ration were developed. In Western Europe and North America, the second half of the 20th century witnessed a rise in the pursuit of convenience; food processors especially marketed their products to middle-class working wives and mothers. Frozen foods (often credited to Clarence Birdseye) found their success in sales of juice concentrates and â€Å"TV dinners†.Processors utilized the perceived value of time to appeal to the postwar population, and this same appeal contributes to the success of convenience foods today. * Benefits More and more people live in the cities far away from where food is grown and produced. In many families the adults are working away from home and therefore there is little time for the preparation of food based on fresh ingredients. The food industry offers products that fulfill many different needs: From peeled potatoes that only have to be boiled at home to fully prepare ready meals that can be heated up in the microwave oven within a few minutes.Benefits of food processing include toxin removal, preservation, easing marketing and distribution tasks, and increasing food consistency. In addition, it increases seasonal availability of many foods, enables transportation of delicate perishable foods across long distances, and makes many kinds of foods safe to eat by de-activating spoilage and pathogenic micro-organisms. Modern supermarkets would not be feasible without modern food processing techniques, long voyages would not be possible, and military campaigns would be significantly more difficult and costly to execute.Modern food processing also improves the quality of life for allergists, diabetics, and other people who cannot consume some common food elements. Food processing can also add extra nutrients such as vitamins. Processed foods are often less susceptible to early spoilage than fresh foods, and are better suited for long distance transportation from the source to the consumer. Fresh materials, such as fresh produce and raw meats, are more likely to harbour pathogenic micro-organisms (e. g. Salmonella) capable of causing serious illnesses. * DrawbacksIn general, fresh food that has not been processed other than by washing and simple kitchen preparation, may be expected to contain a higher proportion of naturally occurring vitamins, fibre and minerals than the equivalent product processed by the food industry. Vitamin C for example is destroyed by heat and therefore canned fruits have a lower content of vitamin C than fresh ones. Food processing can lower the nutritional value of foods. Processed foods tend to include food additives, such as flavorings’ and texture enhancing age nts, which may have little or no nutritive value, or be unhealthy.Some preservatives added or created during processing such as nitrites or sulphites may cause adverse health effects. Processed foods often have a higher ratio of calories to other essential nutrients than unprocessed foods, a phenomenon referred to as â€Å"empty calories†. Most junk foods are processed, and fit this category. High quality and hygiene standards must be maintained to ensure consumer safety and failures to maintain adequate standards can have serious health consequences. Processing food is a very costly process, thus increasing the prices of foods products.Current Market Overview India is a country of striking contrasts and enormous ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity. It has a population of 1. 1 billion, and it is comprised of 28 states and seven Union Territories (under federal government rule). The states differ vastly in resources, culture, food habits, living standards, and languages . Vast disparities in per-capita income levels exist between and within India’s states. About 75 percent of the country’s people live in 550,000 villages; the rest in 200 towns and cities. There are 30 cities with a population above one million people.India has the largest number of poor, with 35 percent of the population surviving on less than $1 per day, and 80 percent of the population surviving on less than $2 per day1. Nearly 51 percent of Indians’ consumption expenditures go for food (54 percent in rural area and 42 in urban areas) 2; mostly for basic items like grains, vegetable oils, and sugar; very little goes for value added food items. In recent years, however, there has been an increased shift towards vegetables, eggs, fruits, meat, and beverages. Religion has a major influence on eating habits and, along with low purchasing power, supports a predominantly vegetarian diet.Some observers of India’s economic scene are, however, highly optimistic about consumption growth potential, and believe that rising income levels, increasing urbanization, a changing age profile (more young people), increasing consumerism, a significant rise in the number of single men and women professionals, and the availability of cheap credit will push India onto a new growth trajectory. These segments of the population are aware of quality differences, insist on world standards, and are willing to pay a premium for quality. Nonetheless, a major share of Indian consumers has to sacrifice quality for affordable prices.Potential US exporters should also bear in mind that India’s diverse agro-industrial base already offers many items at competitive prices. Results of the â€Å"Market Information Survey of Households,† conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research, show that the share of households in the upper middle/high income group (annual household income > Rs. 90,000, or $11,200 on purchasing power parity basis) has grown from 14% in 1989-90 to 28% in 2001-02, and is projected at 48 percent in 2009-10. Correspondingly, there has been a decline in the low-income group.Sixty-five million people are expected to enter the 20-34 year age group from 2001 to 2010. By 2025, 40 percent of Indians are expected to be urban dwellers. Structural reforms and stabilization programs during the 1990s have contributed to India’s sustained economic growth, which has been relatively strong over the past two decades, averaging 6 percent annually. Since 1996, the Indian government has gradually lifted import-licensing restrictions, which had effectively prohibited imports. On April 1, 2001, all remaining quantitative restrictions were removed, putting India in compliance with its WTO commitment.Nonetheless, the government continues to discourage imports, particularly agricultural products, with the use of high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Import tariffs on most consumer products, although declining, are still high, ranging from 30. 6 to 52. 2 percent. Some sensitive items, such as alcoholic beverages, poultry meat, raisins, vegetable oils, wheat, rice, etc. , attract much higher duties. Nontariff barriers include unwarranted sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions and onerous labeling requirements for pre-packaged foods.Other factors adversely affecting imports include a poorly developed infrastructure (transportation and cold chain), a predominantly unorganized retail sector, and outdated food laws. However, some positive factors are: †¢ Rising disposable income levels †¢ Increasing urbanization and exposure to Western culture †¢ Growing health consciousness among the middle class †¢ Growing consumerism †¢ Changing age profile †¢ Increasing availability of cheap consumer credit Current status of industry is shown in below table Table1. 4. Status of Food Processing Industry in IndiaSources: All India Food Processors Association http://www. aifpa/foodin dustry/. com India is a major producer of many agricultural commodities and it accounts for nine per cent of the world’s fruit production and about 11 per cent of the vegetable production. But the level of processing and value addition of fruits and vegetables is just two per cent of the total production, compared to 65 per cent in the USA, 23 per cent in China and 78 per cent in the Philippines as given in the figure below. Graph: 1. 2 food processing percentage in different country Sources: – web http://www. fmi. /worldfoodprocessed. org There is huge wastage of perishable agricultural commodities. The position in the country with regard to other products also is not very encouraging. The overall level of processing of agricultural commodities in the country is estimated at six per cent. The annual loss on account of wastage of agricultural commodities is estimated to be about Rs 50,000 crore. At present, the food processing sector employs about 13 million people dir ectly and about 35 million people indirectly. In 2006–07, food processing sector contributed about 14 per cent of manufacturing GDP with a share of Rs 2,80,000 crore.Of this, the unorganised sector accounted for more than 70 per cent of production in terms of volume and 50 per cent in terms of value. Indian Food Processing Industry Performance Market Definition The market for food processing industry is the complex in nature; it is global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the population. Only subsistence farmers, those who survive on what they grow, can be considered outside of the scope of the modern food processing industry. The food processing industry includes: Regulation: local, regional, national and international rules and regulations for food production and sale, including food quality and food safety, and industry lobbying activities * Research and development: food technology * Financial services insurance, cre dit * Manufacturing: processed packed food, food processing machinery and supplies, food processing construction, etc. * Food processing technology: preparation of fresh products for market, manufacture of prepared food products * Marketing: promotion of generic products (e. g. milk board), new products, public opinion, through advertising, packaging, ublic relations, etc * Wholesale and distribution: warehousing, transportation, logistics * Retail: supermarket chains and independent food stores, direct-to-consumer, restaurant, food services. Food Processing Sector overview Food processing is a large sector that covers activities such as agriculture, horticulture, plantation, animal husbandry and fisheries. It also includes other industries that use agriculture inputs for manufacturing of edible products. The Ministry of Food Processing, Government of India has defined the following segments within the Food Processing industry: †¢ Dairy, fruits & vegetable processing Grain proc essing †¢ Meat & poultry processing †¢ Fisheries †¢ Consumer foods including packaged foods, beverages and packaged drinking water. While the industry is large in terms of size, it is still at a nascent stage in terms of development. Out of the country’s total agriculture and food produce, only 2 per cent is processed. The highest share of processed food is in the Dairy sector, where 37 per cent of the total produce is processed, of which 15 per cent is processed by the organized sector. Primary food processing (packaged fruit and vegetables, milk, milled flour and rice, tea, spices, etc. ) constitutes around.Table: 2. 1 India’s food-processing sector India’s food-processing sector, though still developing, contributes 14 percent to the manufacturing GDP (5. 5 percent of aggregate GDP), produces goods worth rs. 2. 8 trillion ($64 billion), and employs 13 million people. Much of India’s food-processing industry is small-scale and involves ve ry little value addition, although in recent years several multinational food-processing companies have started operations in India. A plethora of internal restrictions, including (a) prohibition on foreign direct investment in retail, (b) prohibitions on contract farming, (c) barriers to nterstate commerce based on revenue and food security concerns, (d) some of the highest taxes on processed foods in the world, and (e) inefficient in infrastructure and marketing networks seriously constrain growth of the sector. The almost year-round availability of fresh products across the country, combined with the consumers’ preference for fresh products and freshly cooked foods has dampened demand for processed food products. The level of processing varies across segments – ranging from less than 2 percent of the production in the case of fruits and vegetables to over 90 percent in non-perishable products such as cereals and pulses.In the latter, however, processing involves ver y little value addition, and is mostly confined to grading, cleaning, milling, and packing; with negligible use of additives, preservatives, and flavors. Table: 2. 2 Level of processed food in year 2008 Product| Level of Processing (% of total production)| | OrganizedSector| UnorganizedSector 1/| Total| Fruits & vegetables| 1. 2| 0. 5| 1. 7| Milk | 15. 0| 22. 0| 37. 0| Meat| 21. 0| 0| 21. 0| Poultry| 6. 0| 0| 6. 0| Marine fisheries| 1. 7| 9. 0| 10. 7| Shrimp| 0. 4| 1. 0| 1. 4| Source: Rabobank Analysis Source: – Web http://www. nasftlevelprocessing. org/ Table 2. level of processing Forecasted â€Å"Unorganized† in fruits and vegetables includes unbranded pickles, sauces, and potato chips, but excludes processing by street vendors; â€Å"unorganized† in dairy includes processing by sweet food makers; â€Å"unorganized† in marine products includes processing by small fishermen. . At present, most inputs for the food-processing industry are sourced domestic ally, with the exception of some bulk commodities that are in short supply, such as pulses and vegetable oils, dried fruits and nuts, and small but increasing quantities of food additives and ingredients such as soy proteins, whey, and flavors and essence.India annually imports vegetable oils valued at over $2. 6 billion and pulses valued at $560 million. Imports of food ingredients were valued at $170 million in 2007/08, and include mostly spices and condiments, dairy products, cocoa products, fish and fish products, fruit juices, and other ingredients (yeasts, sauces, soft drink concentrates, flavoring materials, soy protein concentrates and isolates, etc. ). Unorganized, small players account for more than 70 percent of the industry’s output in volume and 50 percent in value terms.Most of them operate locally, add little if any value to products, and use outdated technologies. The government’s policy of reserving the food-processing sector for small-scale units, eff ective until 1991, discouraged large-scale domestic and foreign direct investment in the food-processing sector. However, following economic liberalization in 1991, the food-processing industry was opened, resulting in increased investment in this sector, both domestic and foreign.Over the last few years, several large companies, both Indian and foreign, have invested in the food-processing business in India, resulting in significant growth in this sector. Some of the major players in India’s food-processing industry are listed in this report. There are hundreds of medium-sized regional companies, some of them aspiring to emerge as national players with their own established brands, who pose some competition to large firms . The domestic organized processed-food market is expected to triple in the next 10 years from about $100 billion in FINACIAL YEAR 2004 to $310 billion in FINACIAL YEAR 2015.India aims to increase its share of world trade in this sector from 1. 7% currently ($7. 5 billion) to 3% by 2015 ($20 billion) Graph 2. 1 FMCG Market Size forecasting Sources:-web http://www. foodprocessing/marketsize/. com So here we have estimated that production of processed food is increasing linearly with respect to FMCG Market size till 2015 E ,its shows that very good potential of proceeds food in coming future. Major Players of Food Processing Industry Indian Food Processing Companies ProfilesIndian food processors may be divided into the following main categories: †¢ Large Indian companies that have their production base in India or neighboring countries (for tax-saving purposes) †¢ Multinational and joint-venture companies that have their production base in India †¢ Medium/small domestic food-processing companies with a local presence †¢ Small local players in the unorganized sector Major Indian player in Food processing Industry Overview I. T. C LTD ITC is one of India's foremost private sector companies with a market capitalisation of nearly US $ 19 billion* and a turnover of over US $ 5. 1 Billion.ITC has a diversified presence in Cigarettes, Hotels, Paperboards ; Specialty Papers, Packaging, Agribusiness, Packaged Foods ; Confectionery, Information Technology, Branded Apparel, Personal Care, Stationery, Safety Matches and other FMCG products. ITC's Agri-Business is one of India's largest exporters of agricultural products. ITC is one of the country's biggest foreign exchange earners (US $ 3. 2 billion in the last decade). The Company's ‘e-Choupal' initiative is enabling Indian agriculture significantly enhance its competitiveness by empowering Indian farmers through the power of the Internet.This transformational strategy, which has already become the subject matter of a case study at Harvard Business School, is expected to progressively create for ITC a huge rural distribution infrastructure, significantly enhancing the Company's marketing Reach. ITC's wholly owned Information Technology subsidiary, ITC InfoTech India Limited, is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities in providing end-to-end IT solutions, including e-enabled services and business process outsourcing.ITC's production facilities and hotels have won numerous national and international awards for quality, productivity, safety and environment management systems. ITC was the first company in India to voluntarily seek a corporate governance rating. ITC employs over 25,000 people at more than 60 locations across India. The Company continuously endeavors to enhance its wealth generating capabilities in a globalizing environment to consistently reward more than 3, 78,000 shareholders, fulfill the aspirations of its stakeholders and meet societal expectations.This over-arching vision of the company is expressively captured in its corporate positioning statement. GODREJ PROFILE Started in 1897 as locks manufacturing company, the Godrej Group is today one of the most accomplished and diversified business houses in Ind ia. Godrej’s success has been driven by the company’s commitment to delivering innovation and excellence. Through the consistent application of this commitment and a century of ethical business conduct, Godrej has earned an unparalleled reputation for trust and reliability.In 1930, Godrej became the first company in the world to develop the technology to manufacture soap with vegetable oils; that spirit of innovation has continued throughout the organization’s history. Today Godrej is delivering consumers exciting innovations across a spectrum of businesses. The company’s pursuit of excellence is equally well established and enduring. In the 1944 Mumbai docks blast, Godrej safes were the only security equipment whose contents were unharmed; an equal level of product quality continues to be expected from every product bearing the Godrej brand name. Godrej management nderstands that the company’s greatest asset is the trust and faith that consumers h ave reposed in it, and recognizes that the company must continue to earn this trust. This translates to the organization delivering outstanding quality and value in everything it does. Godrej’s ethical and visionary practices have allowed the company to successfully expand into a number of businesses. Today Godrej is a leading manufacturer of goods and provider of services in a multitude of categories: home appliances, consumer durables, consumer products, industrial products, and agri products to name a few.A recent estimate suggested that 400 million people across India use at least one Godrej product every day. The group has more recently entered the real estate and information technology sectors, and management views these as avenues for enormous growth. The 6000 Crore – (US $1. 5  Billion)  Godrej Group is one of India's largest professionally run private sector groups. It has a well-established presence in varied businesses ranging from foods and consumer dur ables to real estate and information technology. In 1997, Godrej completed 100 years of service to the nation. Today, the name Godrej is synonymous with Quality ; Trust.It is amongst the most admired Business Groups in India, delivering quality products and services to its customers at competitive costs. All this, with the highest international standards of customer care. MTR Foods Limited Profile MTR Foods Limited is amongst the top five processed food manufacturers in India. We manufacture, market and export a wide range of packaged foods to global markets that include USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE and Oman. Starting with the legendary MTR restaurant in Bangalore, India’s silicon valley, we now offer †complete meal solutions'.Our wide range of products include ready-to-eat curries and rice, ready-to-cook gravies, frozen foods, ice cream, instant snack and dessert mixes, spices and a variety of accompaniments like pickles and papads. Our dee p understanding of culinary expectations and needs has resulted in many new and innovative products. Our investments in infrastructure and technology ensure that we can scale rapidly and bring these to market. Today, consumers across the globe count on us to bring them all-natural, wholesome and delicious food that is also convenient and no-fuss.We have also expanded our retail presence significantly: contemporary ‘Namma MTR' and MTR kiosks now serve delighted consumers across Bangalore and Chennai. Parle Limited Profile Parle Products has been India's largest manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery, for almost 80 years. Makers of the world's largest selling biscuit, Parle-G, and a host of other very popular brands, the Parle name symbolizes quality, nutrition and great taste. With a reach spanning even the remotest villages of India , the company has definitely come a very long way since its inception.Many of the Parle products – biscuits or confectioneries, are mar ket leaders in their category and have won acclaim at the Monde Selection, since 1971. With a 40% share of the total biscuit market and a 15% share of the total confectionary market in India, Parle has grown to become a multi-million dollar company. While to consumers it's a beacon of faith and trust, competitors look upon Parle as an example of marketing brilliance. Dabur India Limited Profile Dabur India Limited has marked its presence with some very significant achievements and today commands a market leadership status.Our story of success is based on dedication to nature, corporate and process hygiene, dynamic leadership and commitment to our partners and stakeholders. The results of our policies and initiatives speak for themselves. * Leading consumer goods company in India with a turnover of Rs. 2233. 72 Crore (FY07) * 2 major strategic business units (SBU) – Consumer Care Division (CCD) and Consumer Health Division (CHD) * 3 Subsidiary Group companies – Dabur Fo ods, Dabur Nepal and Dabur International and 3 step down subsidiaries of Dabur International – Asian Consumer Care in Bangladesh, African Consumer Care in Nigeria and Dabur Egypt. 13 ultra-modern manufacturing units spread around the globe * Products marketed in over 50 countries Wide and deep market penetration with 47 C;F agents, more than 5000 distributors and over 1. 5 million retail outlets all over India. CCD, dealing with FMCG Products relating to Personal Care and Health Care * Leading brands – * Dabur – The Health Care Brand * Vatika-Personal Care Brand * Anmol- Value for Money Brand * Hajmola- Tasty Digestive Brand * and Dabur Amla, Chyawanprash and Lal Dant Manjan with Rs. 00 crore turnover each * Vatika Hair Oil ; Shampoo the high growth brand * Strategic positioning of Honey as food product, leading to market leadership (over 40%) in branded honey market   * Dabur Chyawanprash the largest selling Ayurvedic medicine with over 65% market share. * Le ader in herbal digestives with 90% market share * Hajmola tablets in command with 75% market share of digestive tablets category Dabur Lal Tail tops baby massage oil market with 35% of total share. CHD (Consumer Health Division), dealing with classical Ayurvedic medicines. Has more than 250 products sold through prescriptions as well as over the counter * Major categories in traditional formulations include: – Asav Arishtas – Ras Rasayanas – Churnas – Medicated Oils * Proprietary Ayurvedic medicines developed by Dabur include: – Nature Care Isabgol – Madhuvaani – Trifgol * Division also works for promotion of Ayurveda through organised community of traditional practitioners and developing fresh batches of students Analysis Porter Five Forces Analysis for Indian Food Processing AnalysisThe Porter's 5 Forces tool is a simple but powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation. This is useful, because it helps yo u understand both the strength of your current competitive position, and the strength of a position you're looking to move into. With a clear understanding of where power lies, you can take fair advantage of a situation of strength, improve a situation of weakness, and avoid taking wrong steps. This makes it an important part of your planning toolkit. Conventionally, the tool is used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable.However it can be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations too. Threat of Entry (high) The threat of new entry is quite high: if anyone looks as if they’re making a sustained profit, new competitors can come into the industry easily, reducing profits Profitable markets that yield high returns will draw firms. The results is many new entrants, which will effectively decrease profitability. Unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbents, the profit rate will fall towards a competitive level (perfect competition). Capital Requirements(low) The capital costs of getting established in an industry can be reduce because of the government subsidies provided to food processing sector. Financial disaster for most participants is that the initial setup costs of new ventures were typically very low. Startup costs are so low that individual, self-financing entrepreneurs can enter. For example, in mineral water pouch business, costs for a company are around Rs 350,000 and reaming Rs 750,000 is subsidies by Government * Economies of Scale(low)In industries that are capital or research or advertising intensive, efficiency requires large-scale operation. The problem for new entrants is that they are faced with the choice of either entering on a small scale and accepting high unit costs, or entering on a large scale and running the risk of underutilized capacity while they build up sales volume. These economies of scale have deterred entry into th e industry so that the only new entrants in recent decades have been state-supported companies the main reason or source to achieve scale economies is new product development costs.Thus, developing and launching a new product is very costly. Segment of the market for food processing Industry is very narrowly define so potential customer are very few that’s why companies are not able to achieve economies of scales. * Absolute Cost Advantages(high) Apart from economies of scale, established firms may have a cost advantage over entrants simply because they entered earlier. Absolute cost advantages often result from the acquisition or alliances of low-cost sources of raw materials. Absolute cost advantages may also result from economies of learning.Amul cost advantage in Pasteurization milk results from its early entry into this market and its ability to move down the learning curve faster than local player and then making alliances with they produce milk but marketed by the bran d name of Amul. So new enter company alliance with well establish large firm can easily enter in the company Product Differentiation (high) In an industry where products are differentiated, established firms possess the advantages of brand recognition and customer loyalty.New entrants to such markets must spend disproportionately heavily on advertising and promotion to gain levels of brand awareness and brand goodwill similar to that of established companies. One study found that, compared to early entrants, late entrants into consumer goods markets incurred additional advertising and promotional costs amounting to 2. 12 percent of sales revenue. Alternatively, the new entrant can accept a niche position in the market or can seek to compete by cutting price.And in food processing industry there are many untapped market are available, so there are good opportunity for niche marketing in food processing industry e. g. sugar free is product that only targeting diabetic person and healt h conscious person only and it having 11% growth rate annually * Access to Channels of Distribution (low) Whereas lack of brand awareness among consumers acts as a barrier to entry to new suppliers of consumer goods, a more immediate barrier for the new company is likely to be gaining distribution.Limited capacity within distribution channels (e. g. , shelf space), risk aversion by retailers, and the fixed costs associated with carrying an additional product result in retailers being reluctant to carry a new manufacturer’s product. The battle for supermarket shelf space between the major food processors (typically involving lump-sum payments to retail chains in order to reserve shelf space) means that new entrants scarcely get a look in. * Governmental and Legal Barriers(high)Some economists (Amitabha Sen) claim that the only effective barriers to entry are those created by government. In taxicabs, banking, telecommunications, and broadcasting, entry usually requires the gran ting of a license by a public authority. From medieval times to the present day, companies and favored individuals have benefited from governments granting them an exclusive right to ply a particular trade or offer a particular service. In knowledge-intensive industries, patents, copyrights, and other legally protected forms of intellectual property are major barriers to entry.Regulatory requirements and environmental and safety standards often put new entrants at a disadvantage to established firms, because compliance costs tend to weigh more heavily on newcomers . e. g. Prevention of Food Adulteration laws is not only stringent one but time consuming also. It is considered as an archaic and no industry friendly food law. It substantial varies from Codex standard. Harmonization of multiple food laws is an urgent necessity. * Retaliation (low) Barriers to entry also depend on the entrants’ expectations as to possible retaliation by established firms.Retaliation against a new entrant may take the form of aggressive price-cutting, increased advertising, sales promotion, or litigation. The major food processing company has a long history of retaliation against low-cost entrants. Parle and other budget food processing have alleged that selective price cuts by MNC and other major food processing like Britannia amounted to predatory pricing designed to prevent its entry into new routes. 8 To avoid retaliation by incumbents, new entrants may seek initial small scale entry into less visible market segments.New entered company market and targeted the small segments partly because this segment had big opportunity and large profit (niche marketing). Rivalry between Established Competitors (low) For most industries, this is the major determinant of the competitiveness of the industry. Sometimes rivals compete aggressively and sometimes rivals compete in non-price dimensions such as innovation, marketing, etc. For most industries, the major determinant of the overal l state of competition and the general level of profitability is competition among the firms within the industry.In some industries, firms compete aggressively – sometimes to the extent that prices are pushed below the level of costs and industry-wide losses are incurred. In others, price competition is muted and rivalry focuses on advertising, innovation, and other non price dimensions. Six factors play an important role in determining the nature and intensity of competition between established firms: concentration, the diversity of competitors, product differentiation, excess capacity, exit barriers, and cost conditions. * Concentration(high) Seller concentration refers to the number and size distribution of firms competing within a market.It is most commonly measured by the concentration ratio: the combined market share of the leading producers. Where a market is dominated by a small group of leading companies (an oligopoly), price competition may also be restrained, eithe r by outright collusion, or more commonly through â€Å"parallelism† of pricing decisions. Thus, in markets dominated by two companies, such as soft drinks (Coke and Pepsi), prices tend to be similar and competition focuses on advertising, promotion, and product development. Economists measure rivalry by indicators of   industry concentration.The Concentration Ratio (CR) is one such measure. The Bureau of Census periodically reports the CR for major Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC's). The CR indicates the percent of market share held by the four largest firms (CR's for the largest 8, 25, and 50 firms in an industry also are available). A high concentration ratio indicates that a high concentration of market share is held by the largest firms – the industry is concentrated. With only a few firms holding a large market share, the competitive landscape is less competitive (closer to a monopoly).A low concentration ratio indicates that the industry is characteri zed by many rivals, none of which has a significant market share. These fragmented markets are said to be competitive. The concentration ratio is not the only available measure; the trend is to define industries in terms that convey more information than distribution of market share. In food processing industry concentration ratio is high that indicate high concentration of market share is held by the largest firms like ITC (tobacco), Cadbury (chocolates) etc.As the number of firms supplying a market increases, coordination of prices becomes more difficult, and the likelihood that one firm will initiate price-cutting increases. However, despite the common observation that the elimination of a competitor typically reduces price competition, while the entry of a new competitor typically stimulates it, systematic evidence of the impact of seller concentration on profitability is surprisingly weak. Richard Schmalensee concluded that: â€Å"The relation, if any, between seller concentra tion and profitability is weak statistically and the estimated effect is usually small. * In pursuing an advantage over its rivals, a firm can choose from several competitive moves: * Changing prices – raising or lowering prices to gain a temporary advantage. * Improving product differentiation – improving features, implementing innovations in the manufacturing process and in the product itself. * Creatively using channels of distribution – using vertical integration or using a distribution channel that is novel to the industry. * Exploiting relationships with suppliers – set high quality standards and required suppliers to meet its demands for product specifications and price. Diversity of Competitors (low) The extent to which a group of firms can avoid price competition in favor of collusive pricing practices depends upon how similar they are in terms of origins, objectives, costs, and strategies. In food processing industry it is very low here firm alw ays try to compete rival strategies and there product prices e. g. coke and Pepsi, magi and top Ramon ,Amul ice cream and havmor ice cream etc * Product Differentiation The more similar the offerings among rival firms, the more willing customers are to substitute and the greater the incentive for firms to cut prices to increase sales.Where the products of rival firms are virtually indistinguishable, the product is a commodity and price is the sole basis for competition. Commodity industries such as food processing agriculture, mining, and petrochemicals tend to be plagued by price wars and low profits. By contrast, in industries where products are highly differentiated (perfumes, pharmaceuticals, restaurants, management consulting services), price competition tends to be weak, even though there may be many firms competing. ood processing industry it is very low here firm always try to compete rival strategies and there product prices because they have more or similer offering and th ere product are virtually indistinguishable e. g. coke and Pepsi, magi and top Ramon ,Amul ice cream and havmor ice cream etc * Excess Capacity and Exit Barriers Why does industry profitability tend to fall so drastically during periods of recession? The key is the balance between demand and capacity. Unused capacity encourages firms to offer price cuts to attract new business in order to spread fixed costs over a greater sales volume.Excess capacity may be cyclical (e. g. the boom–bust cycle in the semiconductor industry); it may also be part of a structural problem resulting from overinvestment and declining demand. In these latter situations, the key issue is whether excess capacity will leave the industry. Barriers to exit are costs associated with capacity leaving an industry. Where resources are durable and specialized, and where employees are entitled to job protection, barriers to exit may be substantial. Conversely, rapid demand growth creates capacity shortages that boost margins.On average, companies in growing industries earn higher profits than companies in slow growing or declining industries see figure 3. 4. In food processing industry it will not effect because food demand is always increase or maintain because it is directly related to population growth, and in this industry some exit barrier are working because of Government policies. Bargaining Power of Buyers (low) Also described as the market of outputs. The ability of customers to put the firm under pressure and it also affects the customer's sensitivity to price changes. Customer has enough option to switch so they have less bargaining power. The firms in an industry operate in two types of markets: in the markets for inputs and the markets for outputs. In input markets firms purchase raw materials, components, and financial and labor services. In the markets for outputs firms sell their goods and services to customers (who may be distributors, consumers, or other manufacturers). In both markets the transactions create value for both buyers and sellers.How this value is shared between them in terms of profitability depends on their relative economic power. Let us deal first with output markets. The strength of buying power that firms face from their customers depends on two sets of factors: buyers’ price sensitivity and relative bargaining power. Buyers’ Price Sensitivity (low) The extent to which buyers are sensitive to the prices charged by the firms in an industry depends on four main factors: * The greater the importance of an item as a proportion of total cost, the more sensitive buyers will be about the price they pay.Beverage manufacturers are highly sensitive to the costs of metal cans because this is one of their largest single cost items. Conversely, most companies are not sensitive to the fees charged by their auditors, since auditing costs are such a small proportion of overall company expenses. * The less differentiated the product s of the supplying industry, the more willing the buyer is to switch suppliers on the basis of price. * The more intense the competition among buyers, the greater their eagerness for price reductions from their sellers.As competition in the world food processing industry has intensified, so component suppliers are subject to greater pressures for lower prices, higher quality, and faster delivery. * The greater the importance of the industry’s product to the quality of the buyer’s product or service, the less sensitive are buyers to the prices they are charged. The buying power of necessary processed food product like suger salt etc. is limited by the critical importance of these components to the functionality of their product. Relative Bargaining Power (high)Bargaining power rests, ultimately, on refusal to deal with the other party. The balance of power between the two parties to a transaction depends on the credibility and effectiveness with which each makes this th reat. The key issue is the relative cost that each party sustains as a result of the transaction not being consummated. A second issue is each party’s expertise in leveraging its position through gamesmanship. Several factors influence the bargaining power of buyers relative to that of sellers: * Size and concentration of buyers relative to suppliers.The smaller the number of buyers and the bigger their purchases, the greater the cost of losing one. * Buyers’ information. The better informed buyers are about suppliers and their prices and costs, the better they are able to bargain.. Keeping customers ignorant of relative prices is an effective constraint on their buying power. But knowing prices is of little value if the quality of the product is unknown. It always works in food processing industry because people are not having full information about the product like k special of Kellogg which reduces the cholesterol of the consumer. Ability to integrate vertically. In refusing to deal with the other party, the alternative to finding another supplier or buyer is to do it yourself. Large food processing companies such as Heinz and Campbell Soup have reduced their dependence on the manufacturers of metal cans by manufacturing their own. The leading retail chains have increasingly displaced their suppliers’ brands with their own-brand products. Backward integration need not necessarily occur – a credible threat may suffice. Buyers are Powerful in food processing industryBuyers are concentrated – there are a few buyers with significant market share Buyers purchase a significant proportion of output – distribution of purchases or if the product is standardized Buyers possess a credible backward integration threat – can threaten to buy producing firm or rival Buyers are Weak in food processing industry Producers threaten forward integration – producer can take over own distribution/retailing Significant buyer s witching costs – products not standardized and buyer cannot easily switch to another product.Buyers are fragmented (many, different) – no buyer has any particular influence on product or price Producers supply critical portions of buyers' input – distribution of purchases Bargaining Power of Suppliers (low) Also described as market of inputs. Suppliers of raw materials, components, and services (such as expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm. Suppliers may refuse to work with the firm, or e. g. charge excessively high prices for unique resources.Analysis of the determinants of relative power between the producers in an industry and their suppliers is precisely analogous to analysis of the relationship between producers and their buyers. The only difference is that it is now the firms in the industry that are the buyers and the producers of inputs that are the suppliers. The key issues are the ease with which the firms in the industry can s witch between different input suppliers and the relative bargaining power of each party. Because raw materials, emi-finished products, and components are often commodities supplied by small companies to large manufacturing companies, their suppliers usually lack bargaining power. Suppliers are not Powerful because in food processing industry Credible forward integration threat by suppliers Suppliers concentrated Significant cost to switch suppliers Customers Powerful Suppliers are Weak because in food processing industry Many competitive suppliers – product is standardized Purchase commodity products Credible backward integration threat by purchasers Concentrated purchasers Customers WeakThreat of Substitutes (high) In Porter's model, substitute products refer to products in other industries. To the economist, a threat of substitutes exists when a product's demand is affected by the price change of a substitute product. A product's price elasticity is affected by substitute p roducts – as more substitutes become available, the demand becomes more elastic since customers have more alternatives. A close substitute product constrains the ability of firms in an industry to raise prices. The competition engendered by a Threat of Substitute comes from products outside the industry.The price of aluminum beverage cans is constrained by the price of glass bottles, steel cans, and plastic containers. These containers are substitutes, yet they are not rivals in the aluminum can industry. The existence of close substitute products increases the propensity of customers to switch to alternatives in response to price increases (high elasticity of demand). * buyer propensity to substitute (high) * relative price performance of substitutes(high) * buyer switching costs (low) Pressure from Substitutes Emerges Mainly From Two Factors 1. Switching costs for customers to the substitute. . Buyer willingness to search out for substitutes. Also the threat of substitution may take four different forms, each of which we shall now discuss with reference to above factors. Substitution of need We take switching from one product (e. g. natural drink of Dabur) to another (fresh juice from local vendor or prepared at home). In this case, the buyers might be looking out for freshness and might not mind the nominal switching costs Food processing Industry will definitely remain, in one form or the other, as long as the manufacturers manufacture and consumers consume.Food processing industry does not seem to become extinct even in the future. The issue that remains to be addressed is just – what forms it keeps evolving into. Here the Substitutes of food processing industry are fresh fruits and vegetables and food as a raw material , but they are yet very well developed in India, so their threat are comparatively very high but food processing industry break the boundaries of food product availability in certain season and area that is why food industry will sustain for longer term.While the treat of substitutes typically impacts an industry through price competition, there can be other concerns in assessing the threat of substitutes. * Strategic Implications of the Five Competitive Forces Competitive environment is unattractive from the standpoint of earning good profits when * Rivalry is vigorous * Entry barriers are low and entry is likely * Competition from substitutes is strong * Suppliers and customers have considerable bargaining power Competitive environment is ideal from a profit-making standpoint when * Rivalry is moderate Entry barriers are high and no firm is likely to enter * Good substitutes do not exist * Suppliers and customers are in a weak bargaining position. But food processing industry is little bit attractive but not ideal, it gives considerable profit Because of the following point * Rivalry is moderate * Entry barriers are low and firm is likely to enter * Good have some substitutes but up to certain extant * Suppliers and customers are in a weak bargaining position Conclusion Growing Indian economy and improving lifestyles of Indians contributing in a big way to the growth.The Indian snacks market is worth around US$ 3 billion, with the organised segment taking half the market share, and has an annual growth rate of 15-20 per cent. The unorganised snacks market is worth US$ 1. 56 billion, with a growth rate of 7-8 per cent per year. There are approximately 1,000 types of snacks and another 300 types of savories being sold in the Indian market today. There is a big market for snacks in India as urban Indian consumers eat ready-made snacks 10 times more than their rural counterparts. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for both value-added private and branded products, creating immense opportunities for manufacturers and retailers. The growth of food processing sector has nearly doubled to 13. 7 per cent during the last four years. A dominant segment of the food industry, food proces sing is estimated to be worth US$ 70 billion with a 32 per cent share. It comprises agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandries, and plantation. The opportunity for growth is huge when seen against the fact that while a mere 1. per cent of food is processed in India, nearly 80 per cent of food is processed in the developed world. Significantly, processed food exports have increased from US$ 6. 98 billion in 2003-04 to US$ 20. 51 billion in 2007-08, recording a whopping 193. 83 per cent growth rate. It realise India's potential in this industry, investment target of US$ 25. 07 billion by 2015 to double India's share in global food trade from 1. 6 per cent to 3 per cent, increase processing of perishable food from 6 per cent to 20 per cent and value addition from 20 per cent to 35 per cent.At last India is all set to become the food supplier of the world. It has the cultivable land, all the seasons for production of all varieties of fruits and vegetables, well developed agribusiness system that works in its own way. There are some Factors such as rapid growth in the economy, the technological innovations, rise of families with dual incomes and the changing food habits of the population all point to the increasing need for healthy processed food. The supply chain sector is very weak with no process owner and this can spell disaster.The food supply chain needs the attention, the industry and the Government. * Reasons to Invest in Indian Food Processing Industry It is the seventh largest country, with extensive administrative structure and independent judiciary, a sound financial & infrastructural network and above all a stable and thriving democracy. Due to its diverse agro-climatic conditions, it has a wide-ranging and large raw material base suitable for food processing industries. Presently a very small percentage of these are processed into value added products.It is one of the biggest emerging markets, with over 900 million population and a 250 million stro ng middle class. * Rapid urbanization, increased literacy and rising per capita income, have all caused rapid growth and changes in demand patterns, leading to tremendous new opportunities for exploiting the large latent market. An average Indian spends about 50% of household expenditure on food items. Demand for processed/convenience food is constantly on the rise. India's comparatively cheaper workforce can be effectively utilized to setup large low cost production bases for domestic and export markets.Liberalized overall policy regime, with specific incentives for high priority food processing sector, provides a very conducive environment for investments and exports in the sector. Very good investment opportunities exist in many areas of food processing industries, the important ones being : fruit ; vegetable processing, meat, f Read also: My Ambition Is To Become a Collector

Ignorance Does Not Discriminate

â€Å"Everything that Rises Must Converge†: Ignorance Does Not Discriminate The short story â€Å"Everything that Rises Must Converge† by Flannery O’Connor describes how ignorance has no boundaries. The story of a young man named Julian and his prejudice mother living a time following the end of segregation. Julian despises his mother’s need to feel superior and pities her ignorance. Julian is conflicted by the fact that his mother will never change and toys with different ways to teach her a lesson and end her superiority complex. The story ends tragically with both Julian and his mother learning a very difficult lesson- that ignorance does not discriminate. Julian’s mother is trapped in a time when she feels superior to Negros because of her skin color, last name and family history. Julian struggles to make her understand that times have changed and she is no better than anyone else regardless of her history. In contrast, Julian’s mother attempts to elevate his worth by reminding him of the sacrifices she has made to enable him to have privileges such as nice teeth and a college education. These things should make Julian feel superior as well. The irony of this story is that despite the constant struggle to teach each other a lesson about equality, a stranger showed both Julian and his mother that they were both equally ignorant. When Julian’s mother is physically assaulted by a negro woman for a simple gesture, the lesson begins. Though meant to be kindness to a child, Julian’s mother was completely ignorant about how offensive the gesture was to the child’s mother. As Julian watched the event with satisfaction that his mother was finally being taught her lesson in equality, Julian unknowingly allowed a stranger’s ignorance to take his own mother in return for a lifetime of regret and guilt. The negro woman loses her temper and Julian’s mother loses her life. Because all three characters refuse to be patient and open minded with each other, no one wins. Julian and his mother lose the most. The negro woman and her child lose also. She lost the opportunity to show her child a better way to deal with ignorance. She also walked away with a bit more hate in her heart. Thus the ignorance will likely continue to be paid forward.

Human Resources Information System (Hris) Essay Essays

Human Resources Information System (Hris) Essay Essays Human Resources Information System (Hris) Essay Paper Human Resources Information System (Hris) Essay Paper There are many different intents. maps and constituents to HRIS package systems. Technology has been invariably spread outing. and with all the new possibilities. companies are able to utilize these package systems to assist their HR sections perform their occupations faster and easier. Large concerns want to do the most sum of money. by passing the least sum possible ; with HRIS they are able to realistically accomplish this end. Businesss need to turn and spread out or they will non win. The chief intent of an HRIS is so companies can utilize it internally to maintain path of the store’s budget. paysheet and employee information more accurately and expeditiously. Many big human resource organisations develop or purchase these package systems to better their HR operations while seeking to maintain the entire operating costs low. The more a concern can salvage on rewards. the more it can pass on the company internally. to put in bettering the other sections as good. Some companies use HRIS systems to assist them pass on worldwide ; companies can hold one concern with several shops around the universe that speak different linguistic communications. HRIS package systems chief map is to assist HR forces grip and procedure big measures of information that is tracked and updated automatically ; this allows HR staff to concentrate on personal interaction with employees. alternatively of giving the bulk of their clip to paperwork. The cardinal maps of an HRIS package system are to make and keep employee record. adhere to legal conformity. prediction for future planning. strategic alliance and enhanced determination devising ( Dessler. 2011. pg 61 ) . The other maps that an HRIS system can execute include points such as control. effectivity. flexibleness. efficiency. reactivity. truth. easiness of usage. mechanization. seasonableness and procedure betterment ( HR Systems Strategies Inc. n. d. . pg. 1 ) . The companies that are worldwide can utilize this to pass on the same thing to other states with the HRIS system. HRIS package systems can hold many constituents to it ; nevertheless. non all companies require the same constituents. The general constituents that most big HR organisations have include a database to hive away employee information. clip and labour direction to track employee attending. paysheet to guarantee employees are paid right and lawfully. benefits to guarantee employees have appropriate benefits and retirement investings. enlisting to assist construct the company’s work force. preparation for new or promoted employees. organisation charting and scheduling for employees displacements and interruptions and an employee interface for employees to reexamine personal information ( Jennifer. n. d. . pg. 1 ) ( Dessler. 2011. pg 58 ) . Some companies can develop their package systems to be capable of executing things such as a salary analysis. budget planning. occupation design and public presentation reappraisals ( Cezanne. n. d. . pg. 1 ) . The cost of an HRIS package system can depend on many factors. such as how complex or simple it is and if it was specialized for your company or if it is a general system. Large companies such as fortune 500 can run systems around the 10s of 1000000s of dollars. but smaller companies can run systems for less than a 1000 dollars ( HRIS. HRMS and HR. n. d. . pg. 1 ) . The world is that there are many different HRIS package systems for any monetary value scope. but nevertheless much you invest into it. is how much you will acquire out. The HRIS system that a company chooses should non be based on how complex the system is. but how good the system will be to assist better the concerns HR section. The impact of engineering has changed the function of HR in many different facets. The most obvious positive consequence of utilizing engineering in an HR section is the addition of truth and efficiency. which in bend reduces costs and improves consequences within the company. The usage of engineering makes it able for HR to give less clip to paperwork and more clip to employee interaction ( Hall. 2012. pg. 1 ) . Plants Citedâ€Å"Cezanne. † Cezanne. Cezanne Software Limited. n. d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. cezannesw. com/solutions/ gt ; . Dessler. Gary. and Nina D.Cole. â€Å"Human Resources Management and Technology. † Human Resources Management in Canada. 11th Canadian Edition erectile dysfunction. Toronto: Pearsons Canada. 2011. 58. 59. 61. 62. 63. Print. â€Å"HR Systems Strategies Inc | HRIS Software Canada / US. † HR Systems Strategies Inc | HRIS Software Canada / US. N. p. . n. d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //infohr. net/ gt ; . â€Å"HRIS. HRMS and HR package FAQaˆâ„ ¢s. † Free HRIS HRMS and HR Software Buyers Guide. N. p. . n. d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. comparehris. com/about/faq/ gt ; . Hall. James. â€Å"Impact of engineering on human resource direction | Importance of Technology. † Importance of Technology. N. p. . 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //importanceoftechnology. net/104/impact-of-technology-on-human-resource-management gt ; . Jennifer. Kristin. â€Å"The Components of an HRIS System | eHow. com. † eHow | How to Videos. Articles A ; More – Discover the expert in you. | eHow. com. N. p. . n. d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. ehow. com/list_7418360_components-hris-system. hypertext markup language gt ; .

Biography of Wilfred Owen, a Poet in Wartime

Biography of Wilfred Owen, a Poet in Wartime Wilfred Owen (March 18, 1893- Nov. 4, 1918) was a compassionate poet whos work provides the finest description and critique of the soldiers experience during World War One. He was killed towards the end of the conflict in Ors, France.   Wilfred Owens Youth Wilfred Owen was born to an apparently wealthy family; however, within two years his grandfather died on the verge of bankruptcy and, missing his support, the family were forced into poorer housing at Birkenhead. This fallen status left a permanent impression on Wilfreds mother, and it may have combined with her staunch piety to produce a child who was sensible, serious, and who struggled to equate his wartime experiences with Christian teachings. Owen studied well at schools in Birkenhead and, after another family move, Shrewsbury- where he even helped to teach- but he failed the University of Londons entrance exam. Consequently, Wilfred became lay assistant to the vicar of Dunsden- an Oxfordshire parish- under an arrangement designed so the vicar would tutor Owen for another attempt at University. Early Poetry Although commentators differ as to whether Owen started writing at the age 10/11 or 17, he was certainly producing poems during his time at Dunsden; conversely, the experts agree that Owen favored literature, as well as Botany, at school, and that his main poetic influence was Keats. The Dunsden poems exhibit the compassionate awareness so characteristic of Wilfred Owens later war poetry, and the young poet found considerable material in the poverty and death he observed working for the church. Indeed, Wilfred Owens written compassion was often very close to morbidity. Mental Problems Wilfreds service in Dunsden may have made him more aware of the poor and less fortunate, but it didnt encourage a fondness for the church: away from his mothers influence he became critical of evangelical religion and intent on a different career, that of literature. Such thoughts led to a difficult and troubled period during January 1913, when Wilfred and Dunsdens vicar appear to have argued, and - or because perhaps as a result of - Owen suffered a near nervous breakdown. He left the parish, spending the following summer recovering. Travel During this period of relaxation Wilfred Owen wrote what critics often label his first war-poem - Uriconium, an Ode - after visiting an archaeological dig. The remains were Roman, and Owen described ancient combat with especial reference to the bodies he observed being unearthed. However, he failed to gain a scholarship to university and so left England, traveling to the continent and a position teaching English at the Berlitz school in Bordeaux. Owen was to remain in France for over two years, during which time he began a collection of poetry: it was never published. 1915- Wilfred Owen Enlists in the Army Although war seized Europe in 1914, it was only in 1915 that Owen considered the conflict to have expanded so considerably that he was needed by his country, whereupon he returned to Shrewsbury in September 1915, training as a private at Hare Hall Camp in Essex. Unlike many of the wars early recruits, the delay meant Owen was partly aware of the conflict he was entering, having visited a hospital for the wounded and having seen the carnage of modern warfare first-hand; however he still felt removed from events. Owen moved to the Officers school in Essex during the March of 1916 before joining the Manchester Regiment in June, where he was graded 1st Class Shot on a special course. An application to the Royal Flying Corps was rejected, and on December 30th 1916, Wilfred traveled to France, joining the 2nd Manchesters on January 12th 1917. They were positioned near Beaumont Hamel, on the Somme. Wilfred Owen Sees Combat Wilfreds own letters describe the following few days better than any writer or historian could hope to manage, but it is sufficient to say Owen and his men held a forward position, a muddy, flooded dug-out, for fifty hours as an artillery and shells raged around them. Having survived this, Owen remained active with the Manchesters, nearly getting frost bite in late January, suffering concussion in March- he fell through shell-damaged land into a cellar at Le Quesnoy-en-Santerre, earning him a trip behind the lines to hospital- and fighting in bitter combat at St. Quentin a few weeks later. Shell Shock at Craiglockhart It was after this latter battle, when Owen was caught in an explosion, that soldiers reported him acting rather strangely; he was diagnosed as having shell-shock and sent back to England for treatment in May. Owen arrived at the, now famous, Craiglockhart War Hospital on June 26th, an establishment sited outside Edinburgh. Over the next few months Wilfred wrote some of his finest poetry, the result of several stimuli. Owens doctor, Arthur Brock, encouraged his patient to overcome shell-shock by working hard at his poetry and editing The Hydra, Craiglockharts magazine. Meanwhile, Owen met another patient, Siegfried Sassoon, an established poet whose recently published war work inspired Wilfred and whose encouragement guided him; the exact debt owed by Owen to Sassoon is unclear, but the former certainly improved far beyond the latters talents. Owens War Poetry In addition, Owen was exposed to the cloyingly sentimental writing and attitude of non-combatants who glorified the war, an attitude to which Wilfred reacted with fury. Further fueled by nightmares of his wartime experiences, Owen wrote classics like Anthem for Doomed Youth, rich and multi-layered works characterized by a brutal honesty and deep compassion for the soldiers/victims, many of which were direct ripostes to other authors. Its important to note that Wilfred wasnt a simple pacifist- indeed, on occasions he railed against them- but a man sensitive to the burden of soldiery. Owen may have been self-important before the war- as betrayed by his letters home from France- but there is no self-pity in his war work. Owen Continues to Write While in the Reserves Despite a low number of publications, Owens poetry was now attracting attention, prompting supporters to request non-combat positions on his behalf, but these requests were turned down. Its questionable as to whether Wilfred would have accepted them: his letters reveal a sense of obligation, that he had to do his duty as poet and observe the conflict in person, a feeling exacerbated by Sassoons renewed injuries and return from the front. Only by fighting could Owen earn respect, or escape the easy slurs of cowardice, and only a proud war-record would protect him from detractors. Owen Returns to the Front and Is Killed Owen was back in France by September- again as a company commander- and on September 29th he captured a machine gun position during an attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line, for which he was awarded the Military Cross. After his battalion was rested in early October Owen saw in action again, his unit operating around the Oise-Sambre canal. Early in the morning of November 4th Owen led an attempt to cross the canal; he was struck and killed by enemy fire. Aftermath Owens death was followed by one of World War Ones most iconic stories: when the telegram reporting his demise was delivered to his parents, the local church bells could be heard ringing in celebration of the armistice. A collection of Owens poems was soon created by Sassoon, although the numerous different versions, and the attendant difficulty in working out which were Owens drafts and which were his preferred edits, led to two new editions in the early 1920s. The definitive edition of Wilfreds work may well be Jon Stallworthys Complete Poems and Fragments from 1983, but all justify Owens long-lasting acclaim. The War Poetry The poetry is not for everyone, for within Owen combines graphic descriptions of trench life- gas, lice, mud, death- with an absence of glorification; dominant themes include the return of bodies to the earth, hell and the underworld. Wilfred Owens poetry is remembered as reflecting the real life of the soldier, although critics and historians argue over whether he was overwhelming honest or overly scared by his experiences. He was certainly compassionate, a word repeated throughout this biography and texts on Owen in general, and works like Disabled, focusing on the motives and thoughts of soldiers themselves, provide ample illustration of why. Owens poetry is certainly free of the bitterness present in several historians monographs on the conflict, and he is generally acknowledged as being the both the most successful, and best, poet of wars reality. The reason why may be found in the preface to his poetry, of which a drafted fragment was found after Owens death: Yet these elegies are not to this generation, this is in no sense consolatory. They may be to the next. All a poet can do today is to warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful. (Wilfred Owen, Preface) Notable Family of Wilfred Owen Father: Tom OwenMother: Susan Owen

Superman and Batman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Superman and Batman - Essay Example The superhero’s socioeconomic status brings up another disparity. When Batman is living his civilian role as Bruce Wayne, he is a successful businessman (a billionaire) while Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego, is just an ordinary writer for a newspaper making a modest salary. These differences make the ordinary citizen side of each character like night and day. But the differences do not end there, especially when it comes to their families and relationships. It should also be noted that Superman is raised by two parents (even though not his own), while Batman is raised by his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who he continues to live with throughout adulthood. Furthermore, Batman has a partner, the Boy Wonder, also known as Robin, to assist him in his fight against crime, whereas Superman is always a one-man show with no sidekick. The people the superheroes surround themselves with are worlds apart. Another major difference between the two characters can be seen when looking at the settings in which they were raised. Superman grew up in the modest rural setting of a Kansas farm, while Batman grew up in a very luxurious lifestyle in a mansion, in the crowded metropolitan area known as Gotham City. These places of their upbringing are almost polar opposites. And finally, there are the physical and material differences between the two. Batman wears a mask, whereas the other caped crusader does not, as Superman’s disguise (or mask) is essentially the glasses he wears and his nerdy personality as Clark Kent. Furthermore, Superman’s sole means of transportation is his flying ability, whereas Batman primarily uses his popular Batmobile to speedily get from place to place, not to mention his other high-tech rides, including a plane, helicopter, motorcycle, and speedboat. Even though all of these differences may seem great in number, they pale in comparison to the striking similarities one can find between the two by digging a little deeper. There are many likenesses shared between the caped crusaders. The first key similarity to note between the superheroes is that both Superman and Batman were conceived (in the imagination) in the 1930s as comic book heroes. In Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1932, Jerry Siegel, an American writer created Superman and Canadian American artist Joe Shuster drew him before they sold the concept to Action Comics,