Heart of Darkness and “The Hollow Men” Essay

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness reveals the theme of self-reflection, however that reflection leads to a caliginous finish filled with vacantness. A poem written in 1925, â€Å"The Hollow Men† by T.S. Eliot, portrays a nearly equivalent feeling of emptiness. Both of which form a vacuous, hollow existence of man. Conrad and Eliot’s work mirrors each other’s directly with their internal reflection and overall emptiness. In fact, Eliot even begins his poem with â€Å"Mistah Kurtz- He dead.† a citation from Heart of Darkness. Poems often intend to express more than what they literally say within their lines. In T.S. Eliot’s â€Å"Hollow Men,† Eliot depicts the insignificant lives of these â€Å"hollow men,† â€Å"stuffed† with worthlessness. He then goes on to explain how the men go about their daily lives and â€Å"whisper together† meaningless things. Eliot also speaks of the eyes that are â€Å"more distant and more solemn than a fading star.† The hollow men’s eyes are in a sort of hellish state, with stares of nothingness as they gaze out among the world. God’s eyes seem out of reach to these hopeless men, God’s eyes â€Å"do not appear,† they are too distant for them to reach. â€Å"This dead land this cactus land here the stone images are raised,† men in this barren and empty land are seen worshipping false gods, worthless stone. The only way for the hollow men to find hope is for God to be brought pack in and praised in â€Å"death’s twilight kingdom,† which in itself seems hopeless. Almost spontaneously Eliot brings in a nursery rhyme, creating a whimsical and simplistic way about the hollow men. Shortly after he starts the Lord’s Prayer, â€Å"For thine is the Kingdom,† and repeats it several times seeming to loose his train of thought, adding to the meaningless stuffing of these hollow men. â€Å"This is the way the world ends not with a bang but a whimper,† ends Eliot’s poem and also the lives of the hollow men, without meaning or significance. Like the theme of hollowness throughout â€Å"The Hollow Men,† â€Å"Heart of Darkness† generates the similar theme of self-reflection and the eventual feeling of emptiness. The protagonist, Marlow, sees that England is filled with superfluous actions and material things. â€Å"The inner truth is hidden.† The character of Marlow consists of a wandering sailor with little knowledge of who he really is. When traveling throughout the world, Marlow’s eyes open as he realizes the darkness of the world. Marlow leaves behind Eliot’s â€Å"deliberate disguises† and journeys to the void land of Africa. Soon He soon ascertains that Africa is very similar to England, in that it is centered around the worthless materials and money, â€Å"the word ‘ivory’ rang in the air†¦ you would think they were praying to it.† Marlow’s main reason of going into this strange land was to check on the inner station and unintentionally on Kurtz. Through all of the things Marlow witnesses on his voyage, he discovers the true emptiness and hollowness within himself. The jungles of Africa assume the same roles as the deserts of â€Å"The Hollow Men,† the area is barren and forsaken reflecting the mind of Marlow. In the â€Å"inner station† Marlow meets a character who seems to be â€Å"stuffed† like the men of Eliot’s poem, â€Å"I could poke my forefinger through him, and would find nothing but a little loose dirt.† When Kurtz is finally introduced in Heart of Darkness he is repeatedly labeled as a â€Å"universal genius,† and this so-called genius is from his own inner reflections. Something â€Å"had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conceptions till he took counsel with this great solitude – and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core.† The whispers in â€Å"The Hollow Men† are also found throughout Heart of Darkness. Kurtz knows deep inside that he is empty and attempts to fill the void with these whispers. His remorse for these actions are revealed through his last words, â€Å"The horror! The horror!† His genius was eventually seen for what it truly was; he knew was he had, a â€Å"hollow† existence. The poem and novella both represent the masked, hollow, and meaningless existence of men, through a sense of reflection of oneself. Heart of Darkness is a tale of searching of meaningless ends and â€Å"The Hollow Men† reveals the tragedy of the hollowness in men, both show that these material obsessions of the world are worth nothing in the overall outlook of life.

The Crucible By Arthur Miller - 1431 Words

The quality most necessary in a leader and a catalyst for hysteria is the ability to manipulate. The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller depicts the events that occurred in 1690s in Massachusetts best known as the Salem Witch Trials. These events center on a group of young girls who are found dancing in the woods with a black slave. Among them is Abigail Williams, a 17 year-old-girl desperate to conceal her affair with a married man and escape charges of witchcraft. In an attempt to pull the spotlight away from themselves, this group of girls, led by Abigail, begin to accuse countless people of witchcraft and as a result 19 people are hanged. The Crucible serves as an example of an individual’s ability to create hysteria, as well as the factors that are necessary for the rest of a society to participate in it. Despite the negative puritan perceptions of women, Abigail’s accusations are still acknowledged and believed by important members of society. Furthermore, the comb ined actions of Abigail as well as the rest of the girls spark a movement of panic and frenzy among all members of her society. The way in which Abigail manipulated people using the shortcomings of her society in The Crucible, the strict religious and cultural values of puritan society, as well as the ability of the people in The Crucible to oppose hysteria demonstrate the factors that allow for an individual to create hysteria and other people’s willingness to go along with it. Women in puritan society wereShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on Arthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1681 Words   |  7 Pagesof their way to the last dying breath to make sure they leave with a good or bad reputation. In one of the recent literature study in class â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, Miller uses characterization to illustrate reputation throughout the play. â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, Mas sachusetts. It is based upon the Salem witch trails. In â€Å"The Crucible†, we journey through the life of three characters who reputations plays a major role in the play. The three characters are John Proctor, AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1333 Words   |  6 PagesAs the various characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller interact, the dominant theme of the consequences of women’s nonconformity begins to slide out from behind the curtains of the play. Such a theme reveals the gripping fear that inundated the Puritans during the seventeenth century. This fear led to the famous witch-hunts that primarily terrorized women who deviated from the Puritan vision of absolute obedience and orthodoxy. Arthur Miller presents his interpretation of the suffering by subtlyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller998 Words   |  4 Pagesmotivated by jealousy and spite. The Crucible is a four-act dramatic play production that was first performed on January 22, 1953. Arthur Miller used dialogue within the characters to cover the multiple themes; conflicts and resolutions, plus the few directions for the different actions of the play. The Salem Witch Trials were intended to be performed as the play however, when read, it can be more carefully examined and broken down to analyze the techniques. Miller, the playwright, uses literaryRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1145 Words   |  5 PagesUnbalance Through The Centuries In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the author reflects the persecution of communists in America in the 1950’s through a recount of the Salem witch trials. It is often presumed that Miller based his drama directly off of events that were particularly prevalent in the years surrounding the publication of The Crucible- which was released in the year 1953, towards the conclusion of the Korean War. Although there was not a literal witch hunt occurring during this timeRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all th ose seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pages Rationale, Morality, Stereotypes, Pressure, Self-Censorship, Unanimity, and Mindguards. Groupthink has also taken place in our history a a country. The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about a the real-life Salem Witch Trials that happened in 1692 - 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. Some symptoms of Groupthink found in the Crucible are Rationale, Pressure, and Self-Censorship. The Groupthink symptom, Rationale, is described as when victims of Groupthink ignore warnings: they also collectivelyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller811 Words   |  4 Pages While The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is only a four act play, it still resembles the format of a five act play. The five-act structure evolved from a three-act structure, which was made famous by Roman Aelius Donatus. Donatus came up with three types of plays: Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The five-act structure helped to expand the three act structure, mainly made famous by Shakespeare through his many tragedies. Even though The Crucible contains only four acts, it still has the commonRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1052 Words   |  5 PagesBuddy Al-Aydi Ms.Healy English 9 CP 14th October 2014 The Crucible Essay The Crucible was a novel written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s. It was written in a format of the play, portraying an allegory of the Salem Witch-Hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The book is known to have a inexplicable plot. This plot is advanced by multiple characters in the book in order to ensure that the reader maintains interest with the material that is being read. The farmer, John Proctor, would be theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a chaotic play, throughout this American classic Arthur Miller takes the reader through multiple events of terror and insanity. While creating a great on-stage play, Arthur Miller portrays his life through the events, the characters, and plot of The Crucible. Using vivid imagery and comprehensible symbolism, Miller manipulates the real personalities of the characters and events in 1600 Salem, Massachusetts to create a symbolic autobiography. Throughout this play, the reader experie nces

How Accountants Act As Business Advisors - 978 Words

This paper examines how accountants act as business advisors to small businesses, causing them to have a lower risk of failure and higher growth rate than those who do not. The research findings of Barbera, Hasso, and Rajavel were extremely helpful in supporting this thesis. Dr. Rajavel studied failing or failed businesses in an â€Å"economically resourceful† set of islands in the Bay of Bengal. He published a journal article based on his findings entitled â€Å"A Study on Causes for Business Failure: An Empirical Analysis†. While his writing mainly discussed the causes of business failure, he also advises entrepreuners to seek the help of those professionals necessary to prevent their problems (2013). Francesco Barbara and Tim Hasso elaborate on the lack of previous research into the importance of an accountant, especially in the small family-owned sector. They compared 2,004 of these in the Business Longitudinal Survey (BLS) of Australia and found the majority to cur rently or previously use an outside accountant. They compare young businesses to old and confirm the advisors who get to know their clients help younger companies gain stability and help older companies increase growth (2013). With such limited research in this area, these researchers play a key role in the information provided within. After studying 2,004 family firms, researchers Barbera and Hasso stated: â€Å"of all family SMEs (small-medium enterprises), nearly 89% have used an external accountant.† This has shownShow MoreRelatedBusiness And Tax Strategies With The Right Accountant1256 Words   |  6 PagesFinding the Right Accountant Curating Your Business and Tax Strategies with the Right Accountant Choosing the right accountant can seriously impact your taxes, ability to build wealth and your lifestyle. Creative accounting can offer you and your family a better life, provide for retirement and shelter income so that you can earn more money with pretax income. Choosing an accountant is critical for getting the maximum return from your business and investments. Choosing an accountant often results inRead MoreMy Professional Field Is Accounting Essay964 Words   |  4 Pagesis accounting, I’ve been working as accountant nearly 10 years now. My carrier start as assistant of accountant. To become â€Å"Accountant† I took long way to come. First of all I started study book keeping certificate, it’s challenging for me. Working and study hard wasn’t easy, took me two years to take the certificate. Afterward, I joined accounting firm. At the accounting firm, I met Tax accountants as my managers. They did brilliant job, I couldn’t believe how they can handle that much amount ofRead MoreAccountant Role In Business Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pages11/11/2017 Marta Silva â€Å"Are Management Accountants Important Strategic Partners in Corporate America’s Management teams? Despite the great stride in efforts made by the financial industry in the last twenty years, many still view management accountants as they were in the 1980s; the ‘scorekeeper’, the ‘corporate cop’, sitting in their cubicles running numbers from dusk to dawn. However, in the modern era accountants have started taking on new roles in corporations, becoming strategic plannersRead MoreAccounting Methods Used By Ancient Egyptians For Inventory Purposes1994 Words   |  8 PagesAccountants are trusted and respected all around the world. After all, this profession has been around for many years; there is proof that accounting methods were used by ancient Egyptians for inventory purposes. The accounting profession has many certifications; one of them is Certified Public Accountant, also known by its acronym, CPA. By far, the one with the most advantages is CPA because it is required by almost any accounting firm, provides mobility across the industry, and pro vides betterRead MoreThe Ethical Guidelines Provided By The Cima Provides Different Conflict Resolutions1143 Words   |  5 Pagesprofessional figure or a legal advisor without breaching the fundamental principles of confidentiality. The Code of Ethical Conduct of the IMA provides these following conflict resolutions for organizations with conflicts in policies and resolutions. The organizations should approach their immediate supervisors and then if the problem is not resolved they should go to the next hierarchal supervisor that has some knowledge of the situation and can proved some insight on how to handle the situation. ThereRead MoreEthical Challenges Within The Workplace1119 Words   |  5 Pagesplace, but managers often deal with ethical issues the most. Managers have to worry about their employee’s actions and also their own. In the business world today, there are more rules and regulations to follow to keep the professionalism. When employees or even the boss go against the rules and regulations set, it could lead to dismissal from the business. In this paper, there will be examples of what the IMA expect from companies. People often do not think that practicing ethical behavior in theRead MoreA ccounting, Finance, Marketing, And Business Management1487 Words   |  6 Pagesinvestigated the different industries in business and the different skills associated with these industries. We decided to research accounting, finance, marketing, and business management. Each group member conducted an interview with an employee who had experience in the specific industry. We explored a variety of concepts particular to each industry, ranging from different careers in the industry to some of the pros and cons of industry. Our main goal was to communicate how certain industries differ fromRead MoreBernard Bernie Madoff1352 Words   |  6 Pages000 dollars for him and his wife to start Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. www.biography.com/people/bernard-madoff-466366 Bernard Madoff had got helped from his father-in-law, a C.P.A. retiree, with his company. Bernie business had attracted investors through word-of-mouth and he had an impressive client list that included the rich, not so rich and the famous. With an annual return of 10 percent or more it grew Bernie’s company fame and reliability, and by the 1980sRead MoreThe Changing Role of Managerial Accounting in a Dynamic Business Environment1723 Words   |  7 PagesOF MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING IN A DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Learning Objectives 1. Define managerial accounting and describe its role in the management process. 2. Explain four fundamental management processes that help organizations attain their goals. 3. List and describe five objectives of managerial accounting activity. 4. Explain the major differences between managerial and financial accounting. 5. Explain where managerial accountants are located in an organization, in termsRead MoreCareer As A Certified Public Accountant1659 Words   |  7 Pagesof Texas, the Texas State Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) formed the central chapter in 1911, composed of a group of â€Å"17 public accountants and six junior staff accountants.† After several years of the TSCPA requesting a regulatory board for the accounting profession, the state legislature approved the Public Accountancy Act of 1915. According to this act, a candidate wishing to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) would be required to pass the board-certified examination

George Rousseau And Jean Jacques Rousseau Essay - 1002 Words

The concept of Liberty can be very complex when trying to define it, one of the reasons for that is that no one seems to agree on what it means to be free. There is the connotation of the word Liberty which is â€Å"Freedom from captivity imprisonment, slavery, or despotic control.† (566 Oxford Dictionary) but Liberty is often portrayed as more than just that. When looking at the past, Liberty is an interesting concept, considering the social structure at the time and how the king and the church had so much power. A lot changed with the French Revolution and the abolishment of the French monarchy but let us take a look a few years before that, where two great minds of this time had their own opinion of Liberty an how to achieve it. Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are two of the original Romantics; they both brought new ideas to the world and tried to change it. Diderot was very big on man being able to think for themselves, not always being told what to do and how to do it, he believe in our ability to reason and make our own decisions â€Å"The finest privilege of our reason consists in not believing in anything by the impulsion of a blind and mechanical instinct. Man is born to think for himself.†(Denis Diderot, â€Å"L’Encyclopedie† 1751) Rousseau had his own view of liberty, he believed that man show follow their feelings and not their mind, he believe that nature was man’s true safe haven â€Å"To feel is to exist, and our feelings come most uncontestebly before our thoughts†Show MoreRelated Jean-Jacques Rousseau Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I was born to a family whose morals distinguished them from the people.† (Josephson 9) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. He became the son of Isaac Rousseau, a plebian class watchmaker, and Suzanne Bernard, the daughter of a minister who died shortly after giving birth to him. Rousseau’s baptism ceremony was a traditional one held at St. Peter’s Cathedral on July 4, 1712 by the reverend senebies. He had an elder brother who hadRead MoreJean Jacques Rousseau Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau I was born to a family whose morals distinguished them from the people. (Josephson 9) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. He became the son of Isaac Rousseau, a plebian class watchmaker, and Suzanne Bernard, the daughter of a minister who died shortly after giving birth to him. Rousseaus baptism ceremony was a traditional one held at St. Peters Cathedral on July 4, 1712 by the reverend senebies. He had an elder brother who hadRead MoreAnalysis Of Emanuel Leutze s Painting967 Words   |  4 Pages Emanuel Leutze’s painting depicts George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, crossing the Delaware River with his men on Christmas night, 1776 in order to surprise attack the Hessians at Trenton. Leutze’s portrait reflects some of the ideals represented by Thomas Jefferson, as well enlightenment thinkers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau and perfectly demonstrates the role the Americ an Revolution played in the shift from the medieval period intoRead MoreJean Jacques Rousseau And The Declaration Of Independence Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau was an Enlightenment thinker during the eighteenth century and is most noted for his work The Social Contract. The Social Contract published in 1762 and is a philosophical document that expresses the ideas of popular sovereignty. Popular Sovereignty is a form of government in which â€Å"the doctrine that sovereign power is vested in the people and that those chosen to govern, as trustees of such power, must exercise it in conformity with the general will.† This is basically a fancyRead MoreRousseau ´s Solution to  ¨The Fundamental Problem ¨1178 Words   |  5 PagesThe problem is to find a form of association †¦ in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before.’ Does Rousseau have a convincing solution to the problem he poses? The opening line of Jean-Jacques Rousseaus influential work The Social Contract (1762), is man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. These are not physical chains, but psychologicalRead MoreJean-Jacques Rousseau Influence on the Declaration of Independence743 Words   |  3 PagesAmerica,† (Fink, 9). Five of the founding fathers got together and penned this important document. As they penned this document, they were inspired by a number of European philosophers and writers. One of these philosophers was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. â€Å"Jean-Jacques Rousseau played a significant role in three different revolutions: in politics, his work inspired and shaped revolutionary sentiment in the American colonies and France; in philosophy, he proposed radically unsettling ideas about humanRead MoreJean-Jacques Rousseaus The Social Contract Essay example1786 Words   |  8 PagesThe problem is to find a form of association †¦ in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before.’ Does Rousseau have a convincing solution to the problem he poses? The opening line of Jean-Jacques Rousseaus influential work The Social Contract (1762), is man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. These are not physical chains, but psychologicalRead MoreA Catholic Socialist1014 Words   |  5 Pagessaying, â€Å"Rousseau abandoned his five children, one after the other, but had, we are told, an unspeakable affection for his dog.†1 Irving Babbitt certainly had no love loss for Jean-Jacques Rousseau not only because of his abandonment of his children but because Rousseau was the antithesis of Babbitt. Even though both Babbitt and Rousseau offer revolutionary ideas that affected their societies, their educational and religious philosophies differed in many ways. On education, Babbitt and Rousseau exhibitedRead MoreWomen in the Enlightenment Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesThe Enlightenment allowed a period of educational growth to begin. A new love for knowledge and debate sprung up throughout the century. Women joined in with the intellectual banter by starting salons. â€Å"If Voltaire transformed the thoughts, and Rousseau the feelings, of the eighteenth century, it was the salons of Paris that the new conceptions of ‘reason’ and ‘nature,’ of ‘free thought’ and the importance of the individual, were sifted, codified, and eventually imposed.† Women played a centralRead MoreNo Perfect Form of Government Essay2014 Words   |  9 Pagesthe ideal government was still prevalent during the Enlightenment period. During the 18th century, numerous philosophers developed various new ideas about how the ideal government should perform its duties. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Roussea u, for example, conceived the idea of a government in which the majority rules through a system of democracy. A bloody conflict finally brought some of these ideas into practice. From the American Revolution, the United States was born, and its

The primitive method of DNA

Question: Why do you think sequencing has garnered more attention/buzz than other technologies? Are there other technologies that are equally deserving of attention? Answer: Introduction The primitive method of DNA sequencing or the Sanger sequencing has been carried out since the 1990s. After the sequencing of DNA is done enormous amounts of profiling through advanced technologies are carried out. The process is totally dedicated to the better understanding of inherited diseases and genetic disorders. Single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs are the variation in DNA sequences that occurs when a single nucleotide in the sequence is altered. These SNPs are the most important tool in sequencing as they are responsible for the susceptibility of diseases in human body, the effects of drugs sensitivity or resistance and for the wellbeing of every human being. These databases of SNPs provide the data to further research effects of genetic diseases, or certain drugs on humans(Orapan Sripichai PhD,Suthat Fucharoen MD, 2007). Alternative Technology The alternative second generation DNA sequencing technique has arrived in recent time that have reduced the cost of sequencing by two times and saves more energy. Some of the methods are micro electrophoretic method, cyclic array sequencing, sequencing by hybridization. Another researcher John Chapaut, a researcher at ASUs bio design laboratory along with some scientists from England , Belgium ,Denmark answered a long debated question that whether there are any other heredity and evolution molecule other than DNA and RNA. They have found evolution threose nucleic acid to xenonucleic acids or XNA. The method of producing XNA greatly improves the accuracy and efficiency of the evolution of polymerase. Though it is still in research phase(Richard Harth, 2012). Conclusion The genome research or genome sequencing has created a buzz and acquired attention because it had been the first technology to have shown such a huge promise to humanity that it will change their lives and give them hope for a better living and although many technologies has arrived after that, but still sequencing had been like a first step on the moon for biologists.

SWOT Analysis for Danone in China Essay Example

SWOT Analysis for Danone in China Essay Groupe Danone is the global leader in cultured dairy products (including yogurt, cheese, and dairy desserts) and second-largest producer of biscuits (after Krafts Nabisco) with Jacobs and LU cookies and crackers. Its Evian and other brands make it No.2 in bottled water (behind Nestlà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½). Danone entered China in 1987. Although it had suffered setbacks as other multinational dairy corporations at the beginning, it has now got the top position in the Chinese market. It is not only the largest partner with Chinas two leading beverage makers- Hangzhou Wahaha Group and Guangdong Robust Group, but the third largest stockholder of Bright Dairy, the Shanghai- based company. ; SWOT Analysis: Strengths: * Remaining rapid growth in Chinese market, with sales of bottled water and biscuits showing steep rise. We will write a custom essay sample on SWOT Analysis for Danone in China specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on SWOT Analysis for Danone in China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on SWOT Analysis for Danone in China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer * Outstanding marketing know- how to serve powerful local brands. * A broad market share, with sales of bottled water close to 1.8 billion liters in China, associated with significant economies of scale. * Strong brand power. Since most of Chinese consumers have a perception that the product quality is guaranteed when consuming the international branded products, which helps to earn a significant amount of trust and loyalty from consumers. Weaknesses: * Failed to attain similar development in the Chinese dairy market because of the comparatively higher prices of their dairy products. * Seldom advertisements about their products, especially dairy products on TV or in newspapers * Traditional dairy distribution in China relies on a network reaching every street and community of a city, and it is not easy for any foreign brand even if it has deep pockets. Opportunities: * The central governments announcement that it would encourage private investment in state- run companies. It led to the increase of Danones shares ownership of Bright Dairy. * The rapid growth of the number of big supermarkets benefits the product distribution. * An emphasis in marketing messages on the health and nutrition aspects of consuming dairy products and mineral water. * Take advantage of the local brand reputation. Threats: * Strong multinational competitors, such as Nestle and Parmalat. * Pressure come from local brands that are much more familiar with the consuming habits of Chinese urban residents. * The product characteristic (dairy products) makes it not easy to store and only can be available in big supermarkets. ; Further discussion: Our strategy is built on high profile brands for general public, backed by extensive advertising stressing nutritional benefits. At the same time, we aim to build new value into ranges over the medium term. Simon Israel, Senior Vice-president After learning the case of Danone Group, I would like to say that its present success mainly comes from its adjustment of strategy in China. When Danone entered China in the late 1980s, it adopted an organic growth strategy for its yogurt business because of seeing the emerging market opportunities and a lack of dominant brands. However, during the 1990s, the local players began to take the lead, Danone withdrew from the dairy market by selling factories to local companies and switched its strategy to mergers and acquisitions in China. The MNC aggressively acquired some of the smaller players at that time. On the other hand, Danone promoted its own label at the beginning, when foreign goods were regarded as high quality ones. But when the local companies established their own strong brands, Danone set off acquiring the local competitors and maintaining their local brands. Therefore, Danones outstanding marketing know- how to serve powerful local brands is one of its critical success factors.

The Internet as Social Media Connectivity and Immediacy essayEssay Writing Service

The Internet as Social Media Connectivity and Immediacy essayEssay Writing Service The Internet as Social Media: Connectivity and Immediacy essay The Internet as Social Media: Connectivity and Immediacy essay  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Does the availability and use of social media on the Internet really provide businesses with new and different useful information?   Social media can be viewed as an effective tool to promote business. YouTube and other social media platforms provide massive opportunities for advertising campaigns, which help to attract more and more customers. However, social media may have negative impact on businesses as well, especially on business reputation. According to researchers, â€Å"with the web, opinions, facts, truth and lies can spread across the world as fast as a rumor or piece of gossip might have passed among the inhabitants of a small town 100 years ago† (Newson et al., 2009, p. 171).   The case of Dave Carroll, a young Canadian singer, who travelled with his band from Toronto Canada to Nebraska, and faced serious problems with his baggage, hurt the United Airline s reputation to a great extent. Dave Carrol used social media to inform others about the United Airlines customer service, and he succeeded. Careless baggage handlers managed to break Dave Carroll’s guitar which cost $3.500. United Airlines refused to reimburse Dave’s repair bill of $1.200. Dave Carroll’s song â€Å"United Breaks Guitars†, which was posted on YouTube in the form of a humorous video clip, had more than 3 million viewers within two weeks. According to research, â€Å"by mid-2011the YouTube clip had accumulated well over 10 million views†(Fritz, 2012, p. 53). Today people have an opportunity to share their problems with others via social media platforms. Many customers use social media to voice their disagreement with customer services, hurting the reputation of many highly acclaimed companies. So, the availability and use of social media really provide businesses with new and different useful information, including negative comments and critical review about products and services, which may hurt the company’s reputation.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To start with, social media platforms play an important role in business communication, proving massive opportunities for customers to share their opinions about products and services. Social networking sites, YouTube, Twitter, blogging and other types of social media creates a serious threat to business reputation. The term â€Å"social media† is used to â€Å"describe online tools and utilities that allow communication of information online and participation and collaboration† (Newson et al., 2009, p. 49). Today social media tools make it difficult for businesses to monitor online reputation. Customers use social media to tell online users about their dealing with this or that business organization. According to researchers, â€Å"these online communications can be anything from a few comments to even a full scale campaign agai nst a business†(Newson et al., 2009, p. 172). There are many examples of negative impact of social media on businesses. 40 % of the well-known marketing brands had negative commentaries or critical reviews of customers, based on the online monitoring survey (Newson et al., 2009, p. 172).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Besides the above mentioned facts, social media platforms influence competitiveness of businesses on the market. Many companies have established and implemented effective strategies to become â€Å"first movers in social media and developed insights as how consumers think and behave about their products and services†(Rajagopal, 2013, p. 127). Many companies face certain challenges caused by social media power regarding the sustainability of market competition. Many companies used negative commentaries of consumers about their competitors’ products and services to become more successful on the competitive market. Competition is influence d by social position of businesses. In other words, social status among business organizations reflects their social position on the market, measured by business relationships among business organizations. Social media platforms may shape the way that the company’s competitors may use to become more successful on the competitive market.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, negative word of mouth communication by means of social media platforms reduces sales rate. When consumers are not satisfied with some product or service, they have an opportunity to relieve their frustration, making efforts to convince others about the company’s failures (Beal Strauss, 2009). These consumers’ complaints about the quality of products and services may be crucial in the sales rate of businesses because consumers try to find other companies, more trustworthy and more competitive ones.   Many companies are concerned about the effects of the negative word of mouth communication because it can go global, influencing the overall productivity of the company on the market. The information on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other major social media sites requires the proper control and feedback (Fritz, 2012). Thus, some specific strategies and effective tactics are necessary to be focused on building business.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nevertheless, some experts argue that the use of social media does not have a strong impact on the company’s reputation and competitive advantage. The success of any company on the competitive market depends on the level of customers’ trust. There are many ways to obtain good reputation and keep it without effort, e.g. powerful advertising campaigns on TV, radio, print media, reduced prices, employee benefits, etc. Social media tools, such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and some other well-known platforms will fail to completely destroy the company’s values (Fritz, 2012; N ewson et al., 2009).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But despite these contradictions, social media may have a harmful impact with negative customer opinion regarding the company’s products or services, providing businesses with new and different useful information. Although many companies have developed their reputation management plans, which integrate the application of both offline and online procedures, social media platforms, like YouTube, create a serious threat to the company’s reputation. It would be better for any company that is criticized in the social media to give a prompt and adequate response (Rajagopal, 2013). Social media can teach a customer service lesson; therefore any company should be ready to respond adequately (Rajagopal, 2013).   Public relations should work with customer service department to ensure that the company is ready to give responses to consumers.Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessa ry to conclude that the availability and use of social media on the Internet really provide businesses with new and different useful information. In many cases, this information is negative and has an adverse impact on the development of businesses. As a result, many companies have to develop and implement the proper strategies aimed at reducing the negative effects of the use of social media platforms by consumers. In many cases, consumers’ comments on blogs, YouTube video clips, and other negative comments about products or services are discussed by managers and the proper changes in strategic directions are made to address the issues of concern, e.g. poor customer services, low quality of products, etc.