Our Planet Needs Genetically Modified Foods :: GMOs, Genetically Modified Crops

Our Planet Needs Genetically Modified Foods Throughout the advancing technology of today, the human culture is becoming futuristic with science and all of its components. Genetically modifying foods presents positive opportunities in agriculture and human health. Furthermore, more scientifically advanced modifications that select genetically superior plants, have enhanced the yield of crops, improved storability, and increased disease resistance. To simply remove genes from one organism and transfer them to another is generally harmless if we take appropriate precautions. This often debated issue holds many objections. Moreover, one may claim that modifying genes at all is unnatural and evaluates a sufficient risk to many different organisms and species. However, the current technology we possess provides us with the capabilities to go beyond our limits. Why draw the line here? Genetically modifying foods presents positive and beneficial opportunities. In most cases, we are not eating those genes. By the time a genetically engineered corn plant has been processed into corn oil, virtually none of the genes or the proteins they produce are left in the food (Nutrition Action Healthletter, 2001). Transferring genes from one plant or animal to another provides an advantageous outcome to this production. A better resistance to weeds, pests, and diseases is produced as well as better yield and a more efficient use of land. Additionally, altering genetics in foods contributes to a better texture, flavour, and nutritional value of a product. Therefore, there is a longer shelf life and less herbicide or other chemicals are used in the production of genetically modified foods, which provides a healthier option and an increased selection for the consumer. Biotechnology is going to help solve problems that we face going into the next century such as reduction of allergi es, development of more nutritious foods, and an increased nutritional production to feed a growing population (McLaughlin, 1999). Subsequently, changing one or two genes does not make a foodstuff unacceptable. Religious and vegetarian groups would object to genes from some species, while adequate protection can be given with labelling the product. Ethically, one may argue that it is radically useless to modify foods genetically or that agriculture is already too technological and it will only progress more negatively. However, it is likely that increasing numbers of genetically modified foods will emerge in the near future with more variety of modifications and associated benefits. Generally, genetically modified foods will affect the lives of most people in the areas of food, medicine and environmental protection as it meets the modern technology of today.

The Contribution of Social, Cultural, and Family Environment to the Dev

Analyse the extent to which the social, cultural and family environment may contribute to the development of eating disorders. Eating disorders have been found through centuries of doctors records. Some as far back as the seventeenth century through Morton (1694) descriptions of the symptoms of eating disorders during this period in time. Despite this eating disorders were only formally known as a disorder until 1980 when it was published in the DSM and more recent editions have shown that there are two different forms of eating disorders which are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. This assignment will discuss how social, cultural and family environment can contribute to the development of these eating disorders and why these factors greatly contribute to the development of these illnesses. The DSM V criteria of anorexia nervosa are refusal to maintain body weight, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, disturbance in the way in which one sees their true body weight or shape, or denial of the seriousness of weight loss. The criteria for bulimia nervosa are, according to the DSM V, recurrent episodes of binge eating, recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors to avoid weight again, a minimum average of two episodes of binge eating and two inappropriate compensatory behaviours a week, self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. Davis and Neale (2001) discovered that anorexia nervosa usually begins in the early to late teens and is ten times more frequent in women than men.According to Stirling and Hellewell (1999) In the UK it is believed that the disorder affects up to 1 percent of adolescent girls. However, the Eating Disorders Association (2000) reviewed that there... ...tween family members and the individual. Although some evidence suggests that individuals feel that they are not understood by their family members and also that their family do not understand why they took the measures they did to develop the disorder can aggravate the disorder. However, not enough evidence is provided to show whether the breakdown in communication was before, during or after the development of the eating disorder and therefore it is unclear whether the family environment can fully contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Works Cited Atkinson, R.L., Atkinson, R.C., Smith, E.E., Bem, D.J. (1990) Introduction to Psychology. 10th edition. HBJ. Gross, R. (2001) Psychology the Science of Mind and Behaviour. 4th edition. Hodder & Stoughton. Turner, L. (2003) Advanced Psychology: Atypical Behaviour.Hodder & Stoughton.

Mothers of the Victorian Period Essay -- literature literary criticism

Mothers of the Victorian Period    There is no doubt in the fact that motherhood has changed throughout history in the way that it is practiced and perceived. Although hard to classify motherhood as an "easy" task in any time period, mothers of the Victorian period were among those who have had it the hardest. For example, Natalie McKnight, author of Suffering Mothers in Mid-Victorian Novels, states: "When I first began studying the lives of Victorian women, I sympathized with the many women who suffered through the agonies of labor only to die shortly after the baby was born. As I continued my research, I began to feel more sympathy with those who survived" (McKnight 1). Victorian mothers were put under tremendous pressures and expectations when it came to mothering their children. Prior to this time, mothers raised their children based on what felt natural and instinctive. Moving into the mid-nineteenth century, however, mothers were expected to follow conduct and medical books for wives, mothers, and newborns, as well as use new products on the market for mother and baby. The duties that were placed upon the woman were "to maintain and develop the child’s complete physical, mental, and spiritual health, pretty much without the help of the father" (McKnight 2). Mothers took care of domestic matters and their children, while men were free to concentrate on work and public affairs (Shiman 35). Motherhood, thereby, had come to be a skill that had to be learned rather than acquired by observing other women who had been mothers. In a broader sense, men, women, and children each had their own "sphere." Within the privacy of their home, members of the household were divided into groups between children and other members of ... ... of failure deemed them as an unfit parent. In addition, the mothers of the nineteenth century were basically trying out a new form of parenting on their own without the aid of any previous mothers to guide them. Although motherhood will never be "easy," Mid-Victorian mothers suffered in their attempts to be what society at the time considered the maternal ideal.    Works Cited Gorham, Deborah. The Victorian Girl and the Feminine Ideal. London: Croom Helm, 1982. Kane, Penny. Victorian Families in Fact and Fiction. London: Macmillan, 1995. McKnight, Natalie. Suffering Mothers in Mid-Victorian Novels. New York: St. Martin’s, 1997. Shiman, Lillian Lewis. Women and Leadership in Nineteenth-Century England. London: Macmillan, 1992. Thaden, Barbara. The Maternal Voice in Victorian Fiction: Rewriting the Patriarchal Family. New York: Garland, 1997.      

Islamic Civilazation

Islamic civilization (Midterm) Before 610 (AD or CE): pre Islamic Period Landscape Desert: Arid landscape What made life possible: Camels (endurance and several images in the Qur’an), horses Nomadic way of life: from the highland and to lowland (movement): looking for water and pastures the camel made life in the arabian peninsula possible: he made the mvt & trade possible Transhumance: mvt from high to lowl depending on the season fetching for water & grazing. this mvt was made possible thanks to humans & animals pockets of sedentary life in 2 main cities:YATHRIB: Oasis: water makes life possible: many palm trees MECCA: it is where the Ka'ba is located (hajj) + trade because when people come to worship their gods, they bring goods to exchange†¦ (religion + trade) Customary laws: â€Å"3orf† transmitted orally from generation to generation: each tribe respect each tribe’s land Social organization Smallest unit in Arab society: Nuclear family (parents + child ren + concubines) lives in BAYT Polygamy is lawful from a religious point of view (4 wives) Before 610, women had so status & were considered as property that you own.Female infanticide (bury the female babies because the families want male heirs) Patriarchy: male dominate the state (society) Extended family: several tents close to each other: â€Å"Dar† Several extended families: Clan (Hashim: clan of the prophet) Several Clans: tribe (Quraysh: tribe of the prophet) Several tribes: confederacies: union (Qahtan & Adnan) â€Å"Asabiyya†: group solidarity: defend the members of your group against violence or aggression. Retaliation: â€Å"eye for an eye† the system of justice that was based on the concept of ‘asabiyya. Belief system – Monotheists: Jews, Christianity and Islam Polytheism: believe in many gods – Paganism: believe in animate (cow) and inanimate (rock) – Atheism: believe in any God – Idolatry: Form of polytheism: beli eve in idols (statues) Life in Makkah – HUB: meeting place – KA’BA: market place and shrine (360 idols) – Habitants: oral society – Mu’allaqat: put famous poems on the KA’BA (platform for poets to come & talk about their tribes: self-promotion) – Bibliography of the prophet: â€Å"Sira†. He was orphan: impact on his life in Sira -Life of the prophet – 570: the year of the elephant and birth of the prophet in the tribe of Quraysh.During that year, Abraha, the king of Yemen marched on Mecca with his large army and elephants in order to destroy the Ka'ba but his elephant(s) stopped at the boundary of Mecca and refused to enter. – His parents: Amina and Abdullah: his father died before he was born and his mother when he was 6 -Orphan: starting at disadvantage, he was from the Quraysh tribe raised by his grand parents (Abd al Mutalib and Fatima) – He was sent to the desert: healthy physical and psychologi cal conditions to raise children – Hamza: his uncle played a mentor role He was being prepared for something big, kind of divine protection even before receiving the message – He was know for his honesty, generosity and anti-corruption – Nickname: Al Amine, the trustworthy in Mecca – His inheritance: a slave â€Å"Baraka†, who was a little older than him – His spent most of his time in the cave of Hira thinking and wondering about the meaning of life – He was against polytheism – He is the seal of the prophets (last one) – 2 major stories: The night journey (621): Muhammad’s travel: The Isra and Mi'raj: Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to â€Å"the farthest mosque† where he leads other prophets in prayer.He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. The story of the black stone: before Islam, the Ka’b a was restored many times and Muhammad had the honor to put the stone inside the Ka’ba. all clans wanted to have the honor to put the stone in the Ka'ba and they were ready to fight for the privilege but then, Muhammad advised them to put the stone in a cloth and have a member of each clan pick up a corner of the cloth and take it to its place when Muhammad took it and placed it. He married Khadija in 595, first wife and only wife until her death. She was successful and from the clan Assad. She was a business woman and impressed by his integrity – He spent most of his life as a shepherd – He lost his wife and uncle: 3am al Houzn or the year of grief – House of the prophet: wife + 4 daughters (Fatima, Zaynab, Ruqaya, Umkaltoum) + cousin (Ali) / he also had 2 sons who died in infancy – Abu Talib (uncle): never converted to Islam but still protected his nephew (the prophet) General dates 10 – 632: Revelation of the Quran. Muhammad receives call to prophethood through first revelation of the Qur'an, continues to receive prophecies for 22 years. Khadija is the first to believe in Muhammad's prophethood, becoming first convert to Islam. 611 – 613: the message was kept secret 614: First Hijra of 83 families (early muslim community) to Aksum (Abyssinia) because the king Negus Armah was tolerant and just. He welcomed the muslims and protected them (the prophet wasn't part of the journey).Purpose: survival of islam. Reaction of Meccan society to call to prophethood: the polytheists were very resistant because islam means no more poly + all idols have to be destroyed = people would stop coming to Mecca = no trade Abolishm't of usury (RIBA: loan by excessive interest) while they are benefiting from it Some Meccan clans didn't want the Hashim clan to gain power and rise Islam was revolutionary for another category of people since the religion promotes equality: : poor, women, slaves, orphans†¦ 19: deaths of Muhammad's w ife (Khadija) and uncle (Abu Talib), leaving Muhammad without a protector; he tries to leave Mecca 622: Second Hijra of early muslims to Medina. The city welcomed him because of his good reputation: trustworthy arbitrator, wise, charismatic†¦ (between 614 & 622, the msg was growing & the power of the prophet as well. The other clans of mecca decided to boycott the Hashim clan: no trade, marriages†¦); 1st year of islamic calendar. 632: Death of the prophet The clans of medina: Aws + Khazraj = the helpers/Ansar ; the migrants ; jewish clansProphet at war A chapter came in the Qur'an giving permission to Muslims to fight back because they were oppressed only because they believed in Allah. Jihad: â€Å"strive, effort, struggle† to follow Islam; can include defense of the faith, armed struggle, holy war.  °The lesser Jihad: outer: defend yourself against aggression  °The greater Jihad: inner: the one all muslims are required to perform on a daily basis (how to becom e a better muslim and person) AND °Jihad as ind duty: prayer  °Collective duty: prayer for the dead 624: BadrAttack on Meccan people (caravans). muslims were outnumbered but victorious 625: Uhud It was almost a defeat. Muhammad was almost killed. In fact, the Meccans decided to withdraw believing that he was dead. Death of Hamza (prophet's uncle) 2 Jewish clans of Medina have been expelled because they were communicating secretly with the Meccans 627: Ditch = Khandaq Muslims victorious over meccans and bedouin mercenaries; Muhammed consolidates leadership in medina; Aisha accused of adultery in â€Å"Affair of Necklace†, but exonerated by Qur'anic revelation 28: Truce of faith Hudaybiyya Treaty of Hudaybiyya: Muslims are allowed to come to Mecca to perform pilgrimage (Hajj). The war stopped for 10 years 630: Opening of Mecca – Opening of Makkah. Became Muslim city: all this idols were destroyed. It was opened because someone broke the truce and attacked a muslim. T hey didn't kill the enemies & didn't burn the city. The 5 pillars of Islam: 1. Profession of faith 2. Prayer 5 times a day 3. Zakat (2. 5% of your assets) 4. Fasting during Ramadan 5. Hajj Rightly guided Caliphates Abu Bakr: 632 – 634 32: death of the prophet who didn't explicitly name his successor. He gave signals: Abu Bakr he used to lead the prayer when the prophet was sick + was the head of the delegation of the Hajj: when the prophet had health issues + another problem was that the revelation stopped so from that point on, there was human elaboration of shari'a During his period: wars of Apostasy = â€Å"Ridda â€Å" Many people (Bedouins) stopped paying â€Å"Zakat† when the prophet died. He became firm toward these people because he was worried the situation would end up becoming mass defection.The whole establishment of Islam could collapse. One of the figures of the Wars of Apostasy was â€Å"Musaylima†. He was killed during the battle of â€Å"Al-Y amama†: which put an end to the Wars of Apostasy† (633) Proselytizing: illegal for a non-Muslim to influence people to convert to another religion â€Å"Sabiqqa†: He was one of the first men to convert to Islam Known for his piety and generosity Father in law of the prophet He chose the name â€Å"Khalifa† when he became caliph He nominated Umar as the following Caliph on his death bedUmar: 634 – 644 – Commander of the Faithful: â€Å"Amir Al Mu’minin† – Charismatic and known for being impulsive + always available & approachable – Military guide, actively involved in Futuh (openings) – Cities conquered by Islam during the caliphate period of Umar: Damascus (636) and Jerusalem (638) – Dhimma: non-muslims have the right to live in Dar Al Islam in return they need to pay Jizya & they are exempted from Jihad (freedom of worship, freedom of movement, freedom of ownership) In 644, Umar was faithly injured so he appointed the comity to elect the next caliph: ‘Uthman Accomplishment of Umar Muslim troops: Egypt / Iran Initiation of a taxation system and establishment of treasury Creation of a welfare system (assistance social) The recording of the beneficiaries Institution of the judicial system: appointed the 1st judge Adopted the Muslim calendar (622 = First year) Uthman: 644 – 656 He got the idea of gathering the Qur’an Wealthy Meccan person He is from the Umayya clan Know for his piety but lack of charisma.He was old when he became caliph Easily manipulated by the leading members of the clan of Umayya He appointed members of his clan in key positions, which made the Meccan population very angry especially the early converted. It was a turning point: a group of rebels from Egypt came to his house and killed him in 656. Beginning of FITNA = Civil War Official copy of the Qur’an: All Qurans available in the world today are exactly identical to the Uthmani versi on Ali: 656 – 661 Cousin and son in law of the prophet. His sons: Hassan and Husayn Sabiqa: 1st teenager to convert to IslamHe faced 2 opponents 1: There was animosity and bitterness between Aisha and Ali. Aisha went to Basra in Irak and tried to steer the population against Ali. But she failed and her movement was crashed during the battle of the camel. 2: Umayyad movement under the leadership of Mu’awiyya. He was a key figure in Umayya clan. He made Uthman appoint him as the governor of Sirya Mu’awiyya: he wanted to become a caliph. According to him, Ali didn't deserve to become caliph because he failed to arrest and prosecute the killers of Uthman. Mu'awiyya had people joining his cause & supporting him.The 2 armies (Ali and Mu’awiyya) met in Siffin (name of the battle and the place). Both parties decided to ceasefire and tried to negotiate but the problem was that 12000 members of Ali’s army defected and attacked him because they didn’t agree with his decision. They were called the Kharijites (seceders) Arbitration: Tahkim 657-661: false peace between both armies. The battle of Nahrawan: opposed Ali with his men and the Kharijites. They wanted to kill Ali and Mu'awiyya but Mu'awiyya was always protected and Ali didn’t take the appropriate measures and was killed in 661.Muawiya declared himself Caliph and instituted the dynastic caliphate. The death of Ali marked the end of the rightly guided caliphate PERIOD Ali had two sons: Hassan (who renounced everything in exchange of a secured retirement) and Husayn (when Al Yazid took over, he fought him with a small army but was killed in 680 during the Battle of Karbala) Caliphate: Khilafa Mutawakil: Al Mou3tazila: doctrine that he applied in the whole empire – Medina, Kufa and Damascus – Medina: under the rightly guided Caliphate (the 1st 3 and the prophet) – Kufa: Ali Damascus: When Mu'awiyya declared himself caliph Islam is against any sort o f division. Ideally, the muslim community should remain as one block. Muslims: ?Sunni (majority of Muslims: 93%) ?Shi'ite (7%) ?Kharijites (less than 1%) The institutions of the Caliphates I – Rightly guided Caliphates 632 – 661 II – Umayyads 661 – 750 III – Abbasids 750 – 1258 I: The powers of Caliphs: 2 main powers: – expansion of Islam (fighting apostasy / Jihad (Futuh) – Implementation of Shari’a (Islamic law) II & III – Growth of the empire and creation of the organization (6 powers)To guard religion against innovation (Bid’a) in religious matters To participate in formulation of doctrine but not in the formulation of law (judges are in charge of that) To lead the Friday prayer in the greatest mosque of the city (but with growth of empire, beginning of delegation) To lead military campaigns (Futuh) to defend the empire (also delegation to high officers, military leaders†¦) To ensure the normal fun ctioning of the Judiciary system with the nomination of judges To ensure the well-being of the state through tax collection and expenditure of this tax on garden, monuments, helping the poor, etc†¦ Qur’an – Actual word of God – Revelation: Wahy – from 610 to 632: This word of God is revealed to the prophet. – The revelation was depending on circumstances & it was not chronological – God does not speak directly to mortals. There is always some sort of intermediary. – Prophet had scribes (secretaries) and was involved in the classification and the arrangement of the Qur’an – Abrogation: Naskh – word translated and sometimes changed. E. g. the term â€Å"Khamr† is sometimes

Consumer Preference of Brighton & Hove Teenagers on Organic Food Essay

There have been many studies investigating the influences on consumer purchasing and consumption of organic foods. It has a Journal of the Human Environment that argues that parts of researches have frequently taken the form of asking consumers directly about their reasons for purchase or nonpurchase of organic foods rather than seeking which types of beliefs and attitudes are actually related to purchase or consumption. (Shepherd, Magnusson, & Sjoden, 2005) In recent year, other researchers have examined what beliefs and attitudes predict consumption. (Shepherd, Government office for Science, 2011) In several studies, a majority of the customers have a preference for and an interest in organic food. However, â€Å"the proportion of regular purchasers of organic food is low†. (Shepherd, Magnusson, & Sjoden, 2005) So, this phenomenon showed a discrepancy between consumers’ attitudes and behavior, which is most of Consumers’ attitude are positively for organic foods, but not often to buy them. It seems the consumers not have a concerned the organic foods become an important purchase criterion. Since the 1920’s, the organic food has first appeared in Europe. (Baourakis, 2004) Until now, even the organic foods not take big market share, but in recent years, according to the British Food Standards Agency said ‘identifies the role that organic food plays in providing choice for customer. ’ (Food Standards Agency, 2011) Lampkin & Padel (1994, cited in Baourakis, 2004) researched that consumer demand for organic food increased rapidly, thus, the number of famers increased reasonably, this phenomenon is not only in Europe, but also is in the United States. Problem Statement The problem to be explored is the purchase behavior of teenagers toward organic food in Brighton & Hove. As mentioned before, the sales of organic food are increasing in UK. Nevertheless, Non-organic food still dominates in the food market. In addition, while there has some consumers who are already familiar and know with the organic food. It still has many consumers who are not yet know about them. Because of organic food produced without using any artificial chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers, which is better and fresher taste than other nonorganic foods. (Georgiou, 2002) There are different reasons why consumers tend to prefer to buy organic food. To discover the teenagers of Brighton & Hove behavior on organic food, these are some of the variables that will be taken into account when do the research, which can separate to extrinsic factors and internal factors. External factors are environment influence, like education level influence, cultural influence, and family influence. Internal factors are product attributes, which are benefits of organic food, like environmentally friendliness, good for animal welfare, taste good and personal health. These may influence consumer buying decision. Research aims and objectives This research aims to explore teenagers’ behavior of Brighton & Hove on organic food consumption in their daily life. This research will provide richer and deeper understanding of teenagers’ preference on organic foods and work to specific ages, thus the levels of education and collect the information about why they care about organic food. These research questions to be answered are: †¢Do the teenagers like to buy organic food in Brighton & Hove? †¢Do the teenagers choose organic food influenced by environment (i.e. education level, cultural influence or family influence) in Brighton & Hove? †¢What causes the teenagers care about organic food (i. e. the environment concern, animal welfare, personal health, taste) in Brighton & Hove? In this particular case, it becomes more interesting to be more the teenager maybe will be influence by place cultural. Because Brighton & Hove are famous resort which near the sea. Brighton and Hove is the UK’s healthiest city that reason is its residents’ lifestyles, such as cycling to work, do yoga practice, and eating green food according to a study for Sky Travel. (University of sussex, 2010) The intention explore is the future development of organic food in Brighton & Hove by asking questions and interview. This paper will propose use deductive way for research on specific consumer behavior on organic foods in Brighton & Hove. Anticipated contributions Organic food is green food, these benefits lead to the market share of food were influenced, so, this academic research discuss about purchase behavior of teenagers on organic food consumption in Brighton & Hove. Because teenager is our future, from their behavior, we can see the organic food development of Brighton & Hove in next 50 years. Until now, it has some research about customer behavior on organic food, however, since there is lack of data for specific group people, like teenager. In this case, Kardes, Cronley, & Cline argued that one of the contributions for study consumer behavior is that educate consumers and help them to make a better decision, also can understand make products for consumers actually needed and wanted. This becomes a marketing strategy, this research proposal discovers and satisfies customer needs and wants effectively and beneficial manner, while profiting the long-term interests for business. (Kardes, Cronley, & Cline, 2011) Also this research proposal will investigate customer behavior information by primary research and secondary information, analysis the consumer’s performance, which showed the market tendency and understand the rival. It can help companies can get the market share of organic food in the future. Brief Review of Literature Wright & Crea (2007) pointed that the UK organic food market rise approximately 10% annually with a value of 2 billion dollars, already become third largest in the world. According government statistics, the multiple supermarket retailers accounted for the major marketing share to the consumer with approximately 73 % of sales. The independent retailers and parts of farmers accounted for consumer 27 % of sales. The box schemes and internet order made up 8 percent. (dardni, 2010) Base on data, organic food is preferred by all age groups because of its health friendly benefits. These contained old people, adults and children. According to statistics, 70 % of the costumers are women, while 30 % are men. 57. 3 % of organic food consumers have job, while 23. 2 % do not have job. (Damin, 2011) Food standards Agency demonstrates that to eat â€Å"organic food is a way to decrease consumption of pesticide residues and additives. † (Food Standards Agency, 2011) Organic procurement reflects consumers are not only care about economic, but also concern with food production link to personal, social and environmental effect. (The Open University, 2006) Lockie argues that no artificial chemicals is one of the key point cause the sale growth of organic product around the world, which reflects people are more interested in personal health and family health, also care about the animal welfare, tradition, environmental protection, food traceability and sustainability. (Lockie, 2006) Food Standards Agency, â€Å"if they think they’re buying food with extra nutritional quality or extra safety. † (Food Standards Agency, 2011)) Stringer and Dennis argued that in UK recent research showed 21 percent of housewives ranked taste over other facts in what they ate in 1998s, while 14 percent of housewives because of health concern for their family and themselves in 1998s. (Stringer & Dennis, 2000) According to ACNielsen research, the consumption of organic baby food jumped about 16 percent over the year before in 2005, it nearly double increasing of total organic food consumption. (Working Mother, 2006) In 2008, the Ferrell and Pride searched the mother behavior and investigate the age range from 25 to 40, are more prefer to buy organic food or clothing for their children no matter what their income. (Pride & Ferrell, 2008) Mamatha & Sarada revealed that child rights attitudes and participation in activities were influenced by their mother. (Mamatha & Sarada, 2009) Brozina argued that culture can influence the consumers’ motives for organic food consumption. (Brozina, 2009) Samli argued that consumer behavior was influenced by social class, which related to not only economic well-being, but also other factors, such as education, family background and occupation. Secondly, it influenced by hierarchy of needs, which is more likely to be observed as different degrees of economic development, culture, and social psychology. Thirdly, it influenced by interpersonal influences from group member, like social consumption phenomenon and consumer want to buy luxury make a good impression on others. Fourthly, it depends on affective influences, like emotion. At last, cognitive will be influence the consumers choice, which is how much they know about that product. (Samli, 1995) While consumer express positive perspective on organic food, but it is not likely to expand beyond this niche market in the future, the major reason is premium prices, unless low-input can be made recognisable to consumers. . (Oppapers, 2011) Handlechner argued that organic producers are still only occupying a niche market now. Nevertheless, organic food may be having a larger potential in the future. (Handlechner, 2008) Hypotheses Hypothesis1. I expect that the teenagers in Brighton & Hove may be having positive perspective on organic food due to Brighton & Hove is a healthiest city. Hypothesis 2: I expect that the teenagers in Brighton & Hove might concern about environment issue, animal welfare, and personal health, so they choose the organic food. Hypothesis 3: It is also my prediction that teenagers in Brighton & Hove may not interested in organic food due to they do not possess economic income. Hypothesis 4: Maybe they like to buy the organic foods, but for teenager are too expensive that they do not possess enough money to pay for them. Methodology This research adopted the deductive way because the aim proved by separate several research questions that mentioned earlier before. This research design is exploratory due to this research proposal intends to explore the teenagers’ behaviour on organic food through survey in Brighton & Hove. This study will consider descriptive because this proposal focus on survey the characteristic of certain group, teenagers. Accordingly, some writers in a journal demonstrated that descriptive study is the researchers are interested to survey a group such as education level, income, age or gender in some situations. (Kumar, Deb, Sinha, & Sinha, 2001) The research is also adopt cross sectional because of this study will study in a particular phenomenon and particular time. It has time limited. (Scribd, 2011) Research method Primary research This research can either be qualitative or quantitative. Nevertheless, quantitative research may cover a larger number of populations, which will give generalized statistics results by questionnaire. This qualitative research intends to collect an in-depth understanding of teenagers’ behaviour and the reasons why they have that behaviour. This qualitative research is a non-numerical data collection by interview. Moreover, the qualitative and quantities research method inquires the how and why of decision making by teenagers, not only where, when, what. So, this easy chooses these methods on this particular case studied in order to seek empirical support for this research hypothesis. This research proposal will base on quantitative research due to it will give statistical evidence of data, which can be summarize teenagers behaviour specifically. Questionnaire is my first choice. Concerning the print cost, the questionnaires will be surveyed through email in the internet. The questionnaires will include an introduction that gives clearly explanation of purpose of this study. Furthermore, the questionnaires also will include clearly instructions that give a well-guided to the teenagers. Moreover, it will give clearly question which is easy to teenagers. More specifically, writing the letter to school headmaster get the permission in Brighton & Hove. This questionnaire will be taken in the Junior high school and high school in 11th July 2011. This study will be randomly survey 1000 students in junior high school, 500 boys and 500 girls respectively. Other parts are 1000 students in high school, 500 boys and 500 girls. This will be more easily and faster when make analysis the data based on different education level and gender. Also, it will adopt anonymity, in order to keep the private information for teenager. This research proposal also will accord to qualitative research due to it will be get more detail with deeper conversational interview. It will not have predetermined questions are asked, because it can remain more open and adaptable get useful information due to nature and priorities of interview. It can directly get the exactly information for this research. More specifically, the interview will be taking at the school supermarket in Brighton & Hove in 19th July 2011. More closely interview the staffs in supermarket in order to understand teenagers’ behaviour by real consumption. Moreover, the interview will be doing at teenagers’ home in 30th July 2011 and in order to have chance to understand their behaviour by face to face talking. It wills choice 10 families in high school, 10 families in junior high school. It could be though this interview can prove whether the teenager preference on organic foods influenced by their family background and mother. Secondary research â€Å"The value of using the secondary data for market research has been substantial throughout history, continues today, and promises to grow in the future. † (Patzer, 1995) Secondary research contains the collation, brief and synthesis of existing research that data is already done by government, company, organization or personal. When this research proposal chooses the secondary data source, it would be have a critical thinking and concern the academic source. Government research data is the good choice for this research. Moreover, Base on the books and journals, summarize others studies and result. It will filter information and get the clearly results. Another research approach would be reputation organization and news website. What is more, May be I can get record data form staff in school supermarket, for instance, it could be get the sales of every year or month in the school. Using the other cities’ secondary data compare with the primary data in Brighton & Hove in order to know whether the Brighton & Hove culture will influence the teenager behaviour on organic foods. Data Analysis â€Å"Thematic analysis focuses on identifiable themes and patterns of living or behaviour. † (Aronson, 1994) So in this case, the thematic analysis will be used to gather data and analyze them in interview. Moreover, another analysis is the content analysis, which will use in the interview, too. The questionnaire will be collect data by software for statistics, like Excel. Do the diagrams would be use the software, like word. Time chart JuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember Research for Literature review Formulate research strategy, design and select methods Questionnaire Interviews Field Work/ Data collection Data Analysis Write up Conclusion. This research expects to explore the teenagers’ preference on organic food in Brighton & Hove, which can get exactly information to answer the research question. I hope the teenagers will more concern their health and environment and animal in order to develop a sustainable society. The organic food company may take this kind research forward, which will bring long-term benefit if they grasp customer behavior and attitude. Maybe they will not only survey the teenager, but also research the householder behavior and psychology due to they have economic power. Bibliography Aronson, J. (1994). Nova. Retrieved 6 8, 2011, from A Pragmatic View of Thematic Analysis: http://www. nova. edu/ssss/QR/BackIssues/QR2-1/aronson. html Baourakis, G. (2004). Marketing trends for organic food in 21st century. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. Brozina, S. (2009). EuroMed Journal of Business. Cultural influences on motives for organic food consumption , p. 185. Damin. (2011). dissertation. Retrieved 6 5, 2011, from Consumer behavior and organic food dessertation: http://www. dissertation-helper. co. uk/consumer-behavior-organic-food-dissertation/ dardni. (2010). Agriculture and Rural Development. Retrieved 6 5, 2011, from The market for organic products: http://www. dardni. gov. uk/ruralni/index/bussys/organic_production/organic_business_management/marketing. htm Food Standards Agency. (2011). Safe food,better business. Retrieved 5 28, 2011, from Organic food: http://www. food. gov. uk/foodindustry/farmingfood/organicfood/ GeorgiouDunnElisha. (2002). Everything you need to know about organic foods. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Handlechner, M. (2008). Grin. Retrieved 6 7, 2011, from Organic Food: http://www. grin. com/ Kardes, R. F. , Cronley, L. M. , & Cline, W. T. (2011). Consumer Behavior. Cengage Learning. Inc. Kumar, R. , Deb, K. J. , Sinha, B. N. , & Sinha, V. K. (2001). Lithium Toxicity. A descriptive study , pp. 52-57. Lockie, S. (2006). Going Oorganic: mobilizing networks for environmentally responsible food production. London. Mamatha, T. , & Sarada, D. (2009). Child rights: ICDS programme. Discovery Publishing House PVT. LTD. Oppapers. (2011). Oppapers. Retrieved 6 6, 2011, from Consumer Attitudes and purchase intentions in relation to organic food: http://www. oppapers. com/essays/Consumer-Attitudes-And-Purchase-Intentions-In/307542 PatzerL. Gordon. (1995). Using secondary data in marketing research: United States and worldwide. An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group,Inc. Pride, W. M. , & Ferrell, O. C. (2008). Marketing. Yaga Mamas: Today’s Choosy Mothers , p. 134. Samli, A. C. (1995). International consumer behavior: its impact on marketing strategy development. An imprint pf Greenwood Publishing Groups,Inc. Scribd. (2011). Scribd. Retrieved 6 7, 2011, from Research Proposal on â€Å"TheConsumer Behavior On MP3Players†: http://www. scribd. com/doc/54718736/Research-Proposal-on-the-Consumer-Behaviour-of-MP3-s Shepherd, R. (2011). Government office for Science. Retrieved 6 8, 2011, from Societal attitudes to different food production models: http://www. bis. gov. uk/Foresight Shepherd, R. , Magnusson, M. , & Sjoden, P. -O. (2005). AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. Determinants of Consumer Behavior Related to Organic Foods , pp. 352-359. Sheth, N. J. (1985). Historical Perspective in Consumer Research: National and International Perspectives. HISTORY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE , pp. 5-7. StringerMichael, & DennisC. (2000). Chilled foods: a comprehensive guide. Woodhead Publishing Limited. The Open University. (2006). Language of Food Politics. Retrieved 5 29, 2011, from Research Report: The Discourse of Organic Food Promotion: language, intentions: http://creet. open. ac. uk/projects/language-of-food-politics/documents/4_organic_food_report. pdf University of sussex. (2010). Sussexsport. Retrieved 6 3, 2011, from Healthy Articles: http://www. sussex. ac. uk/sport/1-4-9. html Working Mother. (2006). Is Organic Food Worth it? Working Mother , 88. Wright, S. , & Crea, M. D. (2007). The International Market for Organic and Fair Trade Food and Drink. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Why Should the Factor of Political Stability Be at the Very Top of the List of Criteria Used to Evaluate the Attractiveness of Potential Foreign Investments?

Why should the factor of political stability be at the very top of the list of criteria used to evaluate the attractiveness of potential foreign investments? There are several issues that should be considered when evaluating the attractiveness of a potential foreign investment. Among them we can stress three main groups of criteria: general market risks, commercial risks and political risks (the ones in focus in this essay).Political risks are caused by changes in a country’s political structure or policies and, according to Hollensen (2007) ownership, operating and transfer risks are the main types that a marketer can face. Restrictions in repatriation of profits, change of government party, civil strife, revolution and wars can threat the attractiveness of a certain market. J. Eli Margolis (Estimating State Instability 2012) tried to create a method that could help warning such problems as the ‘Arabic Spring’.As we know today, it is not merely cheap labor that F DI is constantly seeking: political considerations must join the economic ones so the investment has the chance to be succeeded. As an example, we can talk about the Solomon Islands: after serious civil turbulence, law and order were restored and political and economic situation started improving gradually. However, political instability remained a challenge and so, a key obstacle in attracting foreign direct investment into the country. Trade Policy review-WTO). Despite all this evidence we can always find different opinions. According to Peter D. Bennett and Robert T. Green (JMR 1972), political instability can be considered as a primary consideration in foreign investment decisions only within combined contexts of region and economic development and not as a general reason. Risk is not just about the possibility of losing market share or profits. Politic stability is extremely important.Taking the Irish case as an example, their aspiration to be free from British dependency resul ted in a policy of strong macroeconomic stability and honest bureaucracy. As a result, nowadays more than half of the Irish economy is foreign owned. There is political risk in every nation but also a wide range of procedures that countries can adopt to become more attractive to foreign investment ( E. g. Ease or resolve instability through humanitarian or government aid – S. Korean/ N.Korean 1999). In conclusion, I can say that terrorism and corruption are great threats for FI but there is always a way to face the situation and succeed. A detailed analyses of the host market and anticipation of certain risks is essential for the success of the investment and that is why the factor of political stability should be at the very top of the list of criteria used to evaluate the attractiveness of potential foreign investments. Filipa Florencio 26/03/2013

Project Management Sample Assignment Essay

The Association for Project Management (APM) suggests that the project business case provides justification for undertaking a project by evaluating benefit, cost and alternative options. The main purpose is to obtain approval and commitment for investment in the project (Association for Project Management 2006, p.129 and MGT8022, USQ 2013). According to Project Management Institute (PMBOK, PMI 2013), the business case describes information from a business standpoint to determine whether or not the project is worth of investment. It is used as a decision making tool by senior leadership. Based on the above, US Toys business case (attached as Appendix I) is being examined with a review of process and process control, project management literature and project management framework. According to Turner (2009), performance improvement can come from sources like operational efficiency, organization effectiveness or higher order strategic issues due to changes in technology or overall busine ss strategy. New capabilities will not solve the problems blocking performance improvement directly but rather it is necessary to achieve intermediate benefits before realizing the main benefit. It is evident from the business case that US Toys has purchased a software solution called Demand Chain Management whose full benefit will be show-caused by integrating it with its legacy warehouse management system. During initial planning phases, appropriate team members or groups should be involved so that they contribute and create auxiliary ideas (Young 2006). Key components of business case like project purpose, objectives and success criteria were established, US Toys business case misses on holistic identification of stakeholders and other critical components. Business case is a recommendation to take a particular course of action supported by benefits, costs and risks analysis (Journal reference). Critical elements of a business case applied to the case scenario are summarized in the following table  DefinitionDiscussionUS Toys Business caseA business case should be a recommendationRecommendation should have finely balanced options providing purpose and direction.Business case lists two cost impact options with a nothing option to continue current processes. However, it does not list supporting analysis on why option 3 is recommended. Providing supporting analysis of benefits with the option will influence business decision.For the organisationA business case is worth for significant projects in organisationBusiness case pertains to increased  operational efficiency and hence it is a significant project for the organisation.Supported by analysis of benefitsBusiness case requires exegesis of strategic rationale as well as more detailed, systematic analysis of benefitsUS Toys business case lists options but lacks systematic analysis and strategic rationale.CostsCost estimation is the difficult aspect in a business case but without it, the case cannot be madeCost estimates provided in the business case appear to be high level. It would be good if Return on Investment (ROI) and break even duration are provided as an additional supporting analysis.RisksProjects involve risks and understanding and taking ownership of risk is an essential part of a business caseUpon evaluation, US Toys business does not have risk manag ement process or risk scoring methodology. (Adapted from Gambler 2009, Making the business case Table 1.1 on page 2). Upon review of US Toys business case, it is evident that the enhancements to the existing Warehouse Management System are undertaken for achieving operational efficiency and technology as depicted in below figure. Figure Achieving performance improvement (Adapted from Turner, 2009, Chapter 2 figure 2.2) The targeted benefits lists operational efficiency and leveraging new technology in the form of interfaces to purchased package solution. From the above figure, it is evident that performance is directly proportional to the time involved. The higher the targeted performance the more time required. However, US Toys Business case has not included duration of the project. One of the key definition of project is a project will have definite start and end time in other words a fixed duration during which resources, tools and organizational efficiencies are logically grouped to achieve an agreed upon outcomes. The business case provides a consolidated and summary-level overview of the proje ct. It should address objectives, critical success factors, and communication plan and measurement framework to measure the work being undertaken. It will form the baseline from which the project planning can proceed (MGT8022, USQ 2013) The more formal business case contains more quantitative information for decision making purposes. Applying these principles to US Toys Business case, it is evident that it does not include detailed quantitative information. Though SOWT/TOWS analysis has been included in the Appendix, it does not cross reference to the main objectives of the purpose. While presenting the business case to  the stakeholders, it is imperative to talk about key strengths of the organization and how they can be leveraged to overcome the weaknesses or to exploit opportunities for the benefit of the organization. In addition to this, benefit analysis is shown for the option being recommended. This gives an impression of being forced to take that option instead of recommendation. By including benefit analysis for the option 2 outright purchase of a pre-packaged application, business case would have provided a comparison for the stakeholders in taking an informed decision. Upon review of US Toys business case, it is evident that risk assessment involves continuous monitoring and assessment ongoing basis. It would be beneficial to use spiral model for the proposed solution. By clarifying on the future risks unknown at the point will be known in the course of time during project execution. This provides a framework to manage risks. Figure (Adapted from Turner, 2009 The Spiral Model Chapter 11, figure 11.3) As depicted in the above figure, by advising an appropriate model like spiral model, will provide a framework of project management methodology being followed for the proposed project. This will clarify to the decision makers that process of risk assessment is continuous and does not end with those listed in the business case. As the project progresses, a mechanism is in place to identify risks and appropriate risk response planning is incorporated. According to Turner (2009), projects has three levels of planning the integrative level, the strategic level and tactical level. The business case would have presented with greater value by defining the objectives at the above three levels like efficiency improvement as strategic level, achieving integration of Warehouse Management System with the recently procured Demand Chain Management system as integration level and reduced cycle times in supply chain as tacti cal level. The summarized objectives as listed in the following table will be value-add to the business case. LevelObjective of the proposed projectStrategicWarehouse operational efficiency improvementTacticalReduced cycle times in replenishment of stock at stores country-wideIntegrativeSynergy by integrating with Demand Chain Management system Based on the above analysis, it is recommended for all future projects, US Toys project management team should employ a systematic project management processes in addressing their deficiencies particularly financials and controls analysis in the formation of business case. The  successful project deliverables are dependable upon system thinking approach involving people, structures and application of processes. It is also recommended that to provide an assessment of the Project/Stakeholder relationships to have a better understanding of relationships.  References Archibald, R 1992, Managing high technology programs and projects, 2nd edn, John Wiley, New York, USA. Gambles, I 2009, Making the business case proposals that succeed for projects that wo rk, Ashgate, Farnham, UK, pp. 1-20. Gardiner, PD 2005, Project Management A Strategic Planning Approach, Palgrave Macmillan, New York MGT8022 Project-based management, Study book -University of Southern Queensland, 2013. PMI 2013, A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th edn, Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Turner, RJ 2009, The handbook of project-based management Leading strategic change inorganisations, 3rd edn, McGraw Hill, New York Young, TL 2006, Successful Project Management, 2nd edn, Kogan Page Limited, London.  APPENDIX – I US Toys – BUSINESS CASE Introduction US Toys is a leading seller of Toys merchandise in the world with 700 plus stores in United States and 900 plus international stores located in United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, China and Japan. This business case is for proposed enhancements to current Warehouse Management System for increased operational efficiency. Demand Chain Management (DCM) is a Teradata product currently employed by the US business to control inventory flow from the vendor-to-DC (Distribution Centre) and DC-to-store. DCM supports the full automation of these functions by utilizing the RDF (Retail Demand Forecast) forecast and applying proactive inventory management policies. Included in sc ope for the DCM project are enhancements to the International Warehouse Management System (WMS) to enable to efficiently process store replenishment orders generated by DCM. Overview Vision To ship less quantity of an item to stores but more frequently and ensure that forecasted demand (from RDF) is covered, as well as minimum shelf stock (MSS). Organisational Objective US Toys is restructuring its business operations for cost effectiveness and has set a target of improving operational efficiency by 10 by year 2014. By shipping less quantity but frequently will result in reduced idle inventory in stores and distribution centres. Business Case Purpose of Business case DCM will generate new SOQs (Store Order Quantity) each day that will be used  to pull goods from DCs to Stores as needed, based on the sales demand forecast from RDF. Instead of processing a large batch of Transfers early in the week, the DCs workload will likely adjust so that smaller waves are processed each day for stores that have a scheduled delivery (Appendix C System Flow). Maximize cross dock ability (to ship the goods to stores, which have been received by Distribution Centre on the same day hence eliminating storage space and effort for put away operations (Appendix C System Flow). Business Case Sponsor This business case is sponsored by Senior Vice President Merchandising Senior Vice President Purchasing Situational Assessment and Problem Statement Current process and its limitations when compared to the proposed solution can be summarized in the following table Operational Process/AttributeCurrent ProcessProposed SolutionFrequencyStores get shipment from DC once in a week which is resulting in huge costs in terms of trailers, labour and storage (floor area)Instead of processing a large batch of Transfers early in the week, DCs workload will likely adjust so that smaller waves are processed each day for stores that have a scheduled delivery.User InterfaceCurrent process has to be run from a legacy terminal and maintenance of these terminals is cost intensive.A new web interface is being proposed for the DC to use to plan and create waves that will process both Transfers and Receivers from Interactive Transfers System (existing Legacy system), as well as SOQs f rom DCM. By having a web interface, wave can be planned and process from any system (like PC or Laptop) instead of current use of legacy terminalsCross Dock EfficiencyCurrently receivers (shipment from vendors) and transfers (shipment from DC to stores) are run independently. This limits cross dock ability.To maximize cross-dock, daily receipts will be processed for all stores, each day. PrioritizationCurrent process does take into account trailer capacity. This results in shipping those goods which are not required immediately. Goods which are required urgently are put onto next trailer which results in a weeks delay.Service Level Maintenance is being proposed through a web interface which will be used as input in generating the wave. If a trailer does not have capacity, low priority goods will be excluded from that days shipment and will be included in subsequent wave.Optimize Case PickCurrent transfer system does not optimize case picks (where a carton has to be opened and ship said individual pieces).The  proposed system will utilize current and future needs of a store for optimizing the case picks to a full carton thereby case pick operation is optimized. Assumptions and Constraints Based on SWOT/TOWS analysis as listed in Appendix A, following assumptions and constraints have been summarised. Assumption DCM system is live and in use before building the propos ed system. All web interfaces are being developed for Internet Explorer browser. Proposed enhancements are for International Warehouse Management System and do not include domestic transfers/receipts. Any customisation to DCM is not included in the current scope. Constraints Proposed enhancements will handle multiple distribution centres within a country. Cross country transfers are not possible. Identification and Analysis of Options Identification of Options Following options are available to the organization Option 1Do nothing Option 2Purchase packed Warehouse Management System and interface with Demand Chain Management system. Option 3Enhance the current in-house developed Warehouse Management System. Comparison of Options Key parameter comparison of options is summarized as CriteriaOption 1Option 2Option 3CostNothingUS 1.5 million plus recurring license fee of US 7,500 per instance if purchased instance basis or 25,000 enterprise wide.US 0.5 million and no on-going costs as current support teams can support the enhanced system.HardwareNot applicableServer Infrastructure need to be upgraded costing US 1 million.None as Current infrastructure can handle the enhancements.Benefits to PurchasingNot applicableIntegrated packaged solution will benefit purchasing in making purchasing decisions based on actual stock in DC stores and forecasted demand. Enhanced Warehouse Management System is integrated with DCM thus providing enhanced abilities to make purchasing decision.Benefits to MerchandisingNot applicableOff the shelf package require customization to enable Merchandising to integrate with current legacy systems.Ability to run transfers/receipts on daily basis will result in efficient use of Distribution Centre floor space, trailers and labour. Recommended Option Based on the comparison and benefit analysis in Appendix B, Option 3 Enhancements to Warehouse Management system is recommended for the organization at this point in time. Implementation Strategy Based on the details explained in section 6, Enhancements to Warehouse Management System is scoped as below Project Title Project is being name as iWMS Internet  enabled Warehouse Management System Target Benefits Web Interface to plan and create waves to process transfers and receipts. Web interface to maintain service levels for inventory (Prioritization) Optimized case p ick and re-packing Outputs Browser based interactive screen to process transfers and receipts. Integration with DCM system to update replenishment information for future demand forecasting. Budget Cost break down of Option 3 Enhancements to Warehouse Management System. ActivityEstimated Cost (in US Dollars)Initiation and planning25,000Development Costs300,000Testing Unit and integration25,000Implementation Costs including documentation, training and travel.150,000  Appendix A SWOT/TOWS Analysis Strengths-SWeakness-W1. Brand Value1. Inefficient use of floor space in DC.2. Quality Processes2. Delay in shipping high priority goods to stores3. Own trailers3. Stock out in stores even if the stock is in DCO-OpportunitiesSO – StrategiesWO- Strategies1. Efficient Cross Dock Ability1. By cross docking receipts will improve Distribution Centre floor space and stock the goods for seasonal demands.(S2/O1)1. Increase efficiency in customer communication by several mediums like social media and internet (W1, W3, O1)2. Web Interface2. Flexibility to run waves either from PC or Laptop S2,S3/O22. Provide fuel efficient means to process transfers/receipts (W1.O2)3. Prioritisation3. By prioritizing goods, high priority goods are delivered to stores just in time (JIT) – S1,S2, S3/O33. Prioritization of goods will result in efficient trailer utilization (W1, W2, O1,O2, O3)T-ThreatsST – StrategiesWT – Strategies1. Increasing Competition1. By scheduling trailers like small or medium instead of standard 18 wheelers result in fuel efficiency (S2,S3,T1,T2, T3)1. Implementing lean, Kanban quality processes to reduce non-value add processes. (W1, T3, T1)2. Increasing fuel costs2. Focus on selected market segment for long term growth and market penetration (S1,S3, T2, T1)2. With high service quality and shelfs full of products, reduce the risk of losing customers (W1, W2, T1, T3)3.