Regulatory Behavior Essay

The human body is regulated by the nervous system and its functions. Under normal circumstances everything runs smoothly with no issues; however, fear can have an impact on how the nervous system works. One aspect that can be examined in relation to the nervous system and the ways that fear affects it is through body temperature regulation. When fear is present it bring on the production of specific hormones that cause certain responses within the body leading to the flight or fight situation. As with any function of the body there are impairment that are always possible as well. Knowing in advance what types of things can impair one’s thermoregulation process gives people a step up against having issues later in life. The nervous system consists of two parts, the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2013). Each part plays a role in our bodily functions. The CNS is made up of the brain and the spinal cord, the PNS is made up of the all the branch-like fibers that come off the spinal cord and reach all over the body- arms, legs, face, neck, etc. Without the nervous system there would be no way to get information from the brain to the rest of the body; all the messages that our brain sends out must be sent though the nervous system through neuron communication. â€Å"Neurons communicate with each other using axons and dendrites. When a neuron receives a message from another neuron, it sends an electrical signal down the length of its axon. At the end of the axon, the electrical signal is converted into a chemical signal, and the axon releases chemical messages called neurotransmitters† (NIH,  ¶ 3). This process is how the b rain tells the body to walk or blink or even body temperature regulation; it is a very important process that regulates all bodily functions. Body temperature regulation is the process by which our body maintains a steady internal temperature. This process is known as thermoregulation and is mostly controlled by the hypothalamus section in the brain (Vella & Kravitz, n.d.). When properly regulating the human body’s â€Å"normal core temperature at rest varies between 97.7 to 99.5 Fahrenheit† (Vella & Kravitz,  ¶ 2); however, a factor like fear can cause fluctuations from the core body temperature. According to the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation, children who have high levels of fear have a harder time than children with regular amounts of fear when it comes to falling and staying asleep. The disturbance in a regular sleep cycle has been shown to affect how the thermoregulation process functions; fear can cause the body to overheat and not allow the body to cool down when needed (Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation [JBRF], n.d.). As with any function in the body fear produces a hormonal response. When a person experiences fear the hormones glucocorticoids, produced in the adrenal cortex, and catecholamines, produced in the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerves, are released into the body and cause the individual to  either take the flight or fight stance (Rodrigues, Ledoux, & Sapolsky, 2009). Both of the fear induced hormones impact the nervous system in many ways. For example, glucocorticoids play a large role in the functioning of the CNS. It can lead to anatomical brain changes that result in a higher likeliness of sleep disturbances, psychiatric diseases, mood alterations, and cognitive impairments (lacroix, 2014). The body’s ability to thermoregulate its temperature can become impaired. This type of impairment is sometimes caused when a person goes under anesthetics. According to Daniel I. Sessler, M.D., Professor and Chair, â€Å"Anethetic-induced impairment of normal thermoregulatory control, and the resulting core-to-peripheral redistribution of body heat, is the primary cause of hypothermia in most patients† (Sessler, 2009,  ¶ 2). In other words, if the body is unable to control it’s thermoregulation it can start going into a hypothermic state which would lead to other risk factors and issues. During surgery a patients temperature is normally watched closely to make sure this is not an issue. On the other end of the spectrum, if a person suffers from dysautonomia they can experience excessively high body temperatures and have difficulty bringing their temperature back down to a normal resting temperature. If this does happen the person may experience irritability, disorientation and confusion; this type of disorder leaves the symptoms being able to be treated but not the cause. Some suggestions for ways to help lower the internal body temperature are drinking lots of fluids and water, but avoiding caffeine and alcohol, placing cool compresses across the neck and if necessary seeking professional help from a doctor or hospital if needed. Although the human body is a very complex and impressive organism it is not invincible to ailments. The nervous system keeps our bodies running and communicating so that we are able to act on and do every bodily function possible. Looking at the thermoregulation abilities that the body posses is very impressive and intricate, but it does have ways that things like fear are able to intrude. This intrusion can change the way our body responds to thermoregulation by emitting hormones that tell the body it may need to prepare for a flight or fight situation. Thermoregulation also has the  ability to fall prey to impairment that can be very debilitating to the individual; impairments can range from unable to bring the body temperature down to a normal range or up to a normal range. In closing, thermoregulation may be an involuntary regulatory behavior, but it is still possible to impress changes upon it by either ailment or other outside factors. References Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation (n.d.). _Sleep, activity patterns and temperature study_. Retrieved July 14, 2014, from http://www.jbrf.org/category/description-of-the-condition/ Lacroix, A. (2014). _Glucocorticoid effects on the nervous system and behavior_. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/glucocorticoid-effects-on-the-nervous-system-and-behavior National Institute of Health (2013). _What are the parts of the nervous system_?. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/neuro/conditioninfo/Pages/parts.aspx Rodrigues, S. M., Ledoux, J. E., & Sapolsky, R. M. (2009). _The influences of stress hormones on fear circuitry_ . Retrieved July 14, 2014, from http://my.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/37382/rodrigues-ledoux-sapolsky-arn-2009.pdf Sessler, D. I. (2009). _Temperature monitoring and perioperative thermoregulation_. Retrieved , from July 14, 2014 Synapse (n.d.). _Get the facts- temperature control and dysautonomia_. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://synapse.org.au/get-the-facts/temperature-control-and-dysautonomia-fact-sheet.aspx

Environmental Racism Essay

Melissa Checker’s Polluted Promises: Environmental Racism and the Search for Justice in a Southern Town (2005) New York: New York University Press. Is one of checker’s best books and has gained fame over the times. Scholars have argued that this novel is set up in an environment which is imbalanced. Environmental inequity is evident in the lives of the leaders who are the main characters in the book. The author comes in to give solutions to the chaos that exist in this Augusta Georgia setting. The ethnographic account of this book shows the struggles faced in urban centers. These are mainly countries in the African region in the third world country. The writer further illustrates the extent of inequality that exists in these countries. A lot of emphasis rests on the resentment that the African Americans receive. This is further coupled with apartheid and the underclass level that they are put in. the book lays down goals to try and unveil the response of other citizens to the lifestyle of the blacks. The strength of the polluted promise is seen with the achievement of information about the treatment of Africans. The information that comes out shows racial separation and shows that the attitude towards the Africans is experienced in all the spheres including politics (p. 12). Racism is a serious offence that is seen to be covered in the book. Checker explains that existence of classes is a more evil way of segregating some people. This may be true but the fact still remains that racism is going on in this society. The leadership actually fights to cover racism by saying that classes are rather more serious. This is supported by Wilson’s hidden agenda ideas. The gap in this society exists in terms of wealth. The white are seen to have a lot of wealth compared to the black urban poor. This is supported by Wilson’s findings. The ethnographic account of this book dwells a lot on the overflow of racism in almost all the activities of the community. Political arena is also caught up in identity politics in which people form factions. This further influence the way resources are distributed in the society. This book displays possibility of arriving at a safe destination. This comes in the proposal of having convergence in the systems. Environmentalism and civil rights and new forms of society movements are the key aspects to be embraced in forming the convergence. Such a unitary community is characteristic of equality and love amongst all the citizens (p. 33). The environment is further displayed to have more challenges. Checker uncovers them as to include: problems faced while working with experts of the environment and the technical talk of experts. Another challenge seen is on building lasting relationship with protection agencies. Alliances and coalition formation is another challenge that exist in the society as explained by the author. Checker’s work further supports environmental injustice by its summary on politics, economic decisions like resource distribution and human relations. People are seen to compromise on the environmental justice in all these aspects. This is what makes the book; polluted promises a rich ethnography. Source Melissa Checker. (2005). Polluted Promises. New York: New York University Press

About India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd.

CHAPTER -1 INTRODUCTION BRIEF HISTORY About India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. Yamaha made its initial foray into India in 1985. Subsequently, it entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Escorts Group in 1996. However, in August 2001, Yamaha acquired its remaining stake as well, bringing the Indian operations under its complete control as a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co. , Ltd, Japan. India Yamaha Motor operates from its state-of-the-art-manufacturing units at Faridabad in Haryana and Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh and produces motorcycles both for domestic and export markets. With a strong workforce of 2000 employees, India Yamaha Motor is highly customer-driven and has a countrywide network of over 400 dealers. The company pioneered the volume bike segment with the launch of its 100 cc 2-stroke motorcycle RX 100. Since then, it has introduced an entire range of 2-stroke and 4-stroke bikes in India. Presently, its product portfolio includes Crux (100cc), Alba (106cc) and Gladiator (125cc). MAJOR PRODUCTS SERVICES: Manufacture and sales of motorcycles, scooters, electro-hybrid bicycles, boats, sail boats, Water Vehicles, pools, utility boats, fishing boats, outboard motors, diesel engines, 4-wheel ATVs, side-by-side vehicles, racing karts, golf cars, multi-purpose engines, generators, water pumps, snowmobiles, small-sized snow throwers, automotive engines, intelligent machinery, industrial-use remote control helicopters, electrical power units for wheelchairs, helmets. Biotechnological production, processing and sales of agricultural and marine products and microorganisms. * Import and sales of various types of products, development of tourist businesses and management of leisure, recreational facilities and related services. HEADQUARTERS: 2500 Shingai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY For society, for the world †¦ Yamaha works to realize ur corporate mission of creating Kando Yamaha Motor is a company that has worked ever since its founding to build products defined by the concepts of â€Å"high-quality and high-performance† and â€Å"light weight and compactness† as we have continued to develop new technologies in the areas of small engine technology and FRP processing technology as well as control and component technologies. It can also be said that our corporate history has taken a path where â€Å"people† are the fundamental element and our product creation and other corporate activities have always been aimed at touching people’s hearts. Our goal has always been to provide products that empower each and every customer and make their lives more fulfilling by offering greater speed, greater mobility and greater potential. Said in another way, our aim is to bring people greater joy, happiness and create Kando* in their lives. As a company that makes the world its field and offers products for the land, the water, the snowfields and the sky, Yamaha Motor strives to be a company that â€Å"offers new excitement and a more fulfilling life for people all over the world† and to use our ingenuity and passion to realize peoples’ dreams and always be the ones they look to for â€Å"the next Kando. † About the subject Customer satisfaction, a term frequently used in  marketing, is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals. Customer Satisfaction in 7 Steps 1. Encourage Face-to-Face Dealings This is the most daunting and downright scary part of interacting with a customer. If youre not used to this sort of thing it can be a pretty nerve-wracking experience. Rest assured, though, it does get easier over time. Its important to meet your customers face to face at least once or ven twice during the course of a project. 2. Respond to Messages Promptly Keep Your Clients Informed This goes without saying really. We all know how annoying it is to wait days for a response to an email or phone call. It might not always be practical to deal with all customers queries within the space of a few hours, but at least email or call them back and let them know youve received their message and youll contact them about it as soon as possible. Even if youre not able to solve a problem right away, let the customer know youre working on it. 3. Be Friendly and Approachable A fellow Site Pointer once told me that you can hear a smile through the phone. This is very true. Its very important to be friendly, courteous and to make your clients feel like youre their friend and youre there to help them out. There will be times when you want to beat your clients over the head repeatedly with a blunt object it happens to all of us. Its vital that you keep a clear head, respond to your clients wishes as best you can, and at all times remain polite and courteous. 4. Have a Clearly-Defined Customer Service Policy This may not be too important when youre just starting out, but a clearly defined customer service policy is going to save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. If a customer has a problem, what should they do? If the first option doesnt work, then what? Should they contact different people for billing and technical enquiries? If theyre not satisfied with any aspect of your customer service, who should they tell? Theres nothing more annoying for a client than being passed from person to person, or not knowing who to turn to. Making sure they know exactly what to do at each stage of their enquiry should be of utmost importance. So make sure your customer service policy is present on your site and anywhere else it may be useful. 5. Attention to Detail (also known as The Little Niceties) Have you ever received a Happy Birthday email or card from a company you were a client of? Have you ever had a personalized sign-up confirmation email for a service that you could tell was typed from scratch? These little niceties can be time consuming and arent always cost effective, but remember to do them. Even if its as small as sending a Happy Holidays email to all your customers, its something. It shows you care; it shows there are real people on the other end of that screen or telephone; and most importantly, it makes the customer feel welcomed, wanted and valued. 6. Anticipate Your Clients Needs Go Out Of Your Way to Help Them Out Sometimes this is easier said than done! However, achieving this supreme level of understanding with your clients will do wonders for your working relationship. 7. Honor Your Promises Its possible this is the most important point in this article. The simple message: when you promise something, deliver. Clients dont like to be disappointed. Sometimes, something may not get done, or you might miss a deadline through no fault of your own. Projects can be late, technology can fail and sub-contractors dont always deliver on time. In this case a quick apology and assurance itll be ready ASAP wouldnt go a miss. Sales promotions Sales promotion  is one of the four aspects of  promotional mix. The other three parts of the  promotional mix  are  advertising,  personal selling, and  publicity/public relations. ) Media and non-media marketing communication are employed for a pre-determined, limited time to increase consumer demand, stimulate market demand or improve product availability. Sales promotion includes several communications activities that attempt to provide added value or incentives to consumers, wholesalers, retailers, or other organizational custom ers to stimulate immediate sales. These efforts can attempt to stimulate product interest, trial, or purchase. Examples of devices used in sales promotion include coupons, samples, premiums, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, contests, rebates, and sweepstakes. CHAPTER-2 RESEARCH DESIGN TITLE OF THE STUDY â€Å"A STUDY ON MEASURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LEVEL AND SALES PROMOTION IN YAMAHA OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY * To know the customer’s perception regarding launch of new bikes FZ FZS by Yamaha. * To determine the customer’s satisfaction regarding bikes and after sales service. To determine the factors influencing the choice of customers regarding bikes * To know the market scenario of second hand bike industry. SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study is aimed at providing India Yamaha Motors with an insight into the success of FZ FZS as well as the customer’s response and awareness towards the brand, products and services of Yamaha. The data has been analyzed and presented in a simple and precise way on the basis of which pertinent recommendations have been made to the company to better the services, policies and strategies of the company in India. RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND LIMITATIONS: * The report has been prepared on the basis of information collected from different sources. In order to achieve the objective of the project proper research method was applied.. After giving through brain storming session, objectives were selected and the set on the base of these objectives, A questionnaire was designed major emphasis of which was gathering new ideas or insight so as to determine and bind out solution to the problems. * * * DATA COLLECTION SOURCE * Research included gathering both primary and secondary data. * * PRIMARY DATA Primary Data was very crucial to collect so as to know various past present consumer views about bikes and to calculate the market share of this brand in regards to other brands. Fresh primary data was collected by taking direct feed back from customer which involved face to face interview with the customer as well as through telephonic interview with the customer , all the FZ customer who visited the de alership showroom for the service of their bikes were questioned in order to find out the customer satisfaction level. * SECONDARY DATA- are those which has been collected by some one else and which already have been passed through statistical process. Secondary data has been taken from internet, newspaper, magazines and companies web sites. * * RESEARCH APPROACH * * SURVEY METHOD: The research approach used was survey method which is a widely used method for data collection and best suited for descriptive type of research survey includes research instrument like questionnaire which can be structured and unstructured. Target population is well identified and various methods like personal interviews and telephone interviews are employed. * RESEARCH DESIGN This study is a mix of explorative and formal methodologies adopting monitoring and observing to study the dealerships in Lakhimpur and communication to elicit responses from customers. This is a cross sectional study done during th e months of June and July. For the customer satisfaction study a questionnaire was formulated containing 17 closed ended questions which were sent out for response through the internet and mainly through personal interviews of customers at Yamaha dealerships. This data was later analyzed using SPSS through performing the cross-tabulations on various involved variables. Results of this step formed the basis of the recommendations given to the company. To know the Yamaha reputation and sales promotion in motorcycle market, census method was chosen and all the dealership were individually visited in the area of Lakhimpur, Mosaram Auto Sales(Hero Honda), I did a market survey by taking open interviews to the dealers and brokers of the market. SAMPLE DESIGN For the sales promotion study a census methodology was adopted and all the dealerships and brokers of that region were visited. For the customer satisfaction study a sample of 100 persons was chosen from the Yamaha’s dealership in Lakhimpur. The sample was judgmental and methodology was non probability sampling Size of Sample| 100| Sampling technique| Judgmental (Non Probabilistic Sampling) | Location from which samples were taken| Lakhimpur| LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY * This research is geographically restricted to Lakhimpur only. Hence the result cannot be extrapolated to other places. * The study is restricted only to the organized sector of two wheeler industry * The seriousness of the respondents and their ability to justify their answers may also be a limitation. * The sample size is small due to the specified reasons. * Findings are based on sample survey. * All interview questions are undisguised or direct. Hence there is a scope for the respondents to be biased or pretentious. CHAPTER-3 COMPANY PROFILE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TILL DATE The automobile industry is one of the biggest industries in the world. Being a major revenue and job generating sector it drives the economies of some of the superpowers of the world. In India the automobile industry has grown by leaps and bounds since the advent of the liberalization era the automobile industry and especially the two wheeler segment has grown by leaps and bounds. The liberalization has done away with primitive and prohibitive practices of licensing and restricted foreign investment have been done away with. The result of which was the entry of foreign players into the Indian market. The two wheeler segment was largely dominated by Automobile Products of India (API) and Enfield in the 50s. Later on towards the end of the 50s Bajaj Autos began importing Vespa scooters from Italian company Piaggio. In the following decades the automobile industry in India was mainly dominated by scooters with API and later Bajaj dominating the market. There were very few products and choices available as far as motorcycle is concerned and Enfield bullet and Rajdoot dominated the market. The 80s saw the entry of Japanese companies in the Indian market with the opening up of the market to foreign companies. Hero Honda and TVS Suzuki are companies formed in this era of market reform. The market was still predominantly scooter dominated and Bajaj and LML were the leading brands producing the products at that time. Scooter was viewed as a more family and utility friendly vehicle than motorcycle and hence was preferred. The Japanese companies not only collaborated with Indian companies to produce the already existing products but also brought in new technology as a result of which the ever conquering 100cc bikes which were extremely fuel efficient with 4 stroke engines were launched in India. These proved to be highly successful as they provided a cheap and affordable means of personal transport to all those who could not buy a car. The flourishing middle class took a great liking for these bikes and the bike sales in India began to grow exponentially year on year leading to Hero Honda becoming the leader in the two wheeler industry in India and the largest producer of two wheelers in the world. The post 90s era was the era of liberalization and weakening of restrictive measures. The government went on an overdrive to support the industry and all FDI regulations and licensing was abolished. 100% FDI was allowed in the automobile industry and the excise duty was also considerably reduced to its current level of 12% on two wheelers. All these factors combined with the rising fuel prices, the increasing dispensable incomes of households, easy access to finance, etc. have led to two wheeler industry becoming the backbone of the automobile industry in India. The two wheeler industry in India forms a major chunk of the automobiles produced in India. According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers statistics for the year 2008 – 2009, two – wheelers comprise 76. 49% of market share among the vehicles produced in India. The production share of two wheelers is quite similar to the market share. The two wheeler industry comprises around 74% of the total automobiles produced in India. The SIAM data for the year 2008-09 states that 8,418,626 two wheelers were produced during the year against a total of 11,175,479vehicles produced during the year. SEGMENTATION OF TWO WHEELER A Two Wheeler Sector Sub-Segmenting in the three Segments. . Motorcycle 2. Scooter Mopeds About India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. Yamaha made its initial foray into India in 1985. Subsequently, it entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Escorts Group in 1996. However, in August 2001, Yamaha acquired its remaining stake as well, bringing the Indian operations under its complete control as a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co. , Ltd, Japan. India Yamaha Motor operates from its state-of-the-art-manufacturing units at Faridabad in Haryana and Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh and produces motorcycles both for domestic and export markets. With a strong workforce of 2000 employees, India Yamaha Motor is highly customer-driven and has a countrywide network of over 400 dealers. The company pioneered the volume bike segment with the launch of its 100 cc 2-stroke motorcycle RX 100. Since then, it has introduced an entire range of 2-stroke and 4-stroke bikes in India. Presently, its product portfolio includes Crux (100cc), Alba (106cc) and Gladiator (125cc). MAJOR PRODUCTS SERVICES: Manufacture and sales of motorcycles, scooters, electro-hybrid bicycles, boats, sail boats, Water Vehicles, pools, utility boats, fishing boats, outboard motors, diesel engines, 4-wheel ATVs, side-by-side vehicles, racing karts, golf cars, multi-purpose engines, generators, water pumps, snowmobiles, small-sized snow throwers, automotive engines, intelligent machinery, industrial-use remote control helicopters, electrical power units for wheelchairs, helmets. * Biotechnological production, processing and sales of agricultural and marine products and microorganisms. Import and sales of various types of products, development of tourist businesses and management of leisure, recreational facilities and related services. HEADQUARTERS: 2500 Shingai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY For society, for the world †¦ Yamaha works to realize our corporate mission of creating Kando Yamaha Motor is a company that has worked ever since its founding to build products defined by the concepts of â€Å"high-quality and high-performance† and â€Å"light weight and compactness† as we have continued to develop new technologies in the areas of small engine technology and FRP processing echnology as well as control and component technologies. It can also be said that our corporate history has taken a path where â€Å"people† are the fundamental element and our product creation and other corporate activities have always been aimed at touching people’s hearts. Our goal has always been to provide pro ducts that empower each and every customer and make their lives more fulfilling by offering greater speed, greater mobility and greater potential. Said in another way, our aim is to bring people greater joy, happiness and create Kando* in their lives. As a company that makes the world its field and offers products for the land, the water, the snowfields and the sky, Yamaha Motor strives to be a company that â€Å"offers new excitement and a more fulfilling life for people all over the world† and to use our ingenuity and passion to realize peoples’ dreams and always be the ones they look to for â€Å"the next Kando. † VISION To establish YAMAHA as the exclusive trusted brand of customers by creating Kando (touching their hearts) the first time and every time with world class products services delivered by people having passion for customers. MISSION We are committed to: Be the Exclusive Trusted Brand renowned for marketing and manufacturing of YAMAHA products, focusing on serving our customer where we can build long term relationships by raising their lifestyle through performance excellence, proactive design innovative technology. Our innovative solutions will always exceed the changing needs of our customers and provide value added vehicles. Build the Winning Team with capabilities for success, thriving in a climate for action and delivering results. Our employees are the most valuable assets and we intend to develop them to achieve international level of professionalism with progressive career development. As a good corporate citizen, we will conduct our business ethically and socially in a responsible manner with concerns for the environment. Grow through continuously innovating our business processes for creating value and knowledge across our customers thereby earning the loyalty of our partners increasing our stakeholder value. CORE COMPETENCIES Customer #1 We put customers first in everything we do. We take decisions keeping the customer in mind. Challenging Spirit We strive for excellence in everything we do and in the quality of goods services we provide. We work hard to achieve what we commit achieve results faster than our competitors and we never give up. Team-work We work cohesively with our colleagues as a multi-cultural team built on trust, respect, understanding mutual co-operation. Everyones contribution is equally important for our success. Frank Fair Organization We are honest, sincere, open minded, fair transparent in our dealings. We actively listen to others and participate in healthy frank discussions to achieve the organizations goals. OVERVIEW FOUNDED: July 1, 1955 CAPITAL: 48,302 million yen (as of March 31, 2008) PRESIDENT: Takashi Kajikawa EMPLOYEES: 46,850 (as of December 31, 2007) PARENT: 9,019 (as of December 31, 2007) SALES:1,756,707 million yen (from Jan 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2007) PARENT: 799,209 million yen (from Jan 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2007) SALES PROFILE Sales (%) by product category (consolidated) Sales (%) by region (consolidated) MAJOR PRODUCTS SERVICES: * Manufacture and sales of motorcycles, scooters, electro-hybrid bicycles, boats, sail boats, Water Vehicles, pools, utility boats, fishing boats, outboard motors, diesel engines, 4-wheel ATVs, side-by-side vehicles, racing karts, golf cars, multi-purpose engines, generators, water pumps, snowmobiles, small-sized snow throwers, automotive engines, intelligent machinery, industrial-use remote control helicopters, electrical power units for wheelchairs, helmets. Biotechnological production, processing and sales of agricultural and marine products and microorganisms. * Import and sales of various types of products, development of tourist businesses and management of leisure, recreational facilities and related services. HEADQUARTERS: 2500 Shingai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY For society, for the world †¦ Yamaha works to realize ur corporate mission of creating Kando Yamaha Motor is a company that ha s worked ever since its founding to build products defined by the concepts of â€Å"high-quality and high-performance† and â€Å"light weight and compactness† as we have continued to develop new technologies in the areas of small engine technology and FRP processing technology as well as control and component technologies. It can also be said that our corporate history has taken a path where â€Å"people† are the fundamental element and our product creation and other corporate activities have always been aimed at touching people’s hearts. Our goal has always been to provide products that empower each and every customer and make their lives more fulfilling by offering greater speed, greater mobility and greater potential. Said in another way, our aim is to bring people greater joy, happiness and create Kando* in their lives. As a company that makes the world its field and offers products for the land, the water, the snowfields and the sky, Yamaha Motor strives to be a company that â€Å"offers new excitement and a more fulfilling life for people all over the world† and to use our ingenuity and passion to realize peoples’ dreams and always be the ones they look to for â€Å"the next Kando. † What is Kando? Kando is a Japanese word for the simultaneous feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that people experience when they encounter something of exceptional value. SWOT ANALYSIS A scan of the internal and external environment is an important part of the strategic planning process. Environmental factors internal to the firm usually can be classified as strengths (S) or weaknesses (W), and those external to the firm can be classified as opportunities (O) or threats (T). Such an analysis of the strategic environment is referred to as a SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis provides information that is helpful in matching the firms resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which it operates. As such, it is instrumental in strategy formulation and selection. The following diagram shows how a SWOT analysis fits into an environmental scan: SWOT Analysis Framework Environmental Scan| /|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | Internal Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  External Analysis| /   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  / | Strengths  Ã‚  Ã‚  Weaknesses  Ã‚  Ã‚  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Opportunities  Ã‚  Ã‚  Threats| || SWOT Matrix| | SWOT ANALYSIS FOR THE TWO WHEELER INDUSTRY Strength * Established brands, Strong Brand Name * Fuel efficient * Style statement * Convenient in heavy traffic * Cheap and affordable * Easy and cheap finance availability * Patents * Good reputation among customers| Weaknesses * Extremely price sensitive * Short PLC * High R and D costs| Opportunities * Growing premium segment * Increasing dispensable income * Environmental concerns * Exports increasing * Very strong demand in the 100cc. segment dominated by limited players. | Threats * The Rs. Lakh car * Cut throat competition * Increasing number of players in the market * Rising raw material costs * Increasing rates of interest on finance| SWOT ANALYSIS FOR INDIA YAMAHA MOTORS Strength * Size and scale of parent company. * Effective Advertising Capability * Committed and dedicated staff. * High emphasis on R and D. * Experience in the market. * Established brand. * Established market channel. * Power, Speed Acceleration| Weaknesses * Small showrooms. * Not much emphasis on agg ressive selling. * Weak product diversity. | Opportunities * Growing premium segment. Global expansion into the Caribbean Central America. * Expansion of target market (include women). * Increasing dispensable income. * 1st mover advantage. | Threats * Cut throat competition * Increasing number of players in the market * Rising raw material costs * Increasing rates of interest on finance| RECENT LAUNCHES YAMAHA FZ-S Yamaha FZ-S 150cc, a recently launched bike by the industry giant Yamaha. After the grand success of FZ-16 Yamaha has finally launched its modified version (FZ-S) in India. This fabulous bike is equipped with all the necessary features one may think of. It stands ahead in style and performance not only in its segment but beyond. This bike is best suited for those who want elegance and power in one. It is designed and engineered with the capacity for active and aggressive enjoyment of around-town street riding and styling, bringing a sense of pride for the owner of the bike. It is especially designed to satiate riders desire for style and fashion. It is popularly referred as the â€Å"Stylish Macho Street Fighter† (Lord of the Streets). The primary features of Yamaha FZ-S include: * European international design * Stainless steel body Aerodynamic muscular design * High torque rate * Carbon pattern meter console * Latest graphics * Disk brakes * Electric start starting system * Electronic fuel injection system YAMAHA YZF R15 This is the latest offering from the Yamaha stable. The YZF R15 is the first truly sports bike launched in India. The looks and design have been done keeping the bigger R1 in mind and hence the resemblance. The bike is priced at Rs. 97,500 (ex-showroom) across India. It boasts of the first liquid cooled 4 valve engine in the two wheeler category which gives it better performance and power. It is a 150cc bike having enough power to bring chills to the rider when he revs up the accelerator BAJAJ PULSAR DTS FI 220 CC Bajaj auto has upgraded the Pulsar family with the launch of its high-end bike Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 cc. This advanced variant of popular Pulsar combines new features and advanced technology. This all new version of Pulsar is priced at Rs. 70, 000 (ex-showroom Delhi). The 2009 edition of Bajaj Pulsar comes without fuel injection technology but yet it will produce more power at 21PS. The new Bajaj Pulsar DTS – Fi 220 cc will reach the top speed of more than 140 kmph. This two wheeler from Indias second largest two-wheeler manufacturer comes with single cylinder 4 stroke air cooled engine. This motorcycle has a maximum power of 21. 04 @ 8500rpm and maximum torque of 19. [emailprotected] rpm. 1. 1COMPETITORS ANALYSIS 1. Bajaj Auto Ltd. Established in 1945 Bajaj Auto Ltd was incorporated as a trading company. Till 1959, they imported scooters and three-wheelers from Italy and sold them in India. The company got a production license in the year 1959 and fastened a technical collaboration with Italian PIAGGIO in 1960. Bajaj Auto Ltd. s one among Indias top ten companies in terms of market capitalization and among the top five in terms of annual turnover. The company started producing scooters in the year 1961 and followed three-wheelers production in 1962. Its collaboration with Piaggio expired in 1971 and since then, their scooters and three-wheelers are being sold with the brand name â€Å"BAJAJ†. Maharashtra Scooters Ltd. , a Company with 24 % equity participation by the Company and 27% participation from Maharashtra State Governments Western Maharashtra Development Corp. was formed in the year 1975 under the Horizontal transfer of technology policy. The first production unit is located at Satara, Maharashtra. The unit continues to collect scooters from CKDs supplied by the Company. These scooters are marketed through the Companys distribution network and under the Companys brand name. In 1984, the second production plant was set up at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. This plant started scooter production in 1986, three-wheeler production in 1987 and scooterettes and motorcycle facilities were commissioned in 1990 1991 respectively. Today, the company has become a market leader with annual production in excess of 1. 35 million units which was about 4000 units in 1961. These days, Bajaj Auto Ltd. has started offering products in all segments (mopeds scooterettes, scooters, motorcycles, three wheelers). TWO WHEELERS| MOTORCYCLE| Bajaj Avenger| 180 CC| Bajaj CT 100| 99. 27 CC| Bajaj Discover DTSi | 135 CC| Bajaj KB 125| 123 CC| Bajaj Platina| 99. 27 CC| Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi 220 CC| 220 CC| Bajaj Pulsar DTSi * Pulsar 180 DTS-i UG * Pulsar 150 DTS-i UG * Pulsar 200 Cc * Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi | 180 CC 150 CC 200 CC 220 CC| Bajaj Wind 125| 124. 6 CC| Bajaj XCD| 125 CC| SCOOTERS| Bajaj Bravo| 145 CC| Bajaj Chetak| 145. 45 CC| Bajaj Classic SL| 145. 45 CC| Bajaj Legend| 150 CC| SCOOTERETTES/MOPEDS| Bajaj Blade DTSi| 100 CC| Bajaj Cagiva CRX| 145 CC| Bajaj Fusion| 145 CC| Bajaj Kristal DTSi| 100 CC| Bajaj M 80 Electronic| 74. 08 CC| Bajaj Rave| 74. 08 CC| Bajaj Saffire| 74. 4 CC| Bajaj Spirit| 100 CC| Bajaj Sunny| 59. 86 CC| Bajaj Sunny Spice| 59. 86 CC| Bajaj Wave DTSi| 109. 7 CC| AWAITED MODELS| Sonic DTSi| Motorcycle| 1. 1. 2 Models of BAJAJ 2. Hero Honda Motors Ltd. Hero Honda Motors Ltd. is a result of the joint venture between Indias Hero Group and Japanese Honda Motors Company in the year 1983. This joint venture has not only created the worlds single largest two wheeler company but also one of the most successful joint ventures worldwide. Hero Honda is globally known of being the most fuel-efficient and the largest CBZ selling Indian Motorcycle Company. This is a relationship so harmonious that Hero Honda has managed to achieve indigenisation of over 95 percent, a Honda record worldwide. The below chart shows the golden years in the history of HERO HONDA :- 1985| CD-100| 1989| SLEEK| 1991| CD-100 SS | 1994| Splendor| 1997| Street| 1999| CBZ| 2001| PASSION | 2002| DAWN, AMBITION| 2003| CD-DAWN, SPLENDOR +, PASSION +, KARIZMA| 2005| SUPER-SPLENDOR, CD-DELUX, GLAMOUR, ACHIEVER | 1. 1. 3 Golden Years of HERO HONDA The company is committed to provide the customer with excellence. A rich background of producing high value products at reasonable prices led the worlds largest manufacturer of motorcycles to collaborate with the worlds largest bicycle manufacturer. During 80s, Hero Honda became the first company in India to prove that it was possible to drive a vehicle without polluting the roads. They company possess three manufacturing units based at Dharuhera, Gurgaon and Haridwar are capable to produce 4. 4 million units per year. They introduced new generation motorcycles that set industry benchmarks for fuel thrift and low emission. The unique features like fuel conservation, safety riding courses and mobile workshops helped the group reach in the interiors of the country. Well-entrenched in the domestic market, Hero Honda Motors Ltd. turned its attention overseas, and exports have been steadily on the rise. Over the years, the Company has received its share of accolades, including the National Productivity Councils Award (1990-91), and the Economic Times Harvard Business School Association of India Award, against 200 contenders. The gross sales of Hero Honda by March end2008 was 33, 371, 43 Crores. TWO WHEELERS| MOTORCYCLES| Hero Honda Achiever| Hero Honda CD Dawn| Hero Honda CD Deluxe| Hero Honda CD 100| Hero Honda CD 100 SS| Hero Honda Glamour| Hero Honda Glamour * Glamour * Glamour FI| Hero Honda Splendor * Splendor + * Super Splendor * Splendor NXG| Hero Honda Passion Plus| Hero Honda Sleek| Hero Honda CBZ X-TREME| Hero Honda Karizma| Hero Honda Hunk| | | SCOOTERETTES/MOPEDS| Hero Honda Pleasure| Hero Ankur| Hero Gizmo| Hero Panther| Hero Puch Automatic| Hero Sakhti 3G| Hero Stepmatic| Hero Street| Hero Winner| Hero Stepmatic| Hero Puch Automatic| Hero Sakthi 3G| Hero Winner| | | 1. 1. 4 Hero Honda Models 3. Honda Motorcycles Scooters India Private Limited Established in 1999, the Honda Motorcycle Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company Ltd. , Japan and is located at Manesar, Haryana. The companys most well known brand is the Honda Activa that revolutionized the Indian scooterette market in terms of design and features. The company exports scooters to the European Union. HONDA MOTORCYCLES| MODEL| CAPACITY| Honda Shine| 125 CC| Honda Unicorn| 149. 1 CC| Honda Stunner CBF| 125 CC| Honda CBF Stunner FI| 124. 7 CC| HONDA SCOOTERS| MODEL| CAPACITY| Honda Eterno| 147. 7 CC| HONDA SCOOTERETTES/MOPEDS| MODEL| CAPACITY| Honda Aviator| 102 CC| Honda Activa| 102 CC| Honda Dio| 102 CC| CHAPTER-4 Data Analysis and Interpretation Age| No of respondents| % of respondents| 16 – 20| 28| 28%| 21-25| 41| 41%| 26-30| 20| 20%| Above 30| 11| 11%| Total| 100| 100%| Table no. 4. 1 : The Age distribution in the sample. ANALYSIS: 4. : Following points can be referred from the above pie chart * The above pie chart is showing that the customers of FZS are mainly coming from the age group of 16-25 that is around 69%, as Yamaha claims that they generally target their customers who are between the age group of 18 to 25, because that people of this age group are passionate and are style freaks, * So we can say that Popularity of Yamaha is available in the age of 26-30 (aroun d 20%) also because of its reputation in the world market. Graph no. 4. 1 RESULTS OF THE CUSTOMER SURVEY Table no. 4. 2 Marital status| No. f respondents| %of respondents| Married| 24| 24%| Single| 76| 76%| Total| 100| 100%| 4. 2 The Marital status distribution in the sample. Analysis: 4. 2: In this pie chart it is very much clear that 76% of the Yamaha’s customer is mainly the youth who are single, so Yamaha’s new launch FZS is mostly being accepted by the singles instead of family oriented people. Graph no 4. 2 4. 2 The Marital status distribution in the sample. Occupation| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Business person| 27| 27%| Student| 43| 43%| Office employee| 28| 28%| Others| 2| 2%| Totals| 100| 100%| Table no. 4. 3 4. : The Occupation distribution in the sample. Analysis: 4. 3: Once again we found that Yamaha’s major customers are the students of colleges and schools which consists 43%, as they want something special, new, stylish, masculine and at tractive and Yamaha is providing that in the form of FZS. Graph no. 4. 3 4. 3: The Occupation distribution in the sample. Table no. 4. 4 Income group| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Upto 1000| 17| 17%| 10001-20000| 33| 33%| 20001-40000| 40| 40%| 40001-60000| 9| 9%| Above 60000| 1| 1%| Totals| 100| 100%| | | | 4. 4: The Income groups distribution in the sample. Analysis:4. 4: In the income group distribution we can analyze that customers of FZS are coming from the Middle income group people which is around 73% by including 10001-40000 slab of income group. It shows that Yamaha is placing their products in the appropriate price range. As the people of this income bracket can easily afford this Bike. Graph no 4. 4 4. 4: The Income groups distribution in the sample. Table no . 4. 5 Purchased by| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Loan| 28| 28%| Cash| 72| 72%| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. 5: The Way of purchasing distribution in the sample. Analysis: 4. : Here again we can prove that the products of Yamaha are in the acceptable price range, as we can see that purchasing way of the customers are leading in the CASH sector. Customers are easily affording the price of FZS; they are not feeling much problem with the amount of FZS. Today’s customers are ready to pay for better facilities and technology and they feel that FZS deserves that price wh ich YAMAHA is offering. Graph no 4. 5 4. 5: The Way of purchasing distribution in the sample. Table no . 4. 6 Paid by| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Family| 51| 51%| Self| 49| 49%| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. : The Financing distribution in the sample. Analysis: 4. 6: In this pie chart a very important thing can be referred that Indian Youths are not so much independent in the financial matters, still they depends on the family, as Yamaha claims that they target the people of 18-25 age group, but here we can say that they should promote such kind of advertisements where the Yamaha products can link to the family. Ultimately family is paying the amount so Yamaha should target according to family also, so that the view of the children and family shouldn’t clash. Graph no 4. 6 4. 6: The Financing distribution in the sample. Table no . 4. 7 Compare Brands| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Bajaj| 26| 26%| Hero Honda| 23| 23%| Honda| 2| 2%| Bullet| 4| 4%| Yamaha| 6| 6%| No| 39| 395| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. 7: Compared brands with FZS. Analysis: 4. 7: Majority of people is not comparing Yamaha FZS to any other product and the number of such people is around 39%, But the second view which we have found that FZS is getting a very tough competition Fr BAJAJ HERO HONDA. BAJAJ has launched their new edition of Pulsar 220 at a very low price (around 70000 ex showroom price), which is the reason for the tough competition giving by BAJAJ. On the other hand HERO HONDA HUNK is also giving direct fight to the FZS because of its MILEAGE only. There are some more competitors which are stable at their market share in automobile industry. Graph no. 4. 7 4. 7: Compared brands with FZS. Table no. 4. 8 Choice of feature in a bike | No. of respondents| %of respondents| Style/Design| 54| 54%| Controll ability| 7| 7%| Pick up| 8| 8%| Reputation of maker| 6| 6%| Riding comfort| 12| 12%| New Technology| 8| 8%| Durability| 1| 1%| Others| 2| 2%| Mileague| 2| 2%| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. 8: The choice of Feature which is most important in a bike. Analysis: 4. : If we see the trend of Two wheeler industry we found that earlier people were looking mainly towards the mileage of the vehicle but now In our research we collected data and found that now customer’s perception has changed and they are shifting towards the style, design riding comfort of the vehicle, 54% customers have purchased FZS because of its Style Design and only 2% people are looking for the mileage. So in a way we can say they Yamaha exactly changed the perception of Indian customers. They are trying to attract customers with new style, design or look of the bike and creating passion in the customers for the speed and power. So through this we have proved our First hypothesis which was regarding the Yamaha’s new launch of FZ FZS that has changed the customer’s perception regarding choice of bikes. Graph no. 4. 8 4. 8: The choice of Feature which is most important in a bike. Table no. 4. 9 First Information source| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Tvcf| 45| 45%| Family/Friends| 24| 24%| Road show| 5| 5%| Websites| 3| 3%| Showroom| 12| 12%| Auto expo| 1| 1%| Newspaper| 4| 4%| Magazines| 5| 5%| Others| 1| 1%| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. 9: 1st Information sources and their shares Analysis: 4. : As we can see here the major promotional tool which is influencing the customers is TVCF which stands for Television Commercial, which is around 45%, after that the major source of awareness among customers, is Family/Friends. Magazine and newspaper consists only 9% in our research, but if we look them at a very good sample size then it is around 2% only. Graph no. 4. 9 4. 9: 1st Information sources and their shares Tables no. 4. 10 Improvement in Yamaha Image in india| No. of respondents| %of respondents| No| 2| 2%| Yes| 98| 98%| Totals| 100| 100%| 4. 10: Customer Perception regarding Yamaha Image after FZS Analysis: 4. 10: This is a good result for Yamaha that once again they are creating place in the heart of the customers, after the discontinue of RX100 Yamaha has lost very big amount of customers in the last 10 years, but after the launching of FZS, Yamaha has improved their image among the customers. Our data is showing that 98% people are admitting that Yamaha has improved their image after the FZS and R15 launch, feedback which we have got from the customers were like that Yamaha has produced something new this time and very stylish and well designed product.. By this we are again proving our second HYPOTHESIS that YAMAHA has regained its image after the launch of FZ FZS. es Graph no. 4. 10 4. 10: Customer Perception regarding Yamaha Image after FZS Table no. 4. 11 Comments about FZS| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Stylish| 45| 45%| Trendy| 6| 6%| Macho| 27| 27%| Low mileage| 16| 16%| Others| 4| 4%| Expensive| 2| 2%| Totals | 100| 100%| 4. 11: Comments for FZS by Potential Customers. Analysis: 4. 11: This year Yamaha FZS has got the BIKE OF THE YEAR AWARD which shows its popularity among the customers. It has fulfilled the desire and demand of the current customers, there are very few people who still need some improvements in the FZS but Yamaha is taking care of those customers also. As our data is showing that 78% people are giving good comments or responses for Yamaha, they are feeling that FZS is the most stylish and trendy bike in these days, 2% people are feels that spare parts of Yamaha FZS are very costly and 16% people are complaining for the mileage of the bike, therefore Yamaha should work on these loopholes of the bike so that they can attract some more customers. Graph no. 4. 11 4. 11: Comments for FZS by Potential Customers. Table no. 4. 12 Customer opinions towards safety and comforts| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Extremely| 23| 23%| Satisfied| 47| 47%| Netural| 10| 10%| Totals| 100| 100%| Analysis: 100% of the respondents 47% of the respondents approached were satisfied with the safety and comfort feature of the Bolero. Followed by 27% was extremely satisfied, 17% are neutral and rest of the 7% was dissatisfied with safety and comfort feature of Yamaha. % Graph no 4. 12 4. 12: Customer opinions towards safety and comforts Table no. 4. 13 Customer opinions towards Design| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Extremely| 20| 20%| Satisfied| 40| 40%| Netural| 27| 27%| Dissatisfied| 13| 13%| Totals%| 100| 100| Analysis: 100% of respondents 40% of the respondents approached were satisfied with the Design of the Yamaha. 20% were more satisfied, 27% of them neutral and 13% are dissatisfied with the design of the yamaha. Observation: As majority of the respondents are satisfied with the design of Yamaha, the company should maintain the same standard and it is suggested to come up with suitable measure to reduce the negative opinion among the consumer who are of the opinion that the fuel consumption is a dissatisfying factor. Graph no 4. 13 4. 13; Customer opinions towards Design Table no. 4. 14 Customer opinion towards consumption of fuels | No. of respondents| %of respondents| More satisfied| 27| 27%| Satisfied| 49| 49%| Not Satisfied and dissatisfied| 17| 17%| Dissatisfied| 7| 7%| Totals | 100| 100%| Analysis: 100% of the respondents 49% of the respondents approached were satisfied with the fuel consumption of the Yamaha. Followed by 27% was extremely satisfied, 17% are neutral and rest of the 7% is more dissatisfied with fuel consumption of Yamaha Observation: As majority of the respondents are satisfied with the fuel consumption of Yamaha, the company should maintain the same standard and it is suggested to come up with suitable measure to reduce the negative opinion among the consumer who are of the opinion that the fuel consumption is a dissatisfying factor Graphs no 4. 14 4. 14 : Customer opinions towards fuel consumption Tables no 4. 15 Customer opinion towards Maintaince| No. of respondents| %of respondents| Extremely| 23| 23%| Satisfied| 51| 51%| Netural| 21| 21%| Dissatisfied| 5| 5%| Totals | 100| 100%| Analysis: The sample drawn on the probability basis shows that out of 100% of respondents 51% of the respondents approached were satisfied with the maintenance of the Yamaha. 23% were extremely satisfied, 21% of neutral and 5% are dissatisfied with the maintenance. Observation: Though majority of the customer are satisfied that the maintenance cost of Yamaha is less, around 20% are not satisfied which may be because of comparison of yamaha with the newly launched competing brands coming with even lower maintenance cost. Graph no 4. 15 4. 15:Customer satisfactions toward Maintenance of Yamaha Chapter-5 Summary of findings Findings 1. It is found that the most preferred vehicle of YAHAHA FZ 2. It is found that from the data we can position our product to the comfort seeking group of people 3. It is found that many of the YAHAMA customers are buying its BIKE by seeing its brand name only. 4. It is found that major media that attracted the customers is television. 5. It is found that only a few customers are satisfied with the service. 6. Most of fortune yahama customers are interested to service their vehicle only at authorized dealer. 7. It is found that most of the customers preferred ICICI and SBI banks for taking financial help while purchasing a bike. . It is found that most of the customers prefer only in house finance compare to outhouse finance. 9. It is found that more than 80% of customers think that yahama bike are affordable only by rich men. Chapter 6 Recommendation, suggestion And conclusion RECOMMENDATIONS * SHOULD IMPROVE THE AFTER SALE SERVICES: During the survey we found that Yamaha is not satisfy ing their customers in after sales services, employees at dealership sometimes use harsh words and become rude to the customers, parts of the bike are not easily available in the market. This is the major drawback in capturing the market share so Yamaha should take some better steps to satisfy and retain their customers. * WEAK FOLLOW UP FROM DEALERSHIPS: We observed during the course of our studies that Yamaha was quite weak in following up with prospective customers. There was no communication from Yamaha showrooms asking the customers if and when they are willing to buy their bikes. Hero Honda, Bajaj and Honda showrooms were extremely attentive in this regard and perform maximum follow up on prospective customers. MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE ITS DEALERSHIP: Yamaha which is trying to build a brand new image of a high tech and stylish brand of sports bikes should take appropriate steps to show it in their showrooms. Showrooms like Oswal Yamaha, and Shiva Yamaha were very small in size and do not reflect the quality and scale of Yamaha in the market. Shiva motors was very dirty ambience and customer will feel that company is not working good that’s why they are not taking any actions toward their showrooms and this will definitely hamper the sales, so Yamaha should take care of these things. POOR PROMOTIONAL CAMPAGIN: The Yamaha ads seen on electronic and print media are absolutely out of touch with the Indian culture and thought process. If we see that Bajaj and Hero Honda has produced a very good link with the Indian family and customers can easily recall their Ads by well know punch lines like HAMARA BAJAJ or HERO HONDA DESH KI DHADKAN-DHAK DHAK. Yamaha is also focusing on this as we can see the AD of YAMAHA ALBA. An Indian consumer irrespective of their income level has a soft corner for traditions and culture of India. Hence, all companies including market leaders like Hero Honda and Bajaj capitalize on this behavior of customers and design their ad campaigns keeping India in mind. * YOUTH ORIENTED PROMOTION: Yamaha claims that they target the customers of age group 18-25 but their ad never represents this so they should make such kind of AD where youth should taken in as centre of attraction. They should do this earliest to capture the market because vast majority of people depending on ads and friends as their chief sources of information about the products. AGGRESSIVE SELLING: The Company should follow an aggressive selling concept. A non-aggressive selling concept which is clearly visible in its advertising campaign which does not hit on the customer rather aims to provide information in a subtle manner. These days they have hit on the right target as we can prove through our survey that people who purchased YAMAHA FZS, 54% people have seen the TVCF of Yamaha before purchasing the bike. Emotion al advertising which is the norm in India and which is very successful is not followed. INDIAN BRAND AMBASSADOR: The Company’s brand ambassador is VALENTINO ROSSY earlier we had JOHN ABRAHAM too but now YAMAHA does not have any Indian brand ambassador as compared to its competitors like Hero Honda who have Hrithik Roshan doing their ads and M. S. Dhoni doing the job for TVS. It is necessary for Yamaha to have a brand ambassador from India to connect with the Indian customer. * VARIETY IS NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED: Yamaha at the moment has a very weak product portfolio and its products are not that visible in the market or displays in dealerships except the Gladiator and now R15. The lack of product range visibility in dealerships and in the media and advertisements is adversely affecting the brand of Yamaha. If a customer want to switch from one bike to another Yamaha is not providing them options so here Yamaha should work to maintain their loyal customers. Yamaha should maintain and produce the bikes in quarterly or half yearly so that customers can avail options. * BRAND EXPOSURE SHOULD BE INCREASED OR TO TAP THE NICHES : There is a large market of unsatisfied customers in India. This effort would be in the direction to capture the unsatisfied customers and who are willing to change their brands on bike replacement. * FOCUSSED ADVERTISEMENT ON PRODUCT USP: The maximum demand among customers constituting the target market of India Yamaha Motors is for the power and style features of bikes. Hence, the company should produce products keeping the above factors in mind. CONCLUSION From the customers survey and desk research we conclude that:We are confident that we will continue getting technology from Yamaha , for its part, has also made similar statements. However, industry analysts do have doubts. Says an industry analyst, Yamaha’s track record in India does lead to some apprehensions. An analysis of Yamaha’s past tie-ups in India would prove so. This does throw up some questions with regards to the path ahead for Yamaha. These examples prove that Yamaha has always wanted to have its own entity, says another analyst. Most of the customers of Yamaha belong to congested areas. They mostly belong to middle class and are mostly officials/ executives. Thus, we conclude client has targeted the right segment . From the findings we conclude that a customers while purchasing a car, customers takes into consideration mainly fuel efficiency, good looks, low maintenance cost and reliability. The main competitors of Yamaha are bajaj Honda and herohonda The consumer preference basically depends upon wider network and better services. Customers are influenced more to buy a product by advertisements rather than dealer friend’s or family recommendations BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY 1) Phillip Kotler; Principles of marketing, 7th Edition; Pearson Publication. ) Saxena and Rajan; Marketing Management; Tata McGraw Hill; 3rd Edition 3) Ramaswami, V. S. and Namakumari, S. ; Marketing Management; Macmillan India; 2002. 4) Batra Satish Kazmi SHH ; Consumer behaviour text cases; 1999. 5) Gupta, S. P. and Gupta, M. P. ; Business Statistics; 14th Edition; Sultan Chand Publications. 6) Robert W and Boockholdt, James L. ; Factors Leading To change in consumer behavior: A Study of Managers Perspectives; Cr eativity Research Journal, 11(4), Page No. 245-307; 1998. ANNEXURES SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE QUESTIONNAIRE (For FZ customers) Contact- Place: Model: cc: Date of purchase: 1. Name: 2. Age: 3. Marital status: a) married b) single 4. What is your occupation? a) Student b) Office employee c) Factory employee d) Shop owner e) Business Person f) Other: ________ . Monthly household income: a) Up to Rs. 10,000 b) Rs. 10,001-20,000 c) Rs. 20,001-40,000 d) Rs. 40,001-60,000 e) Rs. 60, 001-80,000 f) Rs. 80, 001-100,000 g) Above Rs. 100,000 6. How did you buy the MC? a) Cash b) Loan [D/P: ] 7. Who paid for your MC? a) Self b) Family c) Others: 8. Did you considered other motorcycle while buying this model? a) Yes b) No 9. Which model did you compare with? Model: cc: 10. Have you seen FZ 16 TVCF? a) Yes b) No 11. Have you seen FZ 16 newspaper advertisement? a) Yes b) No 12. Have you seen FZ 16 magazine advertisement? a) Yes b) No 13. Do you take information from internet blogs? a) Yes b) No Which blog? 14. What was the reason you finally purchased your Bike? a) Style/design b) Mileage c) Resale value d) Reputation of maker e) Riding comfort f) Pick up g) Controllability h) new technology i) Maneuverability j) Riding position k) Quality l) Color/ graphics m) Big vehicle size n) Durability o) Price p) Low maintenance q) After sales support r) others: _______ 5. Please specify your source of awareness for your Bike? a) TVCF b) Newspaper c) Magazine d) Showroom e) Family/Friends f) Mall display g) Road show/Test ride h) Website/Blogs i) Radio j) Hoardings k) Auto expo l) TV news m) Others_______ 16. Do you think Yamaha has improved after FZS and R15? a) Yes b) No 17. How does your friend say to your Motor Cycle? a) Trendy b) Macho c) Stylish d) Low Mileage e) After sales service f) Poor Resale value g) Expensive spare parts h) Others______

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Information system management - Essay Example Examples of TPS systems include: Point-of-Sales Machines, Automated Teller Machines, and Purchase Order Systems etc. The Important characteristics of a Transaction processing System include: rapid response, reliability, standardization, and controlled processing. Transaction Processing systems are the most basic systems that serve the purpose of collecting data for the organization. It is the system that ensures that the transactions taking place in the organization are ACID (Atomic, Consistent, Isolated and Durable) (Reuter and Haerder, 1983). Often the data collected by TPS is not of much value in its raw form. However, the same data when processed and converted to information is then useful for all levels of managers for decision making. The data that is collected by the TPS is then used by other Information systems within the organization. Office Automation Systems: Office automation systems came into prominence during the early years of the development of the desktop computer industry. These systems are situated on the Local Area Network of an organization and allow the users to transfer data, mail and voices across the network (Farlex, 2010) in electronic format. Office automation systems consist of computer hardware and software such as a word processor, printer, telephone and voice input, database, business spreadsheets, graphics, e-mail and teleconferencing tools. The three activities that an office automation system is supposed to take care of are: data storage of information, data exchange and data management. For the continual operations of the business, it is necessary that office records and other primary documents shall be stored in an electronic format. Tools like word processors and spreadsheet applications allow users to manage data in the appropriate format. Other tools that are commonly used in office automation systems are collaboration tools like e-mail, desktop sharing, net-meeting etc. Image

Madrid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Madrid - Essay Example Despite the exponential growth of Madrid as a global city in the world, there exist severe social issues such as social inequality, socio-economic distinction, unemployment, educational differences and gender discrimination etc. The extent of social inequities and uneven development in Madrid is depicted by high suicide rate. Men attempt and commit suicide at a rate higher than women in the city. According to a survey conducted in 1996-97, there were 135 people who committed suicide in which 105 were men and 30 were women.4 In the year 2005, the number of men and women who committed suicide rose significantly to 1,585 and 642 respectively.5 The mortality rate between men and women are different. The differences in suicide rate among men and women can also be explained with the help of distinctions in educational level and socio economic conditions. Out of all the men committing suicide in Madrid, about 63% of men belonged to lower secondary education group. This rate is slightly high er in women, which is 73% at the same educational level. 6 It shows that women at lower education level confront with suicide risk more than men. Suicide rate in men decreases due to increase in the socio-economic well being. This is not the case with women. Surveys show a high level of inequities in Madrid in education etc as compared to the other countries. 7 Mental illness is also a factor leading to suicide which is highly suffered by people having lower socio-economic position in the society. Use of drugs in Madrid is also deeply concerned with the educational level. Drug addiction among women is higher than men. There are serious social inequalities in Madrid with respect to income, education, social status etc that lead to high suicide rates. The lower socio-economic level of people who are attempting suicide reveals the fact of social inequality in the city. As men are more involved with socio-economic activities, this inequality affects the mental attitude of men more than women and thus men have a greater tendency to commit suicide. The concerned authorities have now become more active in removing the inequalities and social gaps among people to decrease the rate of suicides.8 The Madrid city has high social inequalities and issues as compared to other big cities like Paris, New York, Tokyo and London etc. The differences in social and economic status play a vital role in fostering these inequalities among people leading to social issues. People of lower economic level have significant social issues and it is the greatest factor that forces them to take a step like suicide. It is imperative for the government to minimize the existing gaps between citizens in Madrid so as to make the city compete with other global cities more effectively. Women are seriously deprived of their rights not only in Madrid but in whole Spain. In response of this inequality, a movement started in 60's to defend the rights of women called equality feminism.9 There still exists gender discrimination in Madrid with respect to the social and econom

Taxation Bachelor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Taxation Bachelor - Essay Example But is it enough The changes made in the CPA avoided religious controversy over same-sex marriage by not exploring the subject. Even so, the tax changes have greatly benefitted those in a civil union by giving the rights to same-sex couples that previously applied only to married couples, even though they cannot have a religious ceremony. They are instead required to register for civil partnership just as marriage partners require a licence (Rights 2006; Summerskill 2005). What is the impact of the Civil Partnership Act for same-sex partners in the area of taxation and would permission to marry give them benefits they don't yet have Also, since the Act has only recently gone into effect, what weaknesses might surface as people begin to utilise the changes There is some controversy over the fact that same-sex couples can register for a civil partnership status whilst heterosexual partners living together cannot. However, heterosexual partners have the option to marry, an option not available to same-sex partners. If same-sex partners do not choose to register their relationship, they, like the unmarried mixed-sex couples, will be considered cohabitants and will not be eligible for the tax changes (Rozenberg 2005; Webber 2005). The previous list of changes makes it clear that those engaged in civil partnerships had few legal rights prior to the CPA. ... Benefits that are income-related will be considered in regards to joint treatment Tax, including inheritance tax Benefits from state pensions will also become a joint treatment The duty of providing maintenance to your partner and any children of either party Each party of the union will become a parental figure and thus become responsible for any children either person may have Inheritance in regards to an agreement of tenancy Domestic violence protection Access to compensation of fatal accidents Succeed to rights of tenancy The registration of civil partnership will have merit for the purposes of immigration Hospital visiting rights as next of kin Like traditional marriage, those that are involved in a civil partnership are exempt from being required to testify in court against one another Each partner has the responsibility to be assessed for child support, in the same manner as that of civil marriages Treatment comparable to that of a civil marriage in regards to life assurance Benefits that arise from Pension and Employment Welcome to CivilPartnershipInfo, Sec. 3, 2005 Areas of Discrimination before Civil Partnership Act 2004 The previous list of changes makes it clear that those engaged in civil partnerships had few legal rights prior to the CPA. In analysing the areas of change and looking back at some specific cases, it becomes evident that same-sex partners have been discriminated against over the years. The fact that it has taken so long to acknowledge and accept their relationship is an ethical concern that cannot be ignored. Will legality offset discrimination One of the areas in which tax discrimination was evident in the past was in inheritance rights. When a civil partner died after one couple had lived together for 45

A History of Hesbulla Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

A History of Hesbulla - Essay Example The paper "A History of Hesbulla" has four parts. Part one is about the origins of Hesbulla. Part two outlines and explains the ideologies that led to the creation, development, and the current state of Hesbulla. Part three reports on its major developments since foundation to the present. Part four is an assessment of how to situate the organization and its plans in current international and domestic affairs. Trouble in the Middle East has been going on for centuries as Arabs and Jews fought over land that both claimed to be theirs. During the time of the Roman Empire some two thousand years ago, the countries that are now known as Israel, Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon have been a battleground among conquering and conquered peoples and nations. These conflicts reached a major flashpoint after the Second World War when the State of Israel was created in 1948 (Owen, 1992). Recounting this brief historical background is important to realize that the Middle East conflict is not r ooted in Islamic ideology, but something that is perhaps deeper and that goes farther back in time. However, Islam was a strong factor that provided a cultural and religious bond for differing Middle Eastern Arabic tribes to unite against a common enemy, the Jews, although Islam was not a guarantee of peace in itself as it too was racked by different streams of thought: Shi’a, Sunni, Salafi, Kurds, etc. For centuries and even before Israel was created in 1948, these Arabic tribes fought each other as vehemently as they now fight against Israel (Tarrow, 1994; Owen, 1992). Lebanon, which shares a southern border with the northern tip of Israel, received Palestinian refugees who were driven out by the newly created Israeli state in 1948. When these refugees, who were understandable in thinking that their lands were "stolen" from them by the newly erected Jewish state, attempted to regain those lands by committing acts of aggression and violence as a Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the Israeli armed forces retaliated by attacking the PLO and expelling them from Jordan. The PLO settled in the southern part of Lebanon, where their guerillas were trained and from where they continued to mount attacks against Israel (Norton, 2007; Qassem, 2005; Shapira, 1988). In 1982, Israel began to attack PLO strongholds in southern Lebanon, where it remained until 1985. It was during this three-year period that Hesbulla was born as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation.

Midterm Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Midterm Exam - Essay Example The memories which these items bring to the author are the core aspects of discussion, resulting into the materials contained within this chapter. There is a significant element of harmony between Chinese and American culture portrayed in the chapter. In consideration of modern times, the chapter might be perceived as containing unacceptable elements of the society, like racism. The elements should however be understood for the viewpoint of a Chinese native residing in America. The cultural difference existing between the author’s native and adopted culture, is attributed to these perceptions. It becomes extremely difficult for the author to perceive some of the common elements within the environment as the Native American would do. This chapter presents the reader with an element for understanding the existing discrepancies between the author’s native culture and the adopted one. There is an element of attachment to the culture which is contained within the context of the chapter, and which the author is communicating to her audience. Understanding the value of culture to the author requires reading through and getting the feeling which are associated with the occurrences described within this chapter. While there might be elements in the reading which could be considered as stereotypes, it remains essential to understand that these are the perceptions of the author. The thoughts presented by these ideologies remains essential in comprehension of the inferred meanings of the writings. While many of the elements contain a simple description of the appearance of objects which the author observes, these objects cause the author to visualise of some Chinese aspects of livelihoods which she has learnt to do without (Wong, 86). This is a significant element within the chapter as it can identify the differences which the author experiences in Chinatown compared to china. While there might be many Chinese

The Panama Canal and Its Expansion Research Paper

The Panama Canal and Its Expansion - Research Paper Example Panama canal was before under the Colombian management, then came the French and America before the panamian management took over in 1999. The canal had been faced by various challenges including ships traffic jam as the number rose from 1,000 in 1914 when it was opened to 14,702 in 2008. By the year 2008, more than 815,000 ships had used the panama canal most of them bigger than the initial plans that had been made (ACP, 2009). Panamax is the biggest ships that travel through the canal at the present time. The canal was named by the American society of civil engineers as among the seven worlds wonders. Due to the increased rate of international maritime trade, increase in volumes in trade and levels of containerization, there has been a keener plan of investment of more funds in canals and the ports by the shipping lines in order to curb the growing rate of demand and needs. Since the Panama Canal does not have the capacity to accommodate all this pressure, it has been faced by several issues mostly relating to traffic congestion of the ships. The canal is known to hold a great record in the maritime trade but at the same time it has been known to lose its market shares to Suez canal,which is another route used in the same type of trade, and this is because the panama canal cannot accommodate ships more than 5,000 TEUs. The canal has also been hit by several problems,which include: a decrease in demand of transit, an old model and structure of the canal, the saturation point is reached early, lack of potential to redirect traffic congestion to other potential alternatives with longer routes, their development is unsustainable and also their level of trade in the maritime industry has been low. These problems led to the proposal for the expansion of the panama canal by the panama canal authority as it was the best solution for the business of shipping,rather than ignoring,so that,by 2014, the capacity would be doubled allowing more ships to pass through the canal. The components that make up the programme of the expansion o f the Panama Canal include: 1. Widening and making the Atlantic entrance deep. 2. Construction of the panama locks of the Atlantic post. 3. Increasing the working conditions of Lake Gatum to a maximum level. 4. Widening and making the steering channels of Culebra Cut and Lake Gatun deep. 5. Digging up the access channel of the post panamax locks. 6. Constructing locks on the pacific post panamax. 7. Widening and making the entrance of the pacific deep. Panama canal expansion will double its capacity come 2014 as it will allow larger ships to pass through. The plan for the canal expansion was presented on 24th April, 2006 by martin torrijos who was then the president of panama. The proposal was approved by the citizens of panama through a national referendum that was carried out in October 2006, and it was voted in by 76.8% of the population (ACP, 2009). The citizens of panama approved the expansion of the canal as it would allow larger vessels to transit and increase the level of ma ritime trade. The project has started to be executed by the Panama Canal authority, and it will take at least eight years to be fully implemented as they are following a well illustrated plan and it will cost them 5.25 billion US dollars. As much as this project is of much assistance to the citizens and the republic of panama, there will be a direct benefit to the maritime industry internationally through

Disscusion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Disscusion - Assignment Example What started out as movement concerned with federal government spending, the Tea Party quickly grew into a group totally dissatisfied with the federal government. The hatred and animosity this group shows the federal government is confusing. The federal government is made up of people elected on a state level. Why hate something you helped to create? Another part of the Tea Party I do not understand is Sarah Palin. If she was competent I might understand her appeal. However she writes notes on her hands, misquotes facts, and generally misspeaks. This is not a gender issue. Women like Condoleezza Rice or Hilary Clinton can talk politics and issues every day, but Palin seems to be out of her league. A good politician should be able to hold their own in an open forum. Palin cannot even manage this simple task. I did agree with the vote not to legalize marijuana. Medicinal marijuana is one thing, but legalization is another. Drugs need to be fought in a different manner than legalizing them. I was also pleased with the race for governor in Oklahoma. Mary Fallin versus Jeri Askins made history. Oklahoma had to elect their first woman governor. This is a great step toward progress. Although I do not agree with Fallin’s politics, I am glad that gender does not matter in politics

Examining The Concept of Politically Correct Speech Essay Example for Free

Examining The Concept of Politically Correct Speech Essay Lets be politically correct about this. This is a common statement people make when they want to avoid offending people. This is the goal of the concept of being politically correct: avoid offending peoples sensibilities. Case in point, it is not uncommon to call blind people visually impaired. The reason for this is that somehow the word blind became derogatory. Well, actually it didnt and neither did a number of benign words but in the 1990s there was a movement that started with the clear intention of making words as antiseptic as possible. The movement was somewhat mocked at first and pop culture comedian George Carlin quipped It is just a means of people hiding their guilt without really atoning for their sins. But, the politically movement has far from gone away. In fact, it has gained significant momentum in certain quarters. This is good in some ways and negative in others. One of the most negative aspects of the political correctness movement is that perpetually trying to be politically correct has a tendency to hinder communications. That is, when people are always trying to choose their words or phrases carefully they may find the end result to be stilted. That is to say, the words they select in their writing or oral presentations may end up being silly. Again, most people assume a blind person is blind. If one refers to a blind person as optically challenged then one may discover the audience laughing at the choice of words. This is because it is obvious the individual is going really out of the way to avoid hurting anyones feelings. Granted, this end result may avoid offense but it could also yield laughter. If that was not the intended result of your actions then the actions would be deemed a flop. Sorry to be so blunt but this is the common end result of going to ridiculous extremes in order be politically correct at the expense of using good language. There are, however, some benefits to politically correct speech. This is most evident in the workplace. Remember when it comes to success in the workplace success will often be based around relationships with people. If your relationships with others are not as best as they can be then you may discover your career suffering. This would obviously be a bad situation and best avoided. Since one of the most common ways of developing bad relationships is through offending people seeking to be more politically correct in your dialogue would not be a bad idea. If you are involved in the insurance sales business there will be a multitude of people whom you will come in contact. As such, you would want these people to feel as comfortable as possible and opt to avoid using words that may prove offensive. For example, you would want to avoid calling the elderly old if you come in contact with such individuals. Sticking with the term senior citizen would be a much wiser option. Of course, you will want to select words that are sensible and not silly. There is a fine line between politeness and parody when it comes to speaking in a politically correct manner. However, if you use simple logic and common sense in your approach to selecting politically correct terms you will avoid many of the common political correctness pitfalls associated with the movement.

Chains and Sustainable Development Essay Example for Free

Chains and Sustainable Development Essay Those of us who preach the gospel of agriculture with evangelical zeal find the text compelling and convincing. We are regularly possessed by the spirit only to look around and see out colleagues, in other sectors, in country management, or even our senior management doubting, yawning or subtly edging towards the door. We face the implicit query, â€Å"If agriculture can do such great things, why have they not yet happened? †1 The past decade has been one of agro-pessimism. The promises that agricultural development seem to hold did not materialise. This pessimism seemed to coincide with pessimism about Sub-Saharan Africa. Especially for Sub-Saharan Africa the hope was that economic development would be brought about by agricultural development. After the success of the green revolution in Asia, the hope was that a similar agricultural miracle would transform African economies. But this hope never materialised, agricultural productivity did not increase much in SSA (figure 1), and worse, the negative effects of the green revolution in Asia became more apparent, such as pesticide overuse and subsequent pollution. Also in Asia the yield increases tapered off. The sceptics put forward several arguments why agriculture is no longer an engine of growth2. For instance, the liberalisation of the 1990s and greater openness to trade has lead to a reduction in the economic potential of the rural sector: cheap imported Chinese plastic buckets out compete the locally produced pottery. On the other hand, it does mean cheaper (imported) supplies. With rapid global technical change and increasingly integrated markets, prices fall faster than yields rise. So, rural incomes fall despite increased productivity if they are net producers3. The integration of rural with urban areas means that healthy young people move out of agriculture, head to town, leaving behind the old, the sick and the dependent. It is often also the men who move to urban areas, leaving women in charge of the farm. This has resulted in the increased sophistication of agricultural markets (and value chains) which excludes traditional smallholders, who are poorly equipped to meet the demanding product specifications and timeliness of delivery required by expanding supermarkets. The natural resource base on which agriculture depends is poor and deteriorating. Productivity growth is therefore increasingly more difficult to achieve. Finally, multiplier effects occur when a change in spending causes a disproportionate change in aggregate demand. Thus an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent. But as GDP rises and the share of agriculture typically decreases, the question is how important these multiplier effects are, especially when significant levels of poverty remain in rural areas, which is the case in middleincome countries. The disappointment with agriculture led many donor organisations to turn away from agriculture, looking instead to areas that would increase the well-being of poor people, such as health and education. Those organisations that still focused on agriculture, such as the CGIAR, were put under pressure to focus more on reducing poverty, besides increasing agricultural productivity. However, since the beginning of the new century, there seems to be a renewed interest in agriculture. A review of major policy documents5, including the well-publicised Sachs report and the Kofi Annan report, show that agriculture is back on the agenda again. The most influential report, however, has been the World Development Report 2008 of the World Bank6. This report argues that growth in the agricultural sector 1 contributes proportionally more to poverty reduction than growth in any other economic sector and that therefore alone, the focus should be on the agricultural sector when achieving to reach MDG 1. A reassessment of the role of agriculture in development seems to be required. This policy paper addresses several timely though complex questions: †¢ First, how can or does agriculture contribute to economic development, and in particular how does it relate to poverty? †¢ Second, the agricultural sector has changed considerably in the past decades: what are the main drivers of this change? †¢ Third, what is the relationship between economic or agricultural growth and pro-poor development? †¢ Fourth, how does agriculture relate to other sectors in the economy? †¢ Fifth, who is included and who is excluded in agricultural development, specifically focusing on small farms? †¢ And finally, if agricultural development is indeed important to economic development, then why, despite all the efforts and investments, has this not led to more successes? 2. Agriculture and economic growth This section presents a number of factual observations describing how the agricultural sector changed in terms of productivity, contribution to economic growth, and indicating the relevance of the agricultural sector for poverty alleviation in different regions. Background: some facts In the discussion of the role of agriculture in economic development, a leading question is how agriculture contributes to economic growth, and especially to pro-poor growth. There seems to be a paradox in the role of agriculture in economic development. The share of agriculture contributing to GDP is declining over the years (see figure 1). At the same time, the productivity of for instance cereal yields has been increasing (see figure 2). It seems that as agriculture becomes more successful, its importance declines in the overall economy. Of course, other sectors in the economy can be even more successful, such as the Asian Tigers.

The History Of Hinduism Rituals Religion Essay

The History Of Hinduism Rituals Religion Essay Hindus practice many rituals collectively known as Sansakaras. These rituals or sanskaras depict events in the life cycle of a Hindu person. According to the ancient texts in Hinduism, most significant events in the life cycle include Birth, Marriage, and Death. These Are Explained as Follows: Mix Christianity intro 1. Birth: In Hinduism, birth of a child is considered a religious ceremony, and involves many rituals. Some of the common rituals, practiced by almost all Hindus at the time of birth of a child, and their significance are discussed below. These rituals initiate a child into Hinduism and are collectively referred to as birth rituals. i. The first one is Garbhadhana or Impregnation rites. This ritual includes a planned sexual intercourse, between a husband and his wife, performed in a certain way, to conceive the best possible baby. The sex during Garbhadhana is not for pleasure but for developing a good or divine soul in the womb of the wife. Garbhadhana is purely spiritual, and is considered to be very essential. It is required to populate the world with good souls. This is explained by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, Sex aimed at creating godly children is as good as God Himself. balam balavatam caham kama-raga-vivarjitam dharmaviruddho bhutesu kamo smi bharatarsabha I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O lord of the Bharatas' (Hindu). ii. Jatakarma is the ritual performed to welcome the baby into this world. It is performed right before the umbilical cord is cut. In this ritual, father of the child feeds honey to the baby and chant prayers or mantras in babys ear. This ritual is supposed to increase the aptitude of the child and spiritually help him or her to lead a long and healthy life. In addition, it represents that the presence of the child is desired and appreciated in the family. iii. Namakarana, meaning to give a name, is the ritual in which the child is given a name, which is meaningful and inspiring. A good name is very important for the child because its meaning reminds him of a purpose or an objective in life and inspires him to fulfill that objective. Generally there is a get-together, in which, sweets are distributed among family and friends after a name has been given to the baby. iv. Mundan is the ritual where, first haircut of the child is performed. In this ritual, all the hairs on childs head are removed and poured into the nearest holy water body. The removal of these hairs signifies the removal of any deficiencies in the child, and is considered to stimulate growth of the nervous system. Another initiation ritual, called as Upanayana, is performed for boys in Hinduism. It is carried out right before the puberty starts. This ritual marks the second birth of the child as he begins his journey of religious self-construction. In this ceremony, the boy acknowledges his duties towards his religion and his privileges resulting from Hinduism. During Upanayana ceremony, a sacred thread is tied around the waist of the boy. This thread consists of three separate symbolic threads meaning to, worship god, show love and respect to parents, and learn from the religious teacher (Hindu). Although, a child is born into Hinduism by various birth rituals, a boy child is again initiated into the religion through Upanayana ritual. Christianity on the other hand, has few significant specific rituals for birth. One common practice in Roman Catholics is where the mother goes to the church, certain days after giving birth to a child, to thank god for a successful birth. By doing this, she re-enters her religious community after pregnancy, and hence this practice is sometimes referred to as a purity rite. The most significant ritual associated with birth is baptism of the baby. It represents the babys commencement into Christianity. It is generally performed from 0 to 6 months after the birth of the baby. It is generally performed by the minister of the church, when he pours the holy water and says, I baptise you (or, The servant of God (name) is baptized) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19). According to bible, baptism is a requirement for salvation (Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5). Baptism pictures the death and burial of our old self and our resurrection to a new life in Jesus Christ as Romans 6 tells us: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For the death that He (Jesus) died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:3-6, 10-11, NKJV) (biblestudy). This verse and its description in biblestudy.org clearly demarcates that the sins of a person are forgiven and washed away by getting baptized because through baptism, the person symbolizes that he is regretful for all his sins but now he has complete faith in Jesus, and is willing to live a good life under the shadow of Jesus Christ. Although, infant baptism is performed soon after the birth of a child, it can be compared to the Hindu initiation ritual of Upanayana because of the similar purposes of the two rituals. After baptism, a catholic child is regarded as a member of the church and a complete relationship is established between the child and the church. Therefore, it is clear that like Upanayana, Baptism marks the beginning of religious education. Confirmation to baptism occurs when the young person can knowingly and freely choose Christian faith, (21 cite this). This happens at an age similar to the age of Upanayana ritual in Hinduism. For both these rituals, a fundamental change takes place in the life of the person undergoing the ritual, and this change is considered a rebirth as a fresh identity with new faith, duties, and privileges. According to Christianity, a person cannot attain salvation without being baptized. Likewise, Upanayana ceremony in Hinduism is the initiation on the road to religious ed ucation that ultimately leads to salvation. Hindus practice many rituals collectively known as Sansakaras. These rituals or sanskaras depict events in the life cycle of a Hindu person. According to the ancient texts in Hinduism, most significant events in the life cycle include Birth, Marriage, and Death. These Are Explained as Follows: Mix Christianity intro Initiation 1. Birth: In Hinduism, birth of a child is considered a religious ceremony, and involves many rituals. Some of the common rituals, practiced by almost all Hindus at the time of birth of a child, and their significance are discussed below. These rituals initiate a child into Hinduism and are collectively referred to as birth rituals. i. The first one is Garbhadhana or Impregnation rites. This ritual includes a planned sexual intercourse, between a husband and his wife, performed in a certain way, to conceive the best possible baby. The sex during Garbhadhana is not for pleasure but for developing a good or divine soul in the womb of the wife. Garbhadhana is purely spiritual, and is considered to be very essential. It is required to populate the world with good souls. This is explained by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, Sex aimed at creating godly children is as good as God Himself. balam balavatam caham kama-raga-vivarjitam dharmaviruddho bhutesu kamo smi bharatarsabha I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O lord of the Bharatas' (Hindu). ii. Jatakarma is the ritual performed to welcome the baby into this world. It is performed right before the umbilical cord is cut. In this ritual, father of the child feeds honey to the baby and chant prayers or mantras in babys ear. This ritual is supposed to increase the aptitude of the child and spiritually help him or her to lead a long and healthy life. In addition, it represents that the presence of the child is desired and appreciated in the family. iii. Namakarana, meaning to give a name, is the ritual in which the child is given a name, which is meaningful and inspiring. A good name is very important for the child because its meaning reminds him of a purpose or an objective in life and inspires him to fulfill that objective. Generally there is a get-together, in which, sweets are distributed among family and friends after a name has been given to the baby. iv. Mundan is the ritual where, first haircut of the child is performed. In this ritual, all the hairs on childs head are removed and poured into the nearest holy water body. The removal of these hairs signifies the removal of any deficiencies in the child, and is considered to stimulate growth of the nervous system. Another initiation ritual, called as Upanayana, is performed for boys in Hinduism. It is carried out right before the puberty starts. This ritual marks the second birth of the child as he begins his journey of religious self-construction. In this ceremony, the boy acknowledges his duties towards his religion and his privileges resulting from Hinduism. During Upanayana ceremony, a sacred thread is tied around the waist of the boy. This thread consists of three separate symbolic threads meaning to, worship god, show love and respect to parents, and learn from the religious teacher (Hindu). Although, a child is born into Hinduism by various birth rituals, a boy child is again initiated into the religion through Upanayana ritual. Christianity on the other hand, has few significant specific rituals for birth. One common practice in Roman Catholics is where the mother goes to the church, certain days after giving birth to a child, to thank god for a successful birth. By doing this, she re-enters her religious community after pregnancy, and hence this practice is sometimes referred to as a purity rite. The most significant ritual associated with birth is baptism of the baby. It represents the babys commencement into Christianity. It is generally performed from 0 to 6 months after the birth of the baby. It is generally performed by the minister of the church, when he pours the holy water and says, I baptise you (or, The servant of God (name) is baptized) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19). According to bible, baptism is a requirement for salvation (Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5). Baptism pictures the death and burial of our old self and our resurrection to a new life in Jesus Christ as Romans 6 tells us: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For the death that He (Jesus) died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:3-6, 10-11, NKJV) (biblestudy). This verse and its description in biblestudy.org clearly demarcates that the sins of a person are forgiven and washed away by getting baptized because through baptism, the person symbolizes that he is regretful for all his sins but now he has complete faith in Jesus, and is willing to live a good life under the shadow of Jesus Christ. Although, infant baptism is performed soon after the birth of a child, it can be compared to the Hindu initiation ritual of Upanayana because of the similar purposes of the two rituals. After baptism, a catholic child is regarded as a member of the church and a complete relationship is established between the child and the church. Therefore, it is clear that like Upanayana, Baptism marks the beginning of religious education. Confirmation to baptism occurs when the young person can knowingly and freely choose Christian faith, (21 cite this). This happens at an age similar to the age of Upanayana ritual in Hinduism. For both these rituals, a fundamental change takes place in the life of the person undergoing the ritual, and this change is considered a rebirth as a fresh identity with new faith, duties, and privileges. According to Christianity, a person cannot attain salvation without being baptized. Likewise, Upanayana ceremony in Hinduism is the initiation on the road to religious ed ucation that ultimately leads to salvation.