Human Embryonic Stem Cells - 1916 Words

The human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have defined by Bryant and Schwartz (2008) is in the mammalian embryo, there are several cell divisions that take place after the fertilization of the sperm and the egg in the uterus. There is no growth in the total volume of the cell, so the cells that are known as blastomeres get progressively smaller. Then, they are rearranging into a hollow ball known as blastocyst and surround the blastocoel which is a fluid-filled cavity. The blastocyts and then segregate into an outer layer called tropoblast and an inner cell mass (ICM). The tropoblast will form the placenta to the fetus while the inner cell mass that contains human embryonic stem cell will form the tissues of the fetus. According to Sandel and Phil (2004), the hESCs can cure and provide treatment for many kinds of disease such as Parkinson, Alzheimer, diabetes and spinal cord injury. But, ethical issues of hESCs research, therefore, overlap with those of the embryo research. On top of th at, De Wert and Mummery (2003) commented that the research of hESCs has high political and ethical agenda in many countries. Their use in the treatment of disease remains controversial regardless of their potential benefit. This is because their derivation from the early embryo. As Fischbach, Fischbach and others (2004) observe: Human embryonic stem cells offer the promise of a new regenerative medicine in which damaged adult cells can be replaced with new cells. Research is needed to determineShow MoreRelatedThe Human Embryonic Stem Cells910 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscovery of human embryonic stem cells, scientists have had high hopes for their use in treating a wider variety of diseases because they are â€Å"pluripotent,† which means they are capable of differentiating into one of many cell types in the body. However, the acquisition of human embryonic stem cells from an embryo can cause the destruction of the embryo, thus raising ethical concerns. In 2006, researchers introduced an alternative to harvesting embryonic stem cells called induced pluripotent stem (iPS)Read MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research1625 Words   |  7 PagesProduction and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells, the Pontifical Academy for Life presents the field of stem cell research with a statement regarding the official Roman Catholic position on the moral aspects of acquiring and using human embryonic stem cells.  They have declared that it is not morally legitimate to produce or use human embryos as a source of stem cells, nor is it acceptable to use stem cells from cell lines already established. Thus, bringing up the conflictingRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research2490 Words   |  10 PagesFederal Government to fund stem cell research through the National Institute of He alth. There are various types of stem cells, but the policy issue mainly covers human embryonic stem cells. This policy revokes President George W. Bush s executive order 13435 which put heavy limitations on federal funding for stem cell research. Although this policy has already taken effect, there are still bans and immense regulation on particular methods of human embryonic stem cell extraction that involve theRead MoreEssay on Human Embryonic Stem Cells 2138 Words   |  9 Pagesof a federal judge because of several issues that emerged with stem cell research being funded by the government. Although, the science of human embryonic stem cell is in its initial stages - there is much hope for scientific advancement due to the ability for human embryonic stem cells to grow into virtually various kinds of cells   Favorably, advocates for stem cell research and pharmaceutical companies strongly believe that stem cells may pave a way to discover new methods of treatment for devastat ingRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cells ( Hescs )1627 Words   |  7 PagesEstablishment of iPSC The interest in developing human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a regenerative medicine has been prospering due to its pluripotency and indefinite self-renewal capacity since first discovered in 19981,2. However, the method to harvest hESCs by destroying embryos raised ethical concerns and thus the progress of this therapeutics has been impeded for years. Alternative approach was not achieved until the discover of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by integrating a combination ofRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research992 Words   |  4 PagesThe liver is known in the medical community as a miracle organ because is it the only known organ in the human body that can regenerate itself if half of it is cut out. Tissue regeneration has always been a desirable fantasy, but now it is almost a possibility. Human embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that, although unspecialized, can differentiate into various specialized cells, such as nerves, muscle, skin, or even blood. Sadl y, controversy surrounds this relatively new scientific conceptRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research1313 Words   |  6 PagesJessica Rogers Kendra Gallos English III Honors 18 April 2016 Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, or HES cell research, is a very controversial ethical debate. This issues is a dilemma for scientist, religious activist, and many more. HES cell research is being disputed because the practice is morally wrong. The other side of the issue stands with many scientist, being that they see the potential lives it could save in the long run. Religious activist, andRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cells : The Moral Dilemma898 Words   |  4 PagesHUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS: THE MORAL DILEMMA Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of inactivity. Stems cells can develop into many different cell types within the body during early life and growth. Stem cells can also serve as an internal repair of sorts inside many tissues. When a stem cell divides, it has the potential to either become another type of cell with a specialized function or remain a stem cell. The abilitiesRead MoreHuman Stem Cell Research : Ethical Dilemmas With The Utility Of Embryonic Stem Cells1879 Words   |  8 PagesTrevor McCarthy Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) research possesses ethical dilemmas with the utility of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from human blastocyst, one of the earliest stages of embryonic development. Embryonic stem cell derivation is controversial because there are different opinions and beliefs on when an embryo is deserving of full moral status, equal to the moral respect, rights and treatment to that of a human being. ESCs extracted from a blastocyst will undergo experimentationRead More Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay4185 Words   |  17 PagesHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Research Many scientists believe that research on human embryonic stem cells, components of human embryos created in laboratories, will eventually yield cures to a number of devastating human conditions including juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced he would permit federally funded research on existing stem cells lines derived from human embryos. He prohibited the federal funding of research

Relationship Between Personality And Personality Development

Developmental psychology is described as â€Å"the scientific study of biological, cognitive, social, and personality development throughout the life span† (Taylor, 2005, p.1). According to the readings, personality formation has been argued to be the result of nurture-as in the social environment, and temperament is the result of nature-as in genetic biology (Personality Development: Intimacy and healthy personality, n.d.) This is in actuality a complex interplay between the two forces that shape our personalities as we grow and become healthy adults. Family and social environments both exert influence on the development of individual personality; this has been the topic of studies for years. Lewin’s Field Theory attempted to show†¦show more content†¦I took an online version of the Myers-Briggs Personality test, and the results indicate that I am INFJ. Specifically, I am 28% Introvert, 22% iNtuitive,9% Feeling, and 28% Judging.The website describes INFJs a ha ving complex character, and above average talents. They/we are said to be a rare type, humanitarian in outlook, idealists, and are simultenaeous both doer and dreamer (Humanmetrics Inc, 2017). It says INFJs combine vision with practicallity, are prone to taking larger than necessary responsibility in issues that concern them, and are true intoverts ( often mistaken for extraverts) who care about others and the world. They have small yet substansive social circles. They are said to have clear insight, uncanny empathic abilities, and strong writing skills (Humanmetrics Inc, 2017). Some of the other descriptors include being inherent givers, champions of the downtrodden, hard to fool or outwit, having high levels of stress tolerance and they communicate by being thoughtful, caring and supportive (Humanmetrics Inc, 2017). Among the more amazing, highly applicable things it says I supposedly exhibit, it says INFJs are suited to teaching (I was a corporate trainer); psychology and counseling are obvious career choices; they are often found on the front lines helping those in distress after an emergency (I was a combat medic);they are selective with who they make friendships with; have a talent for deducing the mind, will,Show MoreRelatedCareer Choices Are A Reflection On An Individual’S Personality1325 Words   |  6 Pages Career choices are a reflection on an individual’s personality type. It is believed to be reinforced and rewarded by the individual’s academic environment. The theorist, I will discuss in this paper is John Holland theory. Holland’s theory provides a framework that is congruent to one’s personality type. Many personalities are influenced by their environment, which in terms dictates the type of career they choose. The primary purpose of Holland’s theory is for individuals to look for opportunitiesRead MoreHumanistic and Existential Personality Theories Paper1238 Words   |  5 PagesExistential Personality Theories Matrix Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories Matrix Theorists have invested years of research into learning the dynamics of one’s personality. Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories offered perspectives that have proved to be valuable to those researching and exploring how one’s personality develops and expands throughout life. From Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to Carl Rogers’s development of the formativeRead MoreRelationship between Personality, Behavior, and Performance913 Words   |  4 PagesRelationship between Personality, Behavior, Performance Personality is a major factor in how individuals behave and perform in the work environment. For example, traits that are part of ones self-concept will influence how one processes information and predicts future behavior (Chatman, 1999). By examining a persons personality, human resource managers gain insight into what positions are the best fit for an individual, or which individual is a better fit for the position needing to be filledRead MoreEarly Exposure Of Foreign Literature1425 Words   |  6 Pagesof the foremost tools used for social action and change. From describing social climate and conditions to using satires to bring about desired adjustments, literature has played a very important role in the development of social attitudes. Albrecht’s 1954 essay on the relationship between literature and society sums it up perfectly; literature not only acts as a reflection of society but also has an influence on cultural ideals and social stability. In this study, the ai m is to concentrate onRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1678 Words   |  7 PagesNature Versus Nurture Personality development expands far past the environment. Environment contribute to most of the personality development when it comes to nature versus nurture. Nature versus nurture is a trait that is typically inherited in the human society. Humans see things good or bad within the environment and mimic it. There are questions that still remain about nature versus nurture and the environment. Research is still ongoing and theories are still being made or developed. ScientistsRead MoreFamily Influences Our Personality, Behavior, Beliefs and Values1080 Words   |  5 Pages The effects of family and culture can substantially influence ones personality, behaviours, beliefs and values, which correlates positively to the life experiences in part 1. Research has shown the significance of family interactions on stress levels, personality and behavioural traits on younger individuals. The young ones imitate the elders as they have yet to be independent and this process is considered to be an aspect of evolution, via increasing fitness. Environmental factors such as biologicalRead MoreBirth Order Effect On Child Development1070 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Birth Order on a Child’s Development For decades, psychologists have argued the accuracy of the Birth Order Theory, the concept that the order in which children are born has lasting effects on their development. The Birth Order Theory was first introduced by a prominent psychologist named Alfred Alder who suggested that birth order has a lasting impression on one’s personality. The notion that birth order plays a role in one’s intellectual development dates back to 1874 when Sir FrancisRead MoreBiological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality Essay747 Words   |  3 PagesApproaches to Personality Valerye Rogers PSY/250- Psychology of Personality Michael Moore, Instructor February 21, 2011 Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality In the following, the author will discuss and analyze the biological and humanistic approaches to personality. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will be discussed and examined. The author will describe biological factors that influence the formation of personality. The author will examine the relationship of biologicalRead MoreWarren Edward Buffett : World s Most Successful Investor Essay1516 Words   |  7 Pagesthe age of 19. In 1951, Buffett enrolled at Columbia University to pursue A Masters of Science in Economics. Buffett has also been recognized as one of the great thinkers in the world. His contributions to philanthropy can be attributed to his personality, not so common in many people of his caliber. In this respect, Buffett has severally written of his belief that his children will never inherit a substantial amount of his wealth and he would give them just sufficient to feel doing anything, butRead MoreWhy Is Psychology Useful?1541 Words   |  7 Pageshealth. It helps a lot of people tackle their mental illness so that they can continue living their lives. Psychological studies have also aided in drug development and the ability to diagnose various diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons). Psychology is extremely useful in the areas of identifying personality, behaviour in groups and relationship theories, all which are to be experienced by every individual. Psychology makes it clear why humans do the things they do and ways in which people can

Marketing of Hardbite Chips Free Essays

string(48) " from originally selling in health food stores\." Hardbite Chips Langara College School of Management MARK 1115 Introduction to Marketing D. Hill 23 November 2009 Executive Summary This report provides an analysis of Hardbite Chips and the Snack Food Industry and offers recommendations for Hardbite Chips to develop an effective marketing plan. Hardbite Chips is an environmentally sustainable business that provides healthy, good-tasting, and quality potato chips. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing of Hardbite Chips or any similar topic only for you Order Now The target market we have selected for Hardbite Chips is health conscious consumers, particularly those with children. It is our belief that the consumers will be attracted by the healthy features of our product and will be willing to pay slightly more for these benefits. It is our objective to significantly increase awareness of our product among these consumers. As our funds for promotional activities are limited and our target market can be hard to reach our marketing mix focuses heavily on sales promotion. Advertising and public relations will help us promote the features of our product and position it as a high quality brand in the minds of consumers. We hope to use personal selling to increase the number of retailers that carry our product. We believe Hardbite Chips has the ability to obtain satisfactory profits and grow the business. This will allow the company to better compete against the numerous competitors in the industry and increase sales. As the business grows, more funds can be spent on promotional activities enabling the company to expand its target market and appeal to more retailers. Table of Contents Current Marketing Strategy†¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1 Company Mission Statement.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1 Internal and External Analysis PEST Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 SWOT Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 Competitive Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4 Target Market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 Marke ting Objectives and Issues†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Marketing Research†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 7 Product Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 Pricing Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Distribution Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10 Integrated Marketing Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 10 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 12 Appendix I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 13 Endnotes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 14 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 15 Current Marketing Situation The Canadian snack food market presents a lu crative opportunity for new and existing companies in the industry. In 2008, Canadians ate an average of 3. 2 kg of potato chips. 1 Food stores capture the majority of snack food purchases in 2001 at approximately 67% and supermarkets accounted for approximately two-thirds of this. Convenience stores took the third largest share of the market at around 13%. Mass merchandisers and wholesale club stores have increased their market share in recent years, passing convenience stores, as more of these types of locations have opened in Canada. However, this change has not yet significantly affected food stores. 2 In 2007, Canadian retail grocery stores sold over $1. 8 billion worth of snack food, with potato chips accounting for approximately $550 million. This continues the recent trend of 6% growth in annual retail sales of potato chips. 3 This growth has encouraged companies to expand into niche markets by offering unique flavours and organic products. The Canadian snack food industry has seen an increase in new entrants in recent years despite the presence of big corporations. These big corporations have economies of scale which give them a significant competitive advantage in terms of cost. Furthermore, these corporations benefit from massive advertising budgets that allow them to hold on to their majority market share. Frito-Lays, a division of PepsiCo. , is the leader in the Canadian snack food industry with multiple SBUs that offer many different products, including different varieties of chips in various flavours. However, the opportunity exists for smaller companies to come in nd target niche markets. In fact, â€Å"in 2006, 106 Canadian snack food manufactures shipped $1. 6 billion of product†. 4 However, big corporations are beginning to see the potential of these markets and are beginning to expand into them. A good example of this is Frito-Lays and the introduction of their Wasabi flavoured chips5. Company Mission Statement Hardbite Chips is dedicated to providing our customers with a healthy, good-tasting, and quality potato chip. In doing so, we are committed to be an environmentally sustainable company with strong ties to the community. Internal and External Analysis PEST Analysis: Hardbite Chips | |Political Environment |Economical Environment | |Mandatory nutrition labeling |Economic recession | |Provincial Government policy bans junk food sales in elementary and |Tough to get capital | |high schools |People are less likely to spend money on unknown premium brands | |Social Cultural Environment |Technological Environment | |Trend away from unhealthy snacks |Equipment needed to expand production is expensive | |Potato chips blamed for contributing to obesity | | |Recent discovery of acrylamide, a possible carcinogen, found in | | |carbohydrates cooked at high temperatures | | |People looking to buy environmentally friendly products | | |Competitive Environment |Demographic Environme nt | |Heavy competition in industry |Many consumers more interested in environmentally friendly products | |Low brand loyalty among consumers in industry |Many people are concerned about health | |Large corporations have majority of market share | | SWOT Analysis: Hardbite Chips | |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Product is hand-cooked |Limited cash-flow makes it difficult to grow | |Potatoes are grown locally |Brand is fairly unknown | |Focus on quality |Small production facility compared to major competitors | |Unique flavours | | |Growing brand awareness | | |Sold in many health stores and on many campuses in BC. Also sold | | |across BC in well known stores such as London Drugs, Shoppers Drug | | |Mart, Overwaitea, and IGA Marketplace locations | | |Opportunities |Threats | |Expanding market |Provincial Government policy bans junk food sales in elementary and | |Many consumers are becoming more interested in environmentally |high schools |friendly products |Larger competition may enter market | |Many consumers are concerned about health |Economic recession | |Opportunity to target niche ethnic markets |Tough to get capital | | |People are less likely to spend money on unknown premium brands | | |Low brand loyalty among consumers in industry | Competitive Analysis We wish to position Hardbite Chips as a top quality potato chip brand in the minds of consumers. It is our desire to utilize the frequent consumer assumption that quality and price are related. [pic] We believe Hardbite Chips has the potential to develop a niche competitive advantage. Our primary focus is on serving health co nscious consumers. Thus, our most important unique selling proposition is to focus on the healthy qualities of our product. By producing an all natural potato chip that is free of trans-fats, we believe we will appeal to health conscious consumers. Also, Hardbite Chips was an early entrant into the expanding healthy potato chip market and the company has expanded its distribution points from originally selling in health food stores. You read "Marketing of Hardbite Chips" in category "Essay examples" It is our belief that this has created brand recognition among the early adopters of healthy snacks. As the number of consumers purchasing healthy snacks increases, we think these early adopters will recommend the product to consumers helping the brand grow. Furthermore, with the discovery of acrylamide, a possible carcinogen, in baked and fried carbohydrates cooked at high temperatures, including many of the existing potato chips on the market, we have an advantage over many of our competitors as our product is not cooked at high enough temperatures to produce acrylamide. Hardbite Chips also uses unique ingredients such as Himalayan salt which provides more nutrients while keeping sodium levels low. This can be particularly appealing to health conscious consumers, especially to those with high blood pressure. Another unique selling proposition Hardbite Chips can use is to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Our company is committed to be an environmentally friendly company. Our potatoes and spices are supplied by local growers and our packaging is supplied by a local manufacturer. By highlighting these facts we believe we can convince environmentally conscious consumers that our company operates with similar values. As the â€Å"green† movement grows larger, we think we are situated to capture a large portion of this growing market. Another advertising appeal that we could use as a unique selling proposition is our unique flavours which may appeal to particular ethnic groups. While we attempt to make flavours that we think will appeal to everyone, we realize that certain ethnic groups may find some of our flavours appealing as they are familiar with them. For instance, our creamy coconut and curry flavoured chips may have a special appeal to Thai people as coconut milk is often added to curry in many Thai recipes. Although we currently offer only a few unique flavours, it is our desire to develop more. By looking for inspiration in traditional ethnic foods we believe we can find flavours that appeal to Canada’s diverse ethnic communities as well as more traditional consumers of potato chips. Target Market In examining the potato chip market, we have decided to segment the market based on a psychographic segmentation. Our key considerations are the consumers’ motives, personality, lifestyle, and geodemographics. Since, there is normally just one person who does the grocery shopping for an entire family, most likely a parent, it is our desire to target this person. In particular, we are interested in targeting working parents who are raising children in an urban environment. In terms of personality and lifestyle we would segment these people by looking at the type and amount of activities they do. We are looking to target people who have full, active schedules and are looking for healthy food options but do not have time to compare products on their own. For motives, we are looking for parents that are concerned about providing healthy snacks their children will actually eat. By using geodemographics, we will be able to slightly modify our advertisements for certain ethnic neighbourhoods. We have chosen to target this segment because our product is capable of meeting their needs and should easily appeal to them. Also, as this segment purchases most of the food for their family, our product will be exposed to their children as well. This will help grow brand recognition and will help increase the sales of our product among other segments. The primary challenge we foresee in targeting this segment of the market is our ability to find an appropriate and effective media to communicate to them. These people balance work and family obligations which can take up a substantial amount of their time. For a convenience product such as snack food, these people may not pay attention to ads for different brands. Also, these people often have other things on their mind so they may be distracted when presented with our ads. Marketing Objectives and Issues Our objective is to increase consumer awareness of our product by 30% in the next year. Since our product is still fairly unknown and the company has been focussed on expanding production facilities, we believe now is a good time to increase promotional expenditures and raise awareness of our product. We are most concerned with increasing the awareness of our product benefits and decreasing customer resistance to buying our product. To measure the success of our objective, we will use monthly surveys to determine the approximate number of consumers aware of our product. When increasing awareness of our product, we wish to focus on the benefits that our product offers to consumers. These benefits would include the healthy aspects and quality of our potato chips. We believe consumers will perceive our all-natural, hand-cooked products as highly compatible with their lifestyles. Thus, as consumers become aware of our product, sales should increase. Also, by increasing awareness of our product we hope to decrease consumer resistance to buying our product. In recent years, potato chips have come under attack for contributing to obesity and related health problems. Additionally, carbohydrates cooked at high temperatures have been found to contain acrylamide, a possible carcinogen. Our product addresses these concerns and by informing consumers of this, we believe they will decide to choose our product over our competitors leading to an increase in our sales. In order to measure the effectiveness of our strategy, it is important to receive continuous feedback from consumers. Therefore we will survey consumers throughout the year to measure changes in awareness of our product and the change in the number of people buying our product. We will also ask consumers how they view our product compared to those offered by other snack food manufacturers and how they perceive our product in terms of health. Challenges in meeting our marketing objectives will include selecting an effective channel through which to educate consumers about our product. Also, as more companies are entering into the market we will be competing with them to make customers aware of our products. Another challenge that may present itself is the large companies in the industry may also become aware of our product and choose to emulate some characteristics of our product reducing our competitive advantage and making it harder to convince consumers are products are differentiated enough to be material. To overcome these challenges we will attempt to communicate with consumers as close as possible to the point of purchase. Our integrated marketing communication strategy will be the key to providing us the opportunity to meet our marketing objectives. Marketing Research Our research thus far has only included secondary sources of information. However, this information has given us a basic understanding of the market, changes occurring in the market, and our competitors in the industry. Statistics Canada has provided us with detailed information on the total sales of snack food in Canada as well as how large a portion potato chips make up of these sales. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services have helped us to determine where the majority of snack foods are purchased by consumers in Canada. Industry Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have also supplied us with detailed information about the size of the industry as well as general performance information for the industry. Despite the high cost of primary data, it is our belief that it would benefit the company to conduct such research. This would allow us to better define the exact size and distribution of our target market, the growth of this segment, and the rate at which this segment’s beliefs and attitudes are changing. Primary data will also allow us to develop new flavours that are customers would enjoy. To gather this information we would recommend the company use internet surveys with screened internet samples and to design the questionnaire to provide data on all of these areas so as to keep costs as minimal as possible. We have chosen screened internet samples because they can provide real-time reports and can be personalized for individual respondents. Also, since the segment we have chosen to target is quite active and busy, internet sampling will allow us to reach these consumers and hopefully receive a high rate of responses. Additionally, primary data is needed to assess the company’s ability to meet the marketing objectives. For this we would recommend the company conduct internet surveys with recruited internet samples each month. This will allow us to determine the effectiveness of our promotions. We have included a sample survey that the company may use for this purpose (see Appendix I). We have chosen the internet sample method because of its relatively low cost. However, as the company grows, we would recommend the use of focus groups to help develop and test new flavours of chips and to help determine the most effective way of promoting the product to our target market. Although they are more expensive, focus groups allow us to get more detailed information from consumers which we can then use to better serve our customers. Product Strategy Potato chips are at the maturity stage in the product life cycle. Many of our competitors have been in the business longer than us and have established a hold over some share of the market. Many new entrants to the industry, including Hardbite Chips, target niche markets that have been underserved by larger, more established companies. Our product is aimed at satisfying the needs of health conscious consumers. To meet these needs, our product provides consumers with many healthy features not included with other potato chips. By making our potato chips trans-fat and cholesterol free we provide a product that consumers can snack on without having to worry about high cholesterol and its detrimental effects on health. We also use Himalayan salt instead of table salt on our potato chips. Himalayan salt provides â€Å"84 minerals in the same ratio as healthy blood plasma† and is a lower sodium alternative to table salt. 6 We believe this will be particularly appealing to health conscious consumers, especially those with high blood pressure. Another health benefit our potato chips have over those of most others potato chips, is our unique cooking process. During this process, temperatures do not get high enough to create acrylamide in our potato chips. Since acrylamide is has been found to be a possible carcinogen, we believe customers will see this as a significant benefit. Our product is augmented by offering our potato chips in different and unique flavours. Also, information about the healthy qualities of our product can be found on the packaging. We would like to further augment the product by increasing the number of flavours available and providing a guarantee of consumer satisfaction with our product. Our long term goal is to position the Hardbite Chips as a top quality brand in the minds of consumers. Pricing Strategy Our pricing objective is satisfactory profits. This will enable us to compete with our competitors and continue to grow our production levels. Our competitors in the industry are numerous and many have developed economies of scale giving them the advantage of lower costs. Therefore, to achieve our objective we want to position our product at a slightly higher price than our competitors. We want to utilize the assumption of uncertain consumers that price and quality are related. However, we must be careful not to price our product to high as the market for potato chips is elastic. It is important that the company has enough sales to cover our fixed costs and provide satisfactory profits. As we our selling a product in the maturity stage of the product lifestyle, the distribution channels we use is important to the company. Thus, it is important that we price our product at a level that appeals to wholesalers and retailers. Our pricing strategy is to focus on the market for healthy and high quality potato chips. We believe this will allow us to price our product at a price slightly above our competitors. In order to encourage customers to try our product we will offer coupons. This will allow us stimulate demand by offering a lower price temporarily. We can then discontinue the rebate once people are aware of our product. Distribution Strategy Hardbite Chips currently distributes the potato chips it produces through numerous distributors. This strategy has helped the brand grow from being sold in mainly in health stores to being sold on many campuses across BC in addition to well known stores such as London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Overwaitea, and IGA Marketplace locations. This has allowed the company to increase demand for its products without having its own sales force. Given the proportion of snack food sales in retail grocery stores, we believe it is important that we communicate directly to these retailers to encourage them to carry our brand. We also think selling our product in convenience tores will help increase brand awareness. Retailers that we feel would immensely help increase our sales include Safeway, The Real Canadian Superstore, and 7-11. Getting our product sold in vending machines would also help increase brand awareness. Despite a provincial ban on the sales of junk food in elementary and high school s, vending machines are found in many high traffic areas. As our packaging has information on the health benefits of our product, health conscious consumers may be more inclined to buy our product given the alternatives. IMC Strategy Our primary communication objective is to convince consumers our product is a healthy choice for their snacking needs. We would also like to communicate our commitment to the environment and our community. We feel that these messages can complement each other and work to position the company as caring and responsible in the minds of consumers. Given the size of our company and the limited amount of funds we have for promotion, we cannot afford to spend the amount we would like to on advertising. Thus, to reach our target market, we think we should advertise in magazines devoted to healthy lifestyles. The reason we have chosen magazines is they are a relativity low cost advertising option, they have a long advertising life and they have a high pass-along rate. We believe public relations may be the most cost effective way to increase customer awareness of our product. Sponsoring community activities, like a community garden, and co-sponsoring events like eco-challenge, which receives national television coverage, will help establish us as a health conscious and environmentally friendly company. Sponsoring activities like this will also likely result in positive media coverage for the company. This media coverage will inform consumers of our product that we were unable to reach through our advertising. Sales promotion provides many appealing options and offers the easiest way to reach our target market. For these reason it will be the largest portion of our target segment. Since potato chips are a convenience product, consumers spend a little time deciding which product to buy and they are not likely to remember advertising for a particular potato chip brand. Therefore, a point of purchase display may significantly help sway a consumer in favour of our product. This allows us to be the last promotional item they see before they make their purchase. Providing samples is another sale promotion technique that we think would work well for our product. By being able to sample our product before purchasing it, consumers will be less put off by our slightly higher price. As we discussed in our pricing strategy, we would also like to use coupons to entice customers to buy our product. By temporarily reducing our price we believe many more consumers will be willing to try our product. As we discussed in our distribution strategy, we would like to use personal selling to encourage more retailers to carry our product. By doing this together with our other promotional elements we hope to create an effective mix of push and pull strategies that will convince more retailers to carry our product. As the company grows and more funds can be spent on promotional activities we would like to increase the amount of advertising done. We would like to use different forms of media to reach our target market. Also, as consumer awareness of our brand grows and we increase our product offerings, we would like to expand our target market and create slightly different marketing campaigns to target certain ethnic groups. Conclusion Despite heavy competition in the snack food industry we think Hardbite Chips can produce satisfactory profits and continue to grow. Given that potato chips are in the maturity stage of the product life cycle, increasing the number of retailers that sell our product is an important part of our strategy. By increasing the number of retailers who sell our product, we will make it easier for our target market to purchase our product. We believe by increasing awareness of our product we can capture a large portion of health conscious consumers. By using our promotion mix to inform consumers of the benefits and features of our product, we can convince members of our target market segment that our brand is of high quality. Although our price is slightly higher than most of our competitors, we believe consumers will perceive our product as worth the extra cost. Appendix I Sample Survey |1. List all brands of potato chips that you are aware of. | |______________________________________________________________________________ | |______________________________________________________________________________ | |______________________________________________________________________________ | |2. Are you aware of the brand Hardbite Chips? (if your answer is no, skip to question 4) | |Yes ___ No___ | |3. What product features of Hardbite Chips are you aware of? | |______________________________________________________________________________ | |______________________________________________________________________________ | |4. On average, how often do you buy potato chips? |More than once a week ___ | |Once a week___ | |Once a month___ | |Once every 2-3 months___ | Endnotes 1. Statistics Canada, Canada Food Stats: Analysis, http://www. statcan. gc. ca/ads-annonces/23f0001x/hl-fs-eng. htm 2. L. B. C. Consulting, Canada: Market Development Reports: Snack Food Market in Canada, Global Agriculture Information Network Report, United States Department of Agriculture (Ottawa, Canada: Foreign Agriculture Services, 2003), 6. http://www. fas. usda. gov/gainfiles/200301/145785163. pdf 3. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Retail Sales in Canadian Grocery Stores, 2007, http://www. ats -sea. agr. gc. ca/can/4714-eng. htm Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Retail Sales in Canadian Grocery Stores, 2006, http://www. ats-sea. agr. gc. ca/can/4715-eng. htm 4. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada’s Snack Food Industry, http://ats-sea. agr. gc. ca/supply/3320_e. htm 5. The Province, â€Å"From pasta to potato chips,† May 21, 2006, Canadian Newstand, ProQuest 6. Sarah Merson, â€Å"SALT — THE PROS AND THE CONS,† Foods Matter (UK), March 2009, 9, EBSCOhost Bibliography Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canada’s Snack Food Industry. http://ats-sea. agr. gc. ca/supply/3320_e. htm. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Retail Sales in Canadian Grocery Stores, 2006. http://www. ats-sea. agr. gc. ca/can/4715-eng. htm. How to cite Marketing of Hardbite Chips, Essay examples

Time Frame for Handling Customer Complaints †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Time Frame for Handling Customer Complaints. Answer: Introduction Latino engineering is a manufacturing company that manufactures engineering equipments for various industries. It is one of the famous and well established companies. After the completion of the 30 years of the company, the company has handed over to the investment group. After the12 months of the takeover of the company by the investment group, the company is getting the complaints from the clients related to the issues that includes defective engineering equipment, poor design and development follow up with clients, too long turnaround time for issue resolution, non responsive customer service team, in some cases; wrong engineering equipment was packaged and delivered to clients. The company is required to find the root cause as well as develop the continuous development for the purpose to manage the working and reduce the chances of the occurrence of the issues. In this essay we will develop the continuous improvement plan through analyzing the root cause of the issues. A root cause analysis is performed for the purpose to recognize the base of the problem. The process of root cause analysis is important as it allows to identify the problem and helps in improving the problem in a systematic manner. The root cause analysis process includes the description of the problem, collecting the data related to the problem, identify the potential cause, identifying for the cause to be removed, identification of the solution, implementation of the change and observing the change to make sure the effectiveness in elimination of problem. There are many of the techniques that are used for the purpose of the analysis of the root cause that includes Five Whys Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Pareto Analysis, Fault Tree Analysis, Current Reality Tree (CRT), Fishbone or Ishikawa or Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, Kepner-Tregoe Technique and RPR Problem Diagnosis(brighthubpm, 2017). In the case study, the company faced the problem after 12 months of the t akeover by the investment group. The company started getting the complaints from the clients and those five complaints were: defective engineering equipment, poor design and development follow up with clients, too long turnaround time for issue resolution, non responsive customer service team, in some cases; wrong engineering equipment was packaged and delivered to clients. In order to analyze the root cause of the each of the problem, there is a need to identify the problem that has occurred. The identification of the problem is essential for the purpose to take out the solution for the problem or to prevent the problem top occurs again or reduces the chances of the occurrence of the problem(Mindtools, 2017). The information about the problem should be extracted from the senior management of the company. The problem should be discussed in order to understand the background of the problem for the identifying of the problem. This will allow to understand the problem. The each of the problem can be identified and can be solved but the analysis of the root is essential to resolve the root of the problem to occur. We will use Pareto Analysis for the purpose to identify the root cause of the problems. Pareto Analysis is one of the famous as well as simple techniques that is helpful in prioritizing the possible changes through the identification of the problems and these problems can be resolved through making the changes. This techniques will allow to prioritize the each of the changes which will help in improving the situation(ASQ, 2017). This techniques use principles of Pareto and this is a six steps techniques. In the first step the identification and the listing of the problem will take place through the discussion with the team members or the clients. In the second step, the identification of the root cause of the each of the problem will take place through the appropriate technique. In the third step the scoring of the each of the problem will take place according to the each of the problem. The fourth step will be group problems together through the root cause. In the fifth step, the scores of the each of the problem will be added up. The group with the highest score will be the priority. The last and the sixth step will be taking the action(Mindtools, 2017). The method will help in the identification of the root cause of the problem as well as solving the problem through making the changes according to each of the problem faced by the company. Plan to Eliminate or Reduce the Root Cause The elimination of the root cause is essential in order to reduce the complaints of the clients and the problems as well. This requires the plan for the elimination of the root cause of the problems. The plan for each of the problem is as follows: Defective engineering equipment: It has been found that there are defects in the equipments manufactured by the company and the cause of the problem is that the testing procedures that are conducted by the company are not effective as well as the maintenance is also improper. Apart from this, it can be concluded the root cause of this problem is ineffective working of the engineers and improper maintenance by them which resulted in inefficient quality of the engineering equipments. It is essential to put the efforts to improve the quality of the equipments manufactured by the company and for this purpose, the staff of the company is required to be provided with the guidance so that the problem can be eliminated. The training should be provided to the employees of the company in the related area. There is a need to introduce the rules and regulations in the company so that there will be no chances of the lack in the process of the testing of the equipment that are manufactured. Poor design and development follow up with clients: It is essential for a company to provide the clients with the good quality and good design equipment in order to fulfill the needs as well as attract the more clients towards the company. It has been found the clients have complaint regarding the design of the equipment. This cause of this problem is the improper designing of the equipments by the engineers. This problem occurred due to the lack of the attention of the engineers on the design of the equipments. The designs of the equipment are required to be enhanced in order to meet the needs of the customers. The fulfillment of the demand of the clients regarding the design of the equipment can be implemented when the engineers re-design the equipment in more efficient manner and train the employees to manufacture the new designed equipments. It is also essential for the company to engage in the activity of follow up with the clients. The cause of the inefficient follow up with th e clients is the lack of the employees in the department to follow up with the clients(Customer Expression, 2017). There is a need to hire the employees in the company who will take the follow up with the clients and should be provided with the training regarding the same. The training should be provided to the employees related to it(Linkedin, 2017). These actions will allow developing a feeling of trust among the clients of the company as well as help in keeping the company updated about the clients. Too long turnaround time for issue resolution: The problem of the slow process of the issue resolution occur because the customer service department of the company is not effective and there is no trained staff for this purpose in the company which slows down the process of issue resolution of the clients. The lack of the trained staff for providing the customers service as well as resolving the issues of the clients arises the problem(Markidan, 2017). There is a need to hire the employees and train them for this purpose as well as to make use of the software for the purpose to register the issue of the client so that it can be resolved in the shortest time possible. Non responsive customer service team: In any of the company, there is a need to develop an effective team for providing the service to the customers as there is a need to communicate with the customers and solve the problems of the customers in an effective manner so that the needs of the customers can be fulfilled as well as the issues of the customers can be resolved. The issue that has arisen is that the customer service team of the company is non-responsive. This issue have came up because the cause of the non responsiveness is the lack of the employees in the customers service team of the company or the lack in the employees' morale or the change in the environment of the company as the ownership of the company has been transferred to the investment group. The other root cause of this issue is that the employees of the company are not boosted by the manager. In order to resolve this issue, it is essential for the company to increase the number of the employees in the customer se rvice team through hiring the new employees in the company and providing them with the training. Along with this, there is a need to boost the morale of the employees of the customer service team so that they will be able to provide the service to the customer in more effective manner which will ultimately increase the responsiveness of the customers service team of the company and the company will be able to get rid of this issue in the future. Wrong engineering equipment was packaged and delivered to clients: The delivery of the wrong engineering equipment to the clients results in disappointing the clients. This issue arises because of the inappropriate information about the required engineering equipment to the employees or the lack of the responsibility of the employees. In order to eliminate the issue, there is need to provide the employees with the proper information about the required engineering equipment by the clients so that they will pack and deliver the right engineering equipment to the right client. It is also essential for the company to provide the training to the employees so that they will be able to perform their responsibilities in an effective manner. This will help in delivering the right engineering equipment to the right client(Wheeler, 2014). Continuous Improvement Plan The analysis of the root cause of the issue was performed for the purpose to resolve the issues through the improvement in the methods and the procedures of the company so that these issues will not occur in the future (Moore, 1999). For this purpose, there is a need to develop a continuous improvement plan to reduce the chances of the occurrence of the issues. The changes in the methods and the procedures or the solution for the problem will help in this area. The continuous improvement plan is developed mainly to introduce the development in the company (Miers, 2003). This allows the company to run in more uniform manner as well as helps in making it more convenient to achieve the success and growth. The continuous improvement plan for the company will assist in the following: 1. Improvement in the areas where there is a need for the improvement through the analysis 2. Chalking out the action that are required to be implemented in the company for the each area of improvement 3. Delegating the responsibilities to the managers 4. Prioritizing the activities according the requirement of the improvement 5. Deciding the time limit for the accomplishment of the each of the tasks or the areas of the improvement 6. Evaluating, monitoring as well as measuring the effectiveness of the improvement in the company This continuous improvement plan will allow the company to function in more effective manner as well as help in satisfying the clients of the company (Harmon, 2003). The company will be able to resolve the issues of the clients in more efficient manner as well as build the feeling of trust in the clients towards the company and the offered engineering equipments. There is a need to implement the plan by focusing on the goals of the company and the activities are required to be aligned in a manner so that it will not overlap with the other activities as this may affect the efficiency of the employees of the company(Nilsson?Witell et al., 2005). The company is required to focus on the designing of the engineering equipments as the culture of the company emphasize on the measureable as well as visible issues of the company (Krishna, 2004). It is essential for the company follow the some of the steps because company is following the continuous improvement. Goal: It is required to enter SMART components which will increase the development value. Strategy: with the help of the continuous improvement plan, there is a need to provide the employees of the company with effective leadership for the purpose of guiding the employees for the projects. Action Steps: It is required that the stakeholders will make sure, the environment of the company is supportive as well as equitable for the employees (Sinur Bell., 2003) (Verma, 2009). Implementation Plan It is essential for the company to implement the lean management in the business process of the company. For the purpose of the improvement in the company, it is needed to implement the business process management in the company (Yoon, 2003). This will help the company in the improving the effectiveness of the products and the services provided by the company to the clients as well as help in the improvement of the performance of the company(Berke et al., 2006). With the help of the value stream mapping, the company is able to define the rules through this methodology as well as define the business process, but it is required for the company to adapt a new tool for the management of the business process so that the company will be able to enhance the product as well as enhance the customer service team (Snabe et al., 2008). This will allow the company to increase the value and satisfy the clients of the company. The procedure of the company is emphasized on the development of the design of the engineering equipments as well as enhances the customer service team of the company so that it will provide the good quality as well as good design product to the clients as well as response to them. The main value of the process is to enhance the design of the equipment as well as the customer service team so that the gals of the company can be achieved through this. The value stream is used as main tool as this will allow defining the enhancement in the design of the equipments as well as providing with the techniques of improving the customer service team of the company. This will be possible through ensuring the design of the equipments as well as providing the training to the employees related to the both of the areas respectively (Smith Fingar., 2002). Development of the value with the help of the business processing The management of the process will allow manufacturing equipments with good design as well as improving the team of customer service through providing the training to the employees by following the systematic procedure for the training of the employees and delegating the responsibilities of the areas. Activity Date of Receiving Date of Starting Key Indicator of Performance Scheduled day end day Progress state Complete In charge person Department Preparing the new design equipments and hiring of the employees for customer service team 5/10/2017 5/10/2017 4 months - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management Obtaining the new design and selected employees 5/10/2017 5/10/2017 5 months - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management Providing the employees with the training 5/10/2017 5/10/2017 4 months - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management Controlling the activities 5/10/2017 5/10/2017 5 months - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management Confirming the procedure of the work plan - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management Measuring the improvement - - Not yet - Project Inc. charge Project management These activities will allow the company to maintain the situation of the company as this includes the activities that are helpful in the attaining the goals (Chang, 2005). Conclusion In this essay, the continuous improvement plan has been developed for the purpose to meet the needs of the clients as well as the company. The need of the company is to develop good design equipments of engineering and improving the customer service team of the company. With the help of the continuous improvement plan, we have managed the business process of the company as well as achieved the goals of the company. References ASQ, 2017. The 7 Basic Quality Tools For Process Improvement. [Online] Available at: https://asq.org/learn-about-quality/seven-basic-quality-tools/overview/overview.html. Berke, P., Crawford, J. Dixon, J., 2006. What Makes Plan Implementation Successful? An Evaluation of Local Plans and Implementation Practices in New Zealand. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 33(4), pp.581-600. Brighthubpm, 2017. Overview of Root Cause Analysis Techniques. [Online] Available at: https://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/57124-overview-of-root-cause-analysis-techniques/ [Accessed 2017]. Chang, J.I., 2005. "Business Process Management systems.". Taylor Francis,. Customer Expression, 2017. Time Frame for Handling Customer Complaints Can Determine Customer Satisfaction. [Online] Available at: https://www.customerexpressions.com/blog/complaints-tracking/time-frame-for-handling-customer-complaints/. Harmon, P., 2003. Business Process Change: A Manager's Guide to Improving, Redesigning, and Automating Processes. Morgan Kaufmann. Krishna, S.J., 2004. Business Process Management: Concepts and Cases. ICFAI University Press. Linkedin, 2017. 5 Reasons Why The Follow-Up Call Is So Important. [Online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-reasons-why-follow-up-call-so-important-ryan-morwood. Markidan, L., 2017. How to Handle the 7 Toughest Customer Support Challenges. Zapier. Miers, D., 2003. "Best Practice BPM." Workflow systems. Mindtools, 2017. Pareto Analysis. [Online] Available at: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_01.htm [Accessed 2017]. Mindtools, 2017. Root Cause Analysis. [Online] Available at: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_80.htm [Accessed 2017]. Moore, S., 1999. "Lean operations are future of processing for Asian companies." Mod. Plast. Nilsson?Witell, L., Antoni, M. Dahlgaard, J.J., 2005. Continuous improvement in product development: Improvement programs and quality principles. International Journal of Quality Reliability Management, 22(8), pp.753-68. Sinur, J. Bell., T., 2003. "A BPM Ta xonomy: Creating Clarity in a ConfusingMarket." Gartner. Smith, H. Fingar., P., 2002. "Business Process Management: The third wave.". Meghan Kiffer, Tampa, USA. Snabe, J.H., Rosenberg, A., Mller, C. Scavillo, M., 2008. Business process management: the SAP roadmap. Galileo Press. Verma, N., 2009. Business Process Management: Profiting from Process. Global India Publications. Wheeler, C., 2014. Picking Error Problems - Suggestions and Solutions. [Online] Available at: https://www.newcastlesys.com/bid/349401/picking-error-problems-suggestions-and-solutions. Yoon, Y.S., 2003. Service 6 Sigma 101.. Nemo Books.