‘Billy Liar’: Which of Billy’s three girlfriends is best suited to him?

The play ‘Billy Liar' concerns a nineteen-year-old boy who has three girlfriends. The Fisher family live in a typical lower middle class house in an industrial town in the north of England. The furniture is quite new but of dreadful taste. The Fisher family is very dysfunctional. The family consists of: Billy, a compulsive liar, who uses sarcasm to try and show his intelligence. He seems to be confused about life in general and is also very lazy. Billy is very intelligent. We know this, as there is evidence of this throughout the play. Billy has three girlfriends, I think this a signs of irresponsibility and that he is not very mature. Billy's mother, Alice, is a housewife. She is constantly fussing over Billy and mothering him. An example of Alice mothering Billy is ‘how do you mean? A job in London? What job in London? ‘ questioning Billy because she worries about him. Maybe this is one of the causes of Billy's many dilemmas. Alice seems very easy going. Geoffrey, Billy's father, does not have a good word to say about Billy. He does not trust his son one bit and has no faith in him. Geoffrey has his own business and he also has an obsession to saying the word ‘bloody'. Finally, there is Florence. This is Billy's Grandmother, Alice's mother. She is extremely racist and also forgetful. She is forgetful. She is almost senile and throughout the play she is found rambling to herself. She blames Alice for Billy being spoilt. At the beginning of the play when Billy is discussing Barbara with Arthur, he seems unbelievably sexually frustrated. He has had a plan to seduce Barbara by using a ‘passion pill'. Barbara is a girl of about nineteen who is large and well built. This gives the impression that Barbara is relatively old fashioned and prudish. Barbara has strong morals and refuses to have sex before marriage. We know this as in one part of the play Billy puts is hand on Barbara's knee (after she has taken the passion pill) and Barbara says ‘it seems†¦ indecent, somehow' this certainly makes Billy sexually frustrated. Barbara is very gullible. We can tell this because she believes all of Billy's lies. Also Billy's mother approves of Barbara and thinks she looks respectable. When Billy greets Barbara her reply ‘hallo, pet. ‘ Is spoken callously and flatly. This gives the impression that her feelings for him are not as strong as she believes them to be. Billy also tells Barbara more lies such as ‘Oh yes, I made all the furniture', and ‘ she might have to have her leg off' (talking about Florence) which Barbara again believes. One thing that Billy and Barbara have in common is that they fantasize extensively. Evidence of this is the way that they plan together their dream cottage in Devon with a little Billy and a little Barbara. They have really planed this in minute detail, down to the colour schemes and garden plans. My personal opinion is that Barbara has a greater passion for oranges than for Billy and is constantly eating them. Barbara and Billy address each other using pet names such as ‘pet' and ‘darling'. This shows some sense of relationship between them. Billy gets so frustrated at Barbara's addiction to oranges and lack of passion that he picks up her bag of oranges and, in total fury, throws it across the floor. Barbara is exceptionally helpful when she visits the Fisher household. She does the dishes and is egger to help Alice. This makes her seem incredibly domesticated. Alice thinks really highly of Barbara. I know this because she says ‘I'm glad he's found himself a nice sensible lass for once. I think Barbara and Billy are suited in one way because they both fantasize but in many other ways they are not. Barbara has some direction and plan to her life while Billy has no direction at all. Barbara has very strong morals; she does not believe in sex before marriage or in mixed sex holidays but Billy certainly does. I do not think that Barbara and Billy are well suited at all.. The y obviously do not love each other. Rita is first introduced in a phone conversation between herself and Billy. In the conversation Rita is being very forceful and she puts Billy on the defensive. While this phone call takes place Barbara is in the house. Rita wants her engagement ring back, the ring Billy has given to Barbara! This shows that he does not have respect for either of the girls. He is desperately trying to get the ring back off Barbara to return to Rita who is very annoyed. Rita is a small girl with blonde hair. She is seventeen years old but ‘dresses to look much older'. She is ‘common and hard' and works in a snack bar. When Rita is first seen she is coming to claim her ring back from Billy. As soon as she enters the garden, she instantly insults Billy, saying to him ‘look what's crawled out of the cheese'. This gives the impression that they do not really have any affection towards each other. When Billy tells her one of his extravagant lies Rita is not as gullible as Barbara. Billy and Rita do not have mutual respect in their relationship. You can tell this in their language and tone of voice. Despite all the negative points in their relationship, there is definite sexual chemistry and physical attraction. I know this because Billy attempts to quieten down Rita by kissing her passionately and, sure enough, Rita responds to this by kissing him back. Yet Rita threatens Billy by saying that her father is not happy that she has not got her ring back. I think she is trying to blackmail Billy here. Rita eventually leaves extremely angry and without a ring. She has left Billy in a predicament because has threatened that her father will come and sort him out! Later that day Rita returns to the Fisher house. She is now furious. She does not knock before going in. This is extremely rude. Rita is not intimidated by older people we can see this in the manner in which she talks to Billy's mother. While talking to people Rita frequently mocs the way they talk. She comes up with some amazing insults and dishes them out, one being ‘squint eyed, bow legged, spotty snotty nosed streak of nothing'. She directs this insult Barbara. She does not think much of Barbara at all. She says that Barbara needs to wash her ears because she has got ‘carrots growing out of them'. This means that she thinks that Barbara is naive and stupid. She is probably right in thinking this. I do think that Rita and Billy are suited because there is a definite sexual attraction between them. Yet that is all they have in common because they are both from different back rounds. Rita comes from quite a rough back round and this is probably the cause for her acting in the way that she does. Billy comes from a lower middle class up bringing. Billy's mother definitely would not like Billy marrying Rita as she would not fit in with their family. We do not meet Liz until the very end of the play. I like this aspect of the play because we hear about Liz very near the beginning of the play so this leaves a bit of mystery surrounding her character. At the beginning of the play Arthur makes a remark about Liz's skirt. He says ‘it's about time somebody bought her a new skirt'. He refers to her as ‘scruffy Lizzie' that agrees with comments that Alice makes about her. She says ‘that scruffy one' and also ‘her in that mucky skirt'. The play ‘Billy Liar' was written in the 1960's. We can see evidence in the way that society's view of women in the way that people think through the play; Alice's opinion of Liz's skirt which now seems to be a very old fashioned view. Also we can see how society has changed in the way Barbara views sex before marriage and mixed sex holidays. This also fits with the class Barbara comes from. Liz is a free spirit who travels around the country from job to job. Maybe this is why people cannot relate to her or regard her as a threat. During the time of which the play was set, people tended to stay within their own locality. Despite everyone making rude remarks about Liz, Billy seems to have genuine feelings. During one part of the play Barbara is talking to Alice about Liz and she says that ‘she used to put a lot of ideas into his head'. Possibly she is jealous of Liz, because she knows that Billy still has feelings for her. So she is trying to ensure that Alice does not like Liz. Right at the very end of the play Liz enters the scene with Arthur. Although Liz is about the same age as Barbara and Rita she has maturity and ‘self-possession'. She is dressed casually and is, infact, not as scruffy as we have been led to believe. She is not particularly pretty but is obviously a girl of ‘strong personality'. When she comes into the scene they just make polite conversation and Billy asks Liz when she got back. He seems hurt that Liz had not phoned him. After Liz and Billy have been talking for a while, Liz gets the idea of going away to London with him. Billy gives the impression that he definitely wants to go to London with Liz. When Billy tries to lie to Liz he cannot quite go through with it. Liz is a very good judge of Billy's character. Despite this it does not stop her from loving him. Liz gets the bizarre idea that she wants to marry Billy. She does not want to get engaged and she does not care about getting a ring, unlike Barbara and Rita. Billy and Liz seem to share the same dream. Billy loves talking to Liz. We can see this in the length of his of his speeches. At the end of act three, we can see that Liz is more optimistic than Billy. She makes her mind up about going London. She is sure but Billy is unsure and to some extent pessimistic about going. Liz just makes her decisions on impulse. Liz and Billy get along really well and enjoy each other's company. They have interesting conversations in which they are both fully involved. It seems as if they are sole mates. But maybe they would be suited better as just good friends. I do not think any one of the three girls is really suitable for Billy. Billy has things in common with each of the girls. Barbara and Billy both fantasize, Billy and Rita have a lot of sexual chemistry between them while Billy and Liz can talk to each other very well. But Billy has big relationship issues. He cannot commit in a relationship; he shows this in the way that he decides not to go to London at the end of the play. He cannot make decisions; he shows this numerous times throughout the play and one of his main goals should be to stop lying! I think Billy could learn to love each of these girls. But I am unsure he would be able to live with them or get married. Billy cannot keep still; he cannot stick to one girl; he cannot make a sensible decision. Billy is highly intelligent but his inability to make decisions stops him getting anywhere in life.

Guide To Air Compressors Engineering Essay

Air compressors are among the most widely used equipment in the industry. They find public-service corporation in electronic, automotive, building and fabrication industries among others. However, the broad scope of available compressor types and monetary values make their purchase an highly hard determination. To avoid blowing your clip and money on the incorrect air compressor and salvage yourself of future compressor problems, see the followers before purchasing your air compressor.Buying Considerations:Types of Air Compressors: Three chief types of air compressors are normally used in industries. Rotary Screw Air Compressors: They use duplicate prison guards to compact air and shop it in hard-hitting armored combat vehicles. Rotary compressors cost more than reciprocating compressors. They can run full-time, have a responsibility rhythm of 100 per centum and are most-suited to applications necessitating uninterrupted usage. Rotary compressors can supply 1500 CFM of air flow in a individual phase and over 2500 CFM in two or more phases. Reciprocating or Piston-driven Air Compressors: They use Pistons to compact air and shop it in high force per unit area armored combat vehicles. Reciprocating compressors are the most economical. They are designed for portion clip usage and extremely suited for intermittent applications including portable applications and place workshops. Small air compressors produce 5 HP or less while larger compressors reach 1000s of HP. Reciprocating compressors reach up to 50 CFM with a individual phase and up to 100 CFM with two or more phases. One HP normally produces 4-5 CFM of air flow. Centrifugal Air Compressors: They are turbine engines, used in power workss and high-end industrial applications, and compress air through revolving blades. They are the costliest of all air compressor types. Centrifugal compressors operate at 400-8000 HP and bring forth airflows higher than 1000 CFM.Add-On Utilities and Oil-Free Compressors:Dry, cool and clean air allows you to better the length of service of your fabrication equipment. Desiccants: They remove wet from compressed air for water-sensitive equipment. Coolers: They lower compressed air temperature. Filters: They remove drosss such as oil and dust from compressed air. Oil-free compressors: They provide oil-free or oil-less air for oil sensitive equipment such as nutrient applications and semiconducting materials and utilize compaction Chamberss sealed off from the oil-lubricated machine parts. They are much more expensive than regular rotary and reciprocating compressors. Compressor Space: Air compressors generate a batch of heat and noise. If possible, apportion a separate compressor room to incorporate the noise and blowhole the heat. Alternatively, if you do non hold adequate infinite, an enclosure can be used to cut down heat and noise from the compressor. Reciprocating compressors are louder than rotary compressors. Power Requirements: Compressors can be powered by electricity or with a gasolene or Diesel engine. Energy demands vary from 100V to 500V and supra, depending on compressor size. Mobility: Pay careful attending to grips, wheels and compressor weight when looking for a nomadic compressor. Engine-driven compressors normally come with their ain nomadic dawdlers. When short on floor infinite, opt for vertically oriented compressors to salvage infinite. Pressure and air flow: Carefully find the air force per unit area and air flow demands for every piece of your equipment and happen a compressor that can run all your equipment. Air force per unit area and flow information is normally available within equipment certification. If you can & amp ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢t happen this information in the certification, reach the maker for an educated conjecture. Add up the air flow values and multiply the amount by 1.5. Choose the highest air force per unit area and increase it somewhat. Make certain your chosen compressor & A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s air flow and force per unit area evaluations match these values. Future Expansion: Reciprocating air compressors have an mean life of 10-15 old ages while rotary compressors have a lifetime of 20-30 old ages. See the air flow and force per unit area demands of equipment you wish to purchase in the close hereafter before choosing the air compressor type and size. Make certain your selected air compressor can run into both your nowadays and future demands for maximal benefit. Air Compressor Pricing: Air compressors are available in a broad scope of monetary values from $ 500 for a less than 1 HP power compressor to over $ 50000 for 200HP or more compressors. 5 HP reciprocating compressors cost $ 1500-2000 and 5 HP rotary compressors cost $ 2500-4000. At 10-25 HP, compressor monetary values range from $ 4000- $ 10000 or more. 50 HP compressors cost between $ 12,000 and $ 15,000 and 100 HP compressor monetary values range from $ 20,000- $ 30,000. Oil-free compressors costs are about triple the monetary value of regular air compressors. Individual compressor parts and fix services are besides available. If upfront payment is a job, you can inquire your trader for funding, leases or monthly leases. New compressors come with at least a 1-2 twelvemonth guarantee and service contract. Used compressors are besides available in the market. Two-stage theoretical accounts, that recompress compressed air for higher compaction, are available in both rotary and recipro cating compressors and are costlier than one-stage air compressors. Energy costs: These costs make up over 70-90 per centum of the entire ownership costs of an air compressor, over a 5-10 twelvemonth period. So make sure you select efficient air compressors over inefficient low cost 1s for long tally fiscal benefits. Before buying an air compressor, inquire your trader for its Compressed Air and Gas Institute ( CAGI ) data sheet to measure its energy efficiency readings. Manufacturer and Dealer Considerations: Choose a maker committed to bring forthing air compressors as mainstream equipment. Talk to several air compressor traders and acquire information on multiple trade names, before choosing a trader. Ask about trader repute and length of service in the concern, figure of staff members available for compressor service and service rates. Get mentions from traders and inquire them about trader public presentation. You can besides inquire your industry contacts about their air compressor traders to help you in trader choice. Traders with favourable market reputes and 15-20 twelvemonth experience are good versed with compressor jobs, and can offer better and faster support and service. Make sure you pick an efficient air compressor with sufficient air flow and air force per unit area from a reputed and experienced trader to acquire maximal benefits from your air compressor. Air compressors are your long-run friends, so take your clip and avoid any hastiness in doing your purchase determination.

Paper on Sq3R

SQ3R The SQ3R strategy (which stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) was developed by Robinson (1961) to provide a structured approach for students to use when studying content material. This strategy has proven to be effective and versatile and can easily be integrated into many content areas and across grade levels. Students develop effective study habits by engaging in the pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading steps of this strategy. The SQ3R literacy strategy helps enhance comprehension and retention of information. It is metacognitive in nature in that it is a self-monitoring process. 1.Survey (1 minute): Before beginning reading look through the whole chapter. See what the headings are — the major ones and the subheadings; hierarchical structures seem to be particularly easy for our brains to latch onto — check for introductory and summary paragraphs, references, etc. Resist reading at this point, but see if you can identify 3 to 6 major ideas in the chapter. 2. Question (usually less than 30 seconds): Ask yourself what this chapter is about: What is the question that this chapter is trying to answer? Or — along the curiosity lines — What question do I have that this chapter might help answer?Repeat this process with each subsection of the chapter, as well, turning each heading into a question. 3. Read (slower for some of us than others! ): Read one section at a time looking for the answer to the question proposed by the heading! This is active reading and requires concentration so find yourself a place and time where you can concentrate. 4. Recite/write (about a minute): Say to yourself (I do this out loud so I have to study where I don't embarrass myself) or write down (I sometimes do this in the margins of the book itself ) a key phrase that sums up the major point of the section and answers the question.It is important to use your own words, not just copy a phrase from the book. Research shows that we re member our own (active) connections better than ones given to us (passive), indeed that our own hierarchies are generally better than the best prefab hierarchies. 5. Review (less than 5 minutes): After repeating steps 2-4 for each section you have a list of key phrases that provides a sort of outline for the chapter. Test yourself by covering up the key phrases and seeing if you can recall them. Do this right after you finish reading the chapter. If you can't recall one of your major oints, that's a section you need to reread. Many students don’t know how to study, and this strategy is a perfect way to help them. It works well in many content areas with a variety of types of text. It is recommended that the teacher show the students how to go through the steps. In the fifth grade science lesson found later in this chapter, this strategy provides the framework needed to develop a concept map. WORKS CITED Robinson, Francis Pleasant. (1970) Effective study (4th ed. ). New York: Harper ; Row. Halawa, O 2010 November 12, SQ3R Reading Strategy, 08/12/10, http://www. premisemarketing. com/work/approach/

Mobile Health Care, Design and Development of a Mobile Application Literature review

Mobile Health Care, Design and Development of a Mobile Application - Literature review Example IT has been widely used in the field of business due to its proven benefits in enhancing customer satisfaction. Similarly, medical institutions aim to improve patient care through the use of mobile phones. With the extensive use of mobile technology, patient and doctors have established a relationship; hence, it enhances health care quality. Mobile health is the new method of interacting with patients. mHealth is defined as a â€Å"service or application that involves voice or data communication for health purposes between a central point and remote locations† (Freng, et al., 2011, p.5). mHealth uses devices that will connect medical practitioners with their patients, and mobile device has applications that made communication probable. Applications Used in Mobile Health The most simple and cost effective application utilized in mobile health is short messaging service (SMS). SMS is utilized by hospitals in engaging with their patients through sending reminders on their health behaviors, notes the confirmation of scheduled appointment, informs of the laboratory result, inquiry on hospital records, and sending encouragement for optimistic attitude (CTA, 2011; WHO, 2011). Through this initiative, the attendance of patients increased. Moreover, voice communication is considered as more costly than SMS; however, it enables real-time interaction without the need for face-to-face communication. This is more convenient to use if the patient and nurses prefer seamless communication through â€Å"handoffs and roaming† wherein there is a continuous communication despite the changes in location (Tallukdar, 2010, p.51). Hospitals are encouraging patients to use this application when they live in rural areas that need the immediate attention of medical experts. This application requires no time limit in consulting doctors (Khoumbati, et al., 2010). The most advance mobile application is the development of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) that is similar with the capability of computers or laptops (Erlandson & Ocklind, 1998). This application authorizes patients to look for their medical data and allows practitioners to view and check the patient’s status (Teong & Jeoti, 2005). On the one hand, doctors used WAP-enabled to review the case of patients and access their medical history, which proved the efficacy of healthcare services (Hameed, et al., 2008). Current Mobile Applications The use of mobile phones is only for simple call and text application, but with the innovation in technology, telecommunications companies continue to compete in improving the users interface through offering various programs to improve healthcare. Health applications are available on iPhones, iPads, or Smartphones that have the ability to download programs. These platforms are developed by Apple, Blackberry, and Google (Boulos, et al., 2011). Most hospitals are adopting the efficiency and reliability of smartphones. The introduction of Google Android paved the way to include in their market medical applications such as HealthPAL that can â€Å"automatically collect data from peripheral monitoring devices in the home.† This is used for monitoring blood pressure, weight scales, and pulse oximeters, which are acclaimed by FDA. Recent application developed by the Android system is the mobile heart monitoring system, which grants users to see their electrodiagram. The Android phone collects, stores, and processes the results to the internet that reached doctors who are authorized to access the site (CTA, 2011, pp.14-15;

Friedman and Hayek's neo-liberal political economy Research Paper

Friedman and Hayek's neo-liberal political economy - Research Paper Example If the delivery of mail is a technical monopoly, no one else will be able to succeed in competition with the government. If it is not, there is no reason why the government should be engaged in it. The only way to find out is to leave other people free to enter. (Friedman 1982, p. 29) He therefore disapproves of the idea of the government monopolizing many fields where the private sectors would be able to participate in. Where there is an involvement by the government, because it is necessary, then it should be a legal monopoly, whereby the private sector is prohibited by the law to participate. Hayek Friedrich von Hayek and The neo-liberal political theory Hayek, while continuing with Adam Smith’s liberal traditions, comes to define the concept of minimal state. The most vital contributions include the radical opposition to social justice system which in his opinion disguises the defending of the middle class’ corporate interest. It promotes the complete removal of eco nomic and public social intervention. The idea of the minimal state was just a means of breaking away from middle class’ power which was known to be controlling the democratic processes with an intention of using the public treasury to redistribute wealth. Hayek’s views on neo-political economy as presented in the constitution of liberty (Hayek 1960) and advocates for elimination of ruling, privatization, elimination of housing, fighting of unemployment through the limitation of the number of programs, , reduction of the total social security expenditures, subsidies and rent control and lastly to remove the power of the trade unions. Redistribution cannot be ensured by the state to serve social justice system. Its function is to provide the legal means that... This paper illustrates both Hayek and Milton Friedman defend neo-liberal economy on grounds that it is rational and an inherently free way that people may relate to one another, by removing undue obstacles that the state often imposes on the exchange of goods and services. Neoliberal political economic theory therefore goes beyond identification of the market as a mere place for production of goods and services but as a place that is tangential top the interaction of people. This conception of market economy issues being closely intertwined with socio-moral issues and social relations have equally been raised by the classical liberal theorist. Robins, for instance, stresses the value of inherent morality that underlies ensuring free exchange in the market. He asserts that the ultimate value of liberal political economy is liberty, and not just the market or private ownership. Liberty is very important to the society, in order that every member of the society may be in a position to o ptimize his or her social contribution. When the government gets too much into controlling the private individuals, their optimal contributions will be greatly minimized by the systematic obstacles that the state put in place, such as limitation as to quotas, quantity of exports, price fixing and so on. Such erosion of liberty in the manner an individual deals with one’s products in the market would be a great disincentive to the spirit of enthusiasm, which sustains production.

Small-scale research study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Small-scale research study - Essay Example They were requested to return the questionnaires to the researcher upon completion. Since there were just a few teachers who taught mathematics in KS1, they were all recruited for the study, although three were unable to participate due to unavailability and scheduling conflicts. The questions in the questionnaires were a product of the researcher’s secondary research findings and observations of KS1 classes. Responses for the survey questionnaire have been charted (see Appendix 2). The Likert-scale responses were averaged and the percentages were translated into pie charts. The qualitative remarks added by the respondents were categorised likewise, according to the questions and summarised in the presentation of the findings. Analysis of the findings was based on the responses of the study’s participants as well as knowledge gleaned from the review of literature. The items were compared according to the responses of the participants. Presentation & Analysis of Primary Findings: On analysing Questions 1 and 2 on the questionnaire, it was found that all teachers felt their classroom was equipped with teaching aids. 67% agreed this was the case and 33% strongly agreed. The types of materials that classrooms featured include: Number lines to 20,30,100 hundred squares counting/ sorting objects measuring equipment such as rulers, tape measure, weighing scales number cards/ flashcards calculators place value equipment number games 2D and 3D shapes Pegs, boards Fractions equipment. Months and dates calendar Coins Block charts Tally charts Treasure maps Number posters Number books (big teaching books and story books) Workbooks Children’s own work Similar results were obtained in relation to whether teachers felt they had enough manipulative materials to facilitate the development of numeracy skills. 83% agreed with this and 17% strongly agreed. A graph showing these results can be seen below. This shows that while there are materials available in t he classroom, fewer teachers strongly agree that there are enough materials for them to effectively facilitate numeracy skills. It is important to note that the classrooms have enough concrete materials for the children to learn math concepts with, as Ruthven (1987) contends that it is essential to their learning since they think in more concrete ways. This was found out in the secondary research. In the primary findings although everyone agreed that they had enough manipulative materials in their schools, they also said they could always do with more. Some revealed that they also had access to materials which are located in the corridors; however these materials are shared by all classes. This means that sometimes materials may not be available because other classes are using them. The manipulative materials which the teachers believed fostered numeracy skill development are cube blocks, counting items such as beads, puzzle games, weighing scale and weight measures and some Montess ori-inspired materials such as sequencing sets, measuring cups and math board games. It is evident that the teachers in the primary research knew how these manipulative materials are able to serve as scaffolds to independent and more abstract learning of math, as Bruce & Threlfall (2004) mentioned in the secondary research. As children gained more skills in numeracy, these â€Å"scaffolds† may eventually be done without when they are ready to think more abstractly. Childrens Use of Materials The teachers were then asked if children used the materials independently in

Collaboration in social work practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Collaboration in social work practice - Essay Example As a reciprocal process it involves collaboration and trusting attitudes. A recent scandal at National Kidney Foundation (NKF) one of the biggest NPO in Singapore is shed light on the need for building trust and IOC. NKF is experiencing Public distrust and a low confidence rating in the Singapore Public. This has also adversely caused loss of public/donor trust in NPOs. Solutions to regaining trust lie in establishing interorganisational collaborations among partners. The public perceive IOC as less likely to misappropriate funds since management in joint programmes is more rigid than in programmes run by individual NPOs. It is also widely believed that IOC promotes openness. This research aims to establish the role of trust and interorganisational collaboration in regaining public trust. It utilises a qualitative case study methodology whereby two cases are analysed, NKF and Morning Star Community Services. IOCs play a big role in trust building in collaboration activities especially when partners have to rely on one anther to execute certain activities therefore resulting into synergy.

Business Process Integration Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Process Integration - Coursework Example In fact, the Internet offers the businesses a lot of opportunities to grow. It allows the businesses to reach the international markets and the worldwide customers without facing geographical restrictions and cost issues, improve business service and support, access to worldwide communications, reform associations, streamline internal procedures, share private data and information and run applications (Simpande & Jakovljevic, 2003; Norton, 2001; Shelly et al., 2005) Basically, the most excellent method to deal with determined business software issues is to remove the old stuff and bring in the innovation. In spite of the demand to put extra messes on the legacy or traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology based system and keep the software applications and projects for another day, the idea is that software technology evolves very quickly as well as innovative EP tools emerges in critical regions like that accessibility, corporate process automation, business intellig ence and integration with new tools like that social CRM or mobile devices can help business organizations to improve their business processes. In this scenario, the latest delivery models like that software as a service (or simply SaaS), hosted Enterprise Resource Planning or innovative technologies like that open source ERP systems can dramatically change IT procedures as well as positively influence corporate performance. Though, latest business software applications and their deployments are for all time a major concern, however they come with a wide variety of risks, mainly when we are talking about our ERP systems. In addition, they are not small systems as they are corporate mission critical technologies that communicate nearly with each transaction in the corporation (gotERP, 2012; Weston, 1998; Simpande & Jakovljevic, 2003). In light of the above discussed facts, the selection of suitable Enterprise Resource Planning system is no longer simply a matter of choosing the corre ct vendor similar to SAP vs Microsoft vs. Sage etc. In the past, there was a standard process to get business licenses for software and then obtain the software services installation disks via email. On the other hand, at the present, we have a wide variety of delivery models of ERP technology. In addition, all the models do not support all the services however the majority can focus simply on one (gotERP, 2012; Weston, 1998; Simpande & Jakovljevic, 2003). In this scenario, one of the latest Internet supported ERP systems is cloud computing. Basically, the cloud computing is a most latest information technology fashion that many business organizations are adopting because of its environmental aspects, money savings, mobility, scalability and energy effectiveness. Basically, the cloud computing allows organizations or individuals to access all their tools, applications and files from anyplace on the earth, as a result releasing them from the limitations of the desktop and allowing wi despread group partnership (Modavi, 2010; Miller, 2009). In addition, a public cloud based ERP solution is possessed and remotely hosted by the vendor. In many cases, instead of taking the license for the entire software, organizations pay a fee for the services they want to use, it is a software licensing model known as SaaS. In this scenario,

Management coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 3

Management coursework - Essay Example s conference was that too little stress has been placed on deepening the sympathetic how certain contexts such as socio-cultural and organizational ones are linked to the growth of responsible management and management (American Association of Port Authorities, 2001). This research reports on a part of the findings of a better study conduct in 1991 and early 1992 to decide the condition of private venture and the obstacles to the winning growth of the private shipping sector in Poland. The intention of this section of the research is to recognize the exact human resource challenges facing Polish shipping private enterprises, together newly formed and older, and to propose a few management approaches for resolving these difficulties (Amerman, D., 2002). The information make use of in the study was composed by means of a written questionnaire survey and individual interviews through senior shipping company executives. Furthermore, questionnaires were managed to executives of 300 confidential firms in the Gdansk, Krakow, and Lodz area of Poland. Experts stand for big Polish urban centers, as Lodz is typical of a former center of shipping business, experiencing restructuring and distress from a tall rate of joblessness. The companies chosen had established incessant business action for a period of six months, had a smallest amount of five employees, and had skilled some sales enlargement. Interviews by senior executives of ten companies in every of the three area were then behavior. These companies were chosen since of their enlargement potentials in dissimilar areas of business action. The reason of the interviews was to collect extra thorough information essential for a complete assessment of company strengths and weaknesses, as well as the apparent obstacles to company enlargement and achievement (Brooks, 2005). The industrialist originally stands alone, but then it is his or her blame to generate an organization that fits with his or her sense of business

Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Terrorism - Essay Example Analyzing Different Types Of Terrorism Introduction Based on the execution and effects of terrorist behavior, acts of terror do not just happen; they are well thought and planned. All terrorist behavior is based on extremist beliefs and intolerance towards contrasting interests (Martin, 2009). Although almost all acts of terror are based on political motives, extremism is very divergent depending on the belief systems of the concerned terrorists, thus the existence of different types of terrorism. Left-Wing Versus Right-Wing Terrorism In almost all political systems, there are conflicting views on how the system should be run. There are those factions that support the preservation of traditional values, while other factions advocate for new methods of administration. According to Martin (2009), right-wing extremists are those who believe that the values that led to past glory have been eroded by enemy culture. As a result, rightists often use aggressive measures to preserve these cul tures and cement their status. On the other hand, left-wing extremists act aggressively towards establishing a new order by first destroying the current system. Most leftists believe that they have been oppressed by the existing regime, thus the need to create a just and fair regime. Ideally, leftists consider themselves the voice of the oppressed and engage the rightists in aggressive politics in order to establish a new system. Consequently, rightists respond through terrorist violence in an attempt to safeguard the ideals and order of the group. Pitcavage (2001) gives the example of the militia movement, a paramilitary rightist group that arose in the United States during the 1990s. This movement advocated for the right of every individual to own a gun in order to protect themselves from a tyrannical government. The militia movement claimed that the federal government was creating a conspiracy to rob citizens off their rights and exercise more control over them. To this end, the rightist believed that the government through the police unit was creating security incidents and using the same to increase government power over the people. Moreover, the militia believed that the United States government was colluding with the United Nations to establish a tyrannical regime under the â€Å"New World Order.† Generally, the militia movement would act with hostility towards the federal government. The militias would attack U.S military bases believed to be training troops from the United Nations. In addition, the militias would manufacture illegal weapons and use the same to confront federal authorities (Pitcavage, 2001, p. 971). Martin (2009, p. 254) gives the example of the â€Å"Battle of Seattle† that was organized in 1999 by leftists to protest against globalization. The leftist protestors believed that globalization would limit the role played by each culture in the world, thus bringing about anarchy. However, according to Martin (2009, p. 254), left-wing terrorism has been gradually decreasing since the end of Marxism. State Terrorism State terrorism occurs when states decide to act violently towards international or domestic adversaries. In the international arena, a state may choose to use aggression and violence to

African American Essay Example for Free

African American Essay Poetry can evoke strong feelings in readers. Select three poems we’ve read and examine the literary techniques the poets used to evoke a reader’s emotional response (note: not your emotional response. ) How do the poets’ various techniques connect to their readers’ feelings? Because a writer wants to evoke strong feelings into their writings, they use a variety of techniques from wording to the sense of the feeling the reader feels. In the poem, â€Å"Harlem,† by Langston Hughes, he uses the descriptive words to describe how many people’s dreams have been put on hold or eliminated totally due to the era of war. It reflects on how many African Americans have been among those who have left their dreams behind, or deferred them. It follows where they are in the present time. In the poem, â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz,† the writer expresses the feelings he has towards his father and the affection felt. He shares his experience with the times he shared with his father as they danced. As you read the story, the writer then expresses some resentment he might have towards his father, as interpreted by the reader. In the poem, â€Å"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?  Ã¢â‚¬ the writer is expressing the strong feelings he has for someone he loves. He compares the woman he writes about to a summer day and that her beauty will never fade. In the poem, â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers,† it is written in a 1st person voice using the word â€Å"I. † The writer speaks of bathing in the Euphrates, the hut he built near the Congo and watching the sun set on the Mississippi. He compares the African American history to the history of the river he speaks of. In the poems â€Å"The Lamb† and â€Å"The Tyger,† the writer uses words that describe how the Lamb is one of innocence and purity. The Tyger is one that has the reader interpreting that he is one of evil and no remorse. It has the reader comparing the two different beings to what life is now as we know it. So when writers write their poems and want to express feelings for the readers, they use physical locations for the feeling of placement or feelings. They use colors for the sense of the characters feelings. For instance the colors white, gray and black would represent sadness of gloominess. Brighter colors make the characters happy or cheery. The colors can make the setting one of the readers can feel. He uses words that describe the environment using colors and descriptive words. When a poem is written that grasps the reader’s attention and makes him feel the intensity and tone of it, the reader can understand and empathize with the characters of the poem. If the beginning lines of the poem grab the attention of the reader, and keeps the attention without losing momentum, then the poem is one that the reader will enjoy reading and read over and over. Poems are to stimulate the senses of the reader and they compare the words of the poem with reality. They use words to build up the emotions they are trying to put into the poem they are writing. They keep the readers interest by using rhymes, form and sound’s throughout. As we read we look for the next intense point of the poem and decipher the meaning as we interpret it. Poems are a great way for a person to indentify personal feelings and experiences. By using the poem as a wall for their feelings, readers can identify and compare to their own feelings and experiences. That is why writers who want you to feel their writings and explore their world of poetry will use different ways to express and present feelings, moods and atmospheres through their writings. Works Cited McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X. Day, Robert Funk, and Linda Coleman. Literature and the Writing Process. Pearson, 2011. Web. Blake, William. The Lamb. 1789. Blake, William. The Tyger. 1794 Hughes, Langston. Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Random House, Print. Roethke, Theodore. Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke. Hearst Magazines, 1942. Print.

Trurls Machine Essay Example for Free

Trurls Machine Essay â€Å"Trurl’s Machine† is the story an inventor who makes an eight-story thinking machine .The story is an attempt to portray the censorship of the people by a communist regime. Lem does this through the use of character, plot and symbolism. The characters in â€Å"Trurl’s Machine† have very different personalities. First, we meet Trurl, the constructor. He is a scientist and an inventor, but he has an artistic side. This he shows by giving the machine face. He has a quick temper and no patience for stupidity. He also is firm in his beliefs as he demonstrates at the end of the story when the machine is trying to get him to give in. â€Å"†Never!† roared Trurl, as if he no longer cared what happened, †¦ (Lem).† Klapaucius is Trurl’s friend and rival. He is also a constructor, but a much more light hearted one. He is always looking on the bright side and he never shies away from adventure. He also has a quick wit and is able to put a comical spin on most things. The machine is described by Klapaucius, â€Å"Not only is it sensitive, dense, and stubborn, but quick to take offense, and believe me, with such an abundance of qualities, there all sorts of things you might do (Lem)!† It, like Trurl, is quick to anger. Lem uses the plot of the story to get his message across. In the beginning, the machine declares that 2+2=7. When it meets resistance in the form of Trurl and Klapaucius, who mock it, the machine becomes angered and escapes its foundations in order to chase its tormentors. Here the tormentors become the oppressed. The machine goes on a rampage; it destroys the town that Klapaucius and Trurl hide in and continues to chase them up the mountain. In its anger, the machine causes too much collateral damage and ends up destroying itself. There is also much symbolism in this story. The machine is meant to symbolize the communist party. It tries to censor the opinions of Trurl and Klapaucius, mainly, that 2+2=4. Trurl and Klapaucius are the oppressed citizens suffering under the communist regime. They are persecuted for their beliefs. The landslide symbolizes the point at which a population can no longer stand their oppressors and must act. The oppressors go too far  and cause their own demise. â€Å"Trurl’s Machine successfully portrays the struggle of oppressed people against those who would censor their beliefs. Lem was able to use character, plot and symbolism to achieve this effect. The story shows that if the oppressed stand up to their oppressors, there is a great chance that they will prevail.

Trichomonas Vaginalis and HIV in Asymptomatic Pregnant Women

Trichomonas Vaginalis and HIV in Asymptomatic Pregnant Women PREVALENCE OF TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS AND HIV CO-INFECTION AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC PREGNANT WOMEN IN ZARIA, NORTHERN NIGERIA ABSTRACT Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Serious adverse reproductive health outcomes including pregnancy complications, pelvic inflammatory disease, and an increased risk of HIV acquisition have been linked to Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Objective: To determine the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in asymptomatic pregnant women and their HIV status in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study, using a proforma to obtain demographic and reproductive health information from consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. Vaginal swab and blood samples was taken and analysed for Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV respectively. Data was analysed using SPSS V17 with p value of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis was 19.2%.There was an inverse relationship between the level of education and acquisition of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in pregnancy; women having no formal education had a higher prevalence of the Trichomonas vaginalis infection (7.5%) as against those who had tertiary education (1.7%). The 26- 30 years age group had the highest prevalence of both HIV infection (5.0%) and Trichomonas vaginalis infection (5.8%); strongly suggesting the possibility of co-infection between the two agents. There was a statistically significant association between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and HIV infection with a P value of 0.0003. The relative risk of acquiring HIV in the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection was 4. (RR 4.193 confidence Interval 1.756-10.01). Conclusion: Improvement of the socioeconomic status and education of women especially sexual health; will reduce the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV co-infection. Keywords: Pregnancy, Trichomonas vaginalis, HIV infection INTRODUCTION Trichomonas vaginalis has continued to cause serious adverse reproductive health outcomes including pregnancy complications, pelvic inflammatory disease, and an increased risk of HIV acquisition1 The magnitude of social and economic consequences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in developing countries has made it a major public health problem. 2, 3 STIs are also found in pregnant women and the prevalence is higher in Africa causing significant maternal and perinatal morbidity. 3-5 Trichomonas vaginalis is a unicellular flagellate protozoan organisms that cause STI.6 Many STIs including those due to Trichomonas, can be transmitted to the fetus via transplacental spread or by passage through the birth canal and via lactation to the neonate. 6 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and other Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) have been associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes which includes abortion, stillbirth, preterm delivery, low birth weight, postpartum sepsis, neonatal pneumonia, neonatal blindness congenital infection. 2-5, 7 Recent research has shown that having one untreated STI increases the risk of contracting another potentially more dangerous one, like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection if there is exposure. 8, 9Trichomoniasis in pregnancy has been reported to impacts adversely on birth outcomes and is also a co-factor in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission and acquisition. 10, 11 Clinical infection with Trichomonas vaginalis in the neonate is an unusual occurrence and has been reported in a two weeks old girl child presenting with vaginal discharge with complete resolution to metronidazole treatment.12 Due to high frequency of the infection during pregnancy and the development of metronidazole-resistant isolates, therapeutic alternatives to 5-nitroimidazole are being searched like Triterpenes; which are natural products presenting several biological activities such as anti-protozoal activity.13 The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infections are typically underestimated due to poor sensitivity of diagnostic tests.6 However, the World Health Organization (WHO) quoted the overall prevalence as 3.1%.6, 14 In Nigeria the prevalence observed in an Enugu study was 6.9%; 15 4.7% was seen in Ilorin16 and 29.8% in Lagos.17 In the sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Trichomoniasis has neither been the focus of intensive study nor of active control programs, and this neglect is likely a function of the relatively mild nature of the disease. 18 This study explored the rate of Trichomonas infection in pregnancy as well as the level of co-infection with HIV with a view to adding to the growing body of literature and suggests control measures. METHODOLOGY This was a cross sectional study which was conducted over a three month period. Questionnaires were used to obtain the socio-demographic and reproductive profile from consenting clients who were attending antenatal clinic for the first time in their current pregnancy at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Northern Nigeria. High vaginal swabs and blood specimens for both Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV were obtained and analysed. The data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 17.0 for windows. The level of significance was considered to be p-value Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV infection was determined using the Epi-Info software. RESULTS A total of 120 women consented for the study. The socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics of the patients are as shown in Table 1.0. The mean age was 28.5 + 2.3years, mean gravidity was 3.5 and 20 weeks was the average gestational age at booking. The overall prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis was 19.2%. The 26-30 years age groups having a value of 5.8% which was closely followed by age group 21-25years with 5.0%. The lowest prevalence was found at age group 36-40years. Low level of education is shown to have a positive impact on the acquisition of vaginal Trichomonas vaginalis. Clients having low level of education had a higher prevalence of the Trichomonas vaginalis; 7.5% was seen in those with Koranic (non-formal) education. The prevalence was however lowest in those who had tertiary education 1.7%.- The highest prevalence was seen in clients who were housewives (10.5%); students and civil servants had the lowest prevalence of 1.7% and 2.5% respectively. Mutigravidae are more likely than primigravidae to have Trichomonas vaginalis infection (15.0% vs. 4.1%). The prevalence was observed to be highest in the second trimester (10.8%) as compared to the first and third trimester which were 5.0% and 3.3% respectively. The frequency distribution of HIV status in the study population among the consenting client is shown in Table 2.0. Sixteen out of 98 were positive for HIV giving a prevalence of 16.3%. Figure 1.0 shows the percentage distribution of HIV by client’s age group. It was observed that HIV was more prevalent in age group 26-30years (5.0%) and was least prevalent in the older age group of 36-40years (0.8%). The relationship between the occurrence of Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV infection is shown in a two by two table (Table 2.0). DISCUSSION The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis found in this study was 19.2%. The World Health Organization quoted a prevalence of between 3.0- 3.1%6, 14, 19, but added that there was under reporting of the infection. Prevalence rates as high as 29.8% was found in Lagos, Nigeria 17 16.0% was seen in Mwanza, Tanzania20 and a lower rate of 4.7% and 6.9% were found in Ilorin, Nigeria 16 and Enugu, Nigeria15 respectively. A prevalence of 3.7% was seen in a study in Togo.21 Our result compares with that of Tanzania. In the age related prevalence, the study showed a steady increase in prevalence between ages of 16 to 30years, with the highest rate of 5.8% occurring in the age group 26-30years. This may suggest an increasing sexual activities along the age line considering the fact that Trichomonas vaginalis is sexually transmitted. This can also probably explain the decline in prevalence in the older age group with lowest rate of 0.8% at age group 35-40years. There is however a slight variation with the Enugu study which found the highest age related prevalence of 3.7% among the age group 20-25years. There was an inverse relationship between the level of education and acquisition of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in pregnancy; women having no formal education had a higher prevalence of the Trichomonas vaginalis infection (7.5%) as against those who had tertiary education (1.7%). This was consistent with findings in Enugu and Ilorin where low level of education was associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Formal education is associated with improvement in personal hygiene and sexual behavior. The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis was highest among housewives and least among students; this was unlike the Enugu study that found the highest prevalence to be among the business group. The sociocultural backgrounds of the two environment relatively differs and the lack formal education among housewives in our environment can be a predisposing factor to the acquisition of Trichomonas vaginalis infection. There appears to be a relationship between parity, trimester of pregnancy and infection with Trichomonas vaginalis. Previous pregnancies was recorded in the literature to be a risk factor.10 This study showed a higher prevalence rate among the multigravidae as compared to primigravidae. The prevalence was highest in the second trimester of pregnancy as compared to other trimesters. This findings was similar that of Cotch et al4 in their study of vaginal infections and prematurity; where Trichomonas vaginalis infection was commonest in mid gestation. The mean age at booking was 20 weeks showing that most women were seen in the second trimester when Trichomonas vaginalis infection was more likely to be present. The prevalence of HIV infection in this study was 16.8% which was higher than the national average of 3.4% and Kaduna state average of 9.2%. 22 This may be explained by the fact that most of the clients were in their reproductive years and the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria was a major referral center for the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Northern Nigeria. Both HIV and Trichomonas vaginalis infection were highest in the age group 26-30 years; this was strongly suggestive of the possibility of co-infection between the two agents. There was a statistically significant association between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and HIV infection with a P value of 0.0003. There was a four times relative risk of acquiring HIV in the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection (RR 4.193 confidence Interval 1.756-10.01). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Routine screening for STIs like Trichomonas vaginalis during antenatal period should be the standard of care because of its proven benefits on the outcome of pregnancy. Metronidazole which is the treatment option when found, is a cheap, readily available and safe in pregnancy. Additionally, screening for HIV co-infection will add value to healthcare services in the antenatal clinic. Improvement of the socioeconomic status and formal education in women especially sexual health and lifestyle modification is likely to reduce the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and HIV co infection. REFERENCE: Coleman JS, Gaydos CA, Witter F. Trichomonas vaginalis Vaginitis in Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice: New Concepts and Controversies. Obstet Gynecol Surv. Jan 2013; 68(1): 43–50. doi: 10.1097/OGX.0b013e318279fb7d Begum A, Nilufar S, Akther K, Rahman A, Khatun F, Rahman M. Prevalence of selected reproductive tract infections among pregnant women attending an urban maternal and childcare unit in Dhaka, Bangladesh. J Health Popul Nutr 2003; 21: 112-6. Muelen J, Mgaya HN, Chang-Claude J, et al. Risk factors for HIV infection in gynaecological inpatients in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, 1988-1990. East Afr Med J 1992; 69: 688-92. Cotch MF, Pastorek JG, Nugent RP: Trichomonas vaginalis associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery.The Vaginal Infections and Prematurity Study Group. Sex Transm Dis 1997 Jul; 24(6): 353-60 Shuter J, Bell D, Graham D, Holbrook KA, Bellin EY. Rates of and risk factors for trichomoniasis among pregnant inmates in New York City. Sex Transm Dis 1998; 25: 303-7. Richard Gentry Wilkerson, et al. Trichomoniasis via http/eMedicine emergency medicine>infectious disease. Accessed March 20 2008, 1430hrs. Sebitloane HM, Moodley J, Esterhuizen TM. Pathogenic lower genital tract organisms in HIV-infected and uninfected women, and their association with postpartum infectious morbidity. S Afr Med J. 2011 Jun 27; 101(7):466-9. Ament, L. A. and E. Whalen (1996). â€Å"Sexually transmitted diseases in pregnancy: diagnosis, impact, and intervention.† J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 25(8): 657-66. Borchardt, K. A. (1994). â€Å"Trichomoniasis: its clinical significance and diagnostic challenges.† Am Clin Lab 13(9): 20-1. Laga M, Manoka A, Kivuvu M, et al. Non- ulcerative sexually transmitted diseases as risk factors for HIV-1 transmission in women: results from a cohort study. AIDS 1993; 7: 95-102. Sorvillo F, Smith L., Kerndt P, et al. Trichomonas vaginalis, HIV and African-Americans. Emerg Infect Dis 2001; 7:927-32 (Medline). Irving S D, James M S et al; Neonatal T. Vaginalis infection. Journal of Emergency Medicine; vol 13 issue 1 Jan – Feb 1995. 51-54 Innocente AM, Vieira PB, Frasson AP, Casanova BB, Gosmann G, Gnoatto SC, Tasca T. Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity from triterpenoid derivatives. Parasitol Res. 2014 Aug; 113(8):2933-40. doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3955-0. Madeline S et al Trichomoniasis highly prevalent in US black women clin infec dis 2007; 45:1319-1325 Chigozie J. U, Cletus D. C. U., Ali, Mirian A. Trichomonas vaginalis infection in pregnant women in South – Eastern Nigeria; a public health importance. The internet Journal of obstetrics and gynecology accessed 20th April 2008. Aboyeji AP, Nwabuisi C. Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among pregnant women in Ilorin, Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol 2003; 23: 637-9. Oladele TO et al, Reliance on microscopy in T. Vaginalis Diagnosis and prevalence in female presenting with vaginal discharge in Lagos Nigeria.eMedicine on pubmed accessed 20 August 2008 2100Hrs Ogunjobi BO, Osola AO; Trichomonal Vagintis in Nigerian Women; Tropical Geographic Medicine 1984 36(1): 67-70. WHO: Trichomoniasis. Available at: http://www.who.int. Mayaud P, Uledi E, Cornelissen J, et al. Risk scores to detect cervical infections in urban antenatal clinic attenders in Mwanza, Tanzania. Sex Transm Infect 1998; 74 Suppl 1: S139-46. Tchelougou DI, Karou DS, Kpotsra A, Balaka A, Assih M, Bamoke M, Katawa G, Anani K, Simpore J, de Souza C. Vaginal infections in pregnant women at the Regional Hospital of Sokode (Togo) in 2010 and 2011. Med Sante Trop. 2013 Jan-Mar;23 (1):49-54. doi: 10.1684/mst.2013.0142. Federal Ministry of Health [Nigeria] (2013). National HIV AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey, 2012 (NARHS Plus). Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Nigeria. Pp 40-42. 1

Free Essays - Changes in Achilles of The Iliad :: Iliad essays

Changes in Achilles of The Iliad There are times in my own life in which I realize that a goal that I have been pursuing rigorously is really not worth my time and effort, or that the way I have been pursuing that particular goal is not the most effective way. After I come to these realizations I find it helpful, if not necessary, to step back and analyze the situation. This is what happened to Achilles throughout the first sixteen books of the epic. At first Achilles had a set of clearly defined goals, he was to fight side by side with the Achaeans, sack Troy, and, by doing these things, gain honor and wealth. As the war progressed a series of events took place that forced Achilles to step out of the fight. While he was inactive and had time to contemplate, he came to the realization that he had been fighting for nine years for the sake of a man whose woman has been stolen; now that his woman had been stolen no one fights for his sake. He also realizes that there are other, less risky ways of obtaining wealth and honor, including sending Patroklus out in his armor. Another thing he ponders on, but doesn't seem to take seriously, is whether or not honor is really worth the struggle. All these changes of mind take place throughout book nine in which the embassy composed of Aias, Odysseus, and Phoenix visits Achilles. By the time the embassy arrived at his hut Achilles had been toying with the idea of returning to his homeland and abandoning the struggle for wealth and honor. Because of the embassy Achilles' mind was changed, probably due to a sense of camaraderie, and he decides to stay but fight only if the struggle reaches his own camp. At this height of the epic we see that Achilles is still very much concerned with wealth and honor, the question now is "how to accomplish his goal". Achilles is aware of a few things and this puts him at an advantage over the rest. He knows that he will eventually be honored and that Agamemnon's debt to him will eventually be paid; he knows this because Athena had promised it to him if he didn't kill Agamemnon.

Freely Choosing Between the Divided House Essay -- Literary Analysis,

One of the many questions that are raised in the discussion of the freedom of the will is the reason why we as humans do not love and have turned away from the highest good. According to Augustine’s philosophy, the chains or bonds of bad habits are self-forged by our divided will, also referred to as the divided house. In Book XII of â€Å"City of God† Augustine declares it pointless to look for the cause of the evil will. For the cause, he argues, is â€Å"deficient,† not â€Å"efficient.† Before I can discuss the issues of the divided will, I will explain what Augustine means by â€Å"deficient† as opposed to† efficient† cause as the cause of the divided will. Often times, actions are analyzed by rational explanation or causal explanation. Rational explanation attempts to explain an action by the goals a person might have in his mind at the moment. Causal explanation attempts to find the cause for that particular action. Augustine thinks it is pointless to find the cause of the evil will. Perhaps we should take into account Augustine’s view about The First Sin, when the defection of the bad angels first happened. â€Å"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth†¦ And God saw that it was good† (NRSV, Genesis 1). If the Bible states that God created everything good because He is good, then evil, according to Augustine, is the absence of good and does not have any positive being--- defective and lack some perfection. The verb â€Å"defect† means to abandon allegiance to something. Its reason follows the noun â€Å"defect† which means to lack some perfection. One might suggests that an evil wi ll must cause an evil act or choice. Augustine argues that there is no efficient natural cause of an evil will rather the lack of some goodness--- a matter ... ...e is living in "Truth." True Happiness as Reward for Rightly Ordered Love In agreement with Augustine, I believe that like happiness, virtue can only be given by God. Virtue is rightly ordered love. Jesus’ two commandments: love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself, indicates that we should love the most what is objectively the best. Pride is a perverse kind of self-love and also a feature of the will. Pride was the reason why Satan freely willing to choose himself over God. In redemption, Jesus Christ, a model of humility, was the Second Adam who because of grace sacrifices Himself to bear and forgive humans of sins. I believe that we can choose to will good or to will evil. To freely will the love of the highest good means to willingly love God above all. In having this rightly ordered love, God gives the gift of true happiness in the afterlife .

Critical Lens Essay :: essays papers

Critical Lens Essay Whenever someone performs a task, he/she can labor over it carefully, or do a rushed job. A student writing an essay describing the causes of the American Revolution, or a president proposing ways to end World War II illustrate two situations where both simple and complicated ways to address a problem exist. Writing a non-analytical response to the essay question would be easy to do. Likewise, dropping atomic bombs over cities, razing them and eliminating many people would not be entirely morally correct. H.L. Mencken^s assertion that ^for every problem there is one solution which is simple, neat, and wrong^ is excellent for assessing the literary elements in two works: Fences by August Wilson and Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. Fences is filled with difficulties between characters, and many of these were not reconciled in a proper manner. One problem involved Cory, a high school student and his father, Troy. Cory, an accomplished football player wanted to focus on his team and play in college. However, his father was against Cory^s goals, insisting he prioritize his work and house chores over the football. Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with a parent making major decisions for his/her children, but in this case, Troy^s solution to the problem was simply to go behind Cory^s back and revoke his membership on the team. Going behind one^s back is an easy way out of resolving a problem^the person was plainly too indolent to spend the time to find a more mutually acceptable solution. Troy^s demeanor is unacceptable not only with Cory, but also with other characters in the book. For example, when Lyons asks him for a small amount of money, Troy creates a big scene, detailing problems he had had in the past with getting credit, such as paying for furniture through ten-dollar monthly installments. It is clear that Troy is rather selfish, for he tries to keep what little amount of money he has for himself. In Snow Falling on Cedars, readers observe different types of problems. While those in Fences tend to be between two people, those in Guterson^s book usually involve a large group of people, often the entire town of San Piedro. The principal question throughout the novel centers around who killed Carl Heine. The entire town seems to show prejudice against Kabuo, primarily because he is Japanese. This prejudice is obvious even in affairs unrelated to Kabuo^s trial. In a descriptive paragraph about life in San Piedro, readers learn that Japanese workers at the Port Jefferson mill were

Australian Beverages Limited

Exam case Australian Beverages Limited Pre-seen information Semester 1 2010 Australian Beverages Limited — Pre-seen information A. Introduction to Australian Beverages Limited — March 2010 Australian Beverages Limited (ABL) commenced soft drink manufacturing in 1937. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company expanded its beverage portfolio by entering into other non-alcoholic beverage categories, such as fruit and milk-based drinks. Entry into the snack food market was recently undertaken in response to declining consumption of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), the company’s traditional area of business strength. This move also enabled ABL to leverage its strong distribution capabilities to supermarkets, convenience stores and hospitality channels by adding adding such complementary food products to non-alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, CSDs still accounted for 90 per cent of company revenue in 2004. Tom Dwyer, the current managing director, has been with the company since 2005. He joined the company at a time when CSD growth was stagnating and shareholder confidence in the company was waning. This had resulted in the share price declining by 15 per cent in the two years prior to his appointment. In order to restore shareholder confidence, Dwyer established a strategic planning team within the company to assess the current product portfolio and identify organic and acquisition growth opportunities. From this review the importance of operational excellence was identified and strong investment was made in world class manufacturing facilities and systems. Process re-engineering was implemented to reduce costs of manufacture and time to market. Having finalised the integration of a snack food business acquisition just over 12 months ago, Dwyer is now aware that he needs to identify further growth options given predicted continuing decline in the CSD market. In January 2010 he asked the strategic planning team to undertake another detailed review of opportunities for future growth, specifically identifying products and markets where the company would have the capabilities for successful entry. Bottled water was one industry that was identified, based on its complementary nature to the existing beverage portfolio. This industry had been identified as ‘of interest’ in the ABL’s first strategic review in 2005. At that time the market was deemed too small and unsophisticated. However, the Australia bottled water manufacturing industry has grown significantly since this initial review. Dwyer has requested a detailed review to determine whether entry into the domestic bottled water manufacturing industry is now a viable strategic option. If deemed to be a viable strategic option, Dwyer also wants a recommendation whether the ABL should enter the industry by establishing its own operations or by targeting an existing competitor for acquisition in order to gain immediate market share. B. The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry 1 Bottled water is the fastest growing category in the non-alcoholic beverage market in Australia, with sales revenue of $1. 483 billion in 2009. The major segments of the industry include bottled still and sparkling water. Within these two segments, different packaging sizes and types are offered. Water can be purchased in a range of single or multi-serve bottles including 600 millilitre, 1 litre or 5 litre bottles from the supermarket or convenience store. Bottled water is also available in bulk packs (that is: 10 litres or greater) for water coolers for home or office use. Different types of water also exist, from naturally sourced sparkling mineral waters to purified 2 and specialty waters. Manufacturing facilities for purified water are generally located in close proximity to major water utility suppliers to minimise the transport distance from the water source to the purification plant. In contrast, most sparkling mineral water manufacturing plants are necessarily concentrated in close proximity to high quality mineral springs where the product is bottled at source, usually in regional locations. The bulky and relatively low value of the product as well as the high costs of transport mean that the manufacturing and distribution plants need to be located where there are major population centres. The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry is currently in a growth stage. Growth has been achieved due to the increase in per capita consumption of bottled water, albeit from a relatively low base compared with other more established beverages. As consumers become more health conscious and change their drinking habits away from CSDs to healthier beverages, bottled water would increasingly become their drink of choice. 1 2 All figures are for the year ended 31 December unless otherwise stated. Purified water is water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes. Page 1 of 21 As a result, sales of bottled water are expected to increase. Of particular significance in the industry has been the large number of new products that have been launched and accepted by consumers since 2005, making bottled water a dynamic and fast growing industry. 1. Evolution of the Australian bottled water manufacturing industry 3 A relatively new industry, the Australian bottled water manufacturing industry evolved out of the soft drink manufacturing industry during the 1990s. Soft drinks are those that do not contain alcohol. Soft drinks are distinguished from hard drinks—beverages such as distilled spirits, beer or wine—by the simple fact that they do not contain alcohol. Given bottled water is a category within the broader non-alcoholic beverage industry, trends impacting this broader industry also impact on bottled water. Total non-alcoholic beverage revenue in Australia was over $10 billion in 2009, including CSDs, bottled water, fruit juices, energy drinks, sports drinks 4, ready to drink teas and milk beverages. Table 1 shows the market share of bottled water within non-alcoholic beverages over the past 10 years and predicted market share to 2014. Table 1: Australian non-alcoholic beverages – market share of volume by category- 1999 to 2014 Category Diet CSDs Full calorie CSDs CSDs Bottled Water Milk Drinks* Fruit Drinks** Sports Drinks Ready to Drink Tea/ Coffee Energy Drinks Total non-alcoholic Beverages 1999 16. 70% 46. 10% 62. 80% 6. 40% 8. 20% 20. 70% 1. 50% 0. 40% 0. 00% 2004 16. 50% 41. 30% 57. 80% 9. 50% 9. 60% 18. 80% 2. 20% 1. 70% 0. 40% 2009 16. 30% 34. 70% 51. 00% 13. 30% 11. 90% 16. 90% 3. 70% 2. 00% 1. 20% 2014 (P) 16. 10% 25. 30% 41. 40% 17. 40% 16. 00% 14. 80% 5. 0% 2. 90% 2. 50% 100. 00% 100. 00% 100. 00% 100. 00% P = Projection * Includes white and flavoured full fat, skim and soy milk beverages ** Includes fruit juice and fruit drinks Australians consumed 963 million litres of bottled water in 2009. However, Australia consumption of bottled water is significantly lower as compared with the total consumption of the top 10 global bottled water consuming countries. Table 2 shows Australia’s per ca pita consumption compared with that of the highest consumption per capita countries in the world. When compared to similar markets, such as the United States, Italy, France and Spain, this data suggests that the Australian market has potential for a higher rate of consumption and sales growth before it reaches maturity. It needs to be noted, however, that the drivers for bottled water consumption can differ. The climate or lack of clean drinking water impacts on consumption levels in countries such as Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. However, in Italy, France and Austria, for example, consumption of bottle water is driven by fashion. A recent report by the Global Earth Policy Institute concluded that global consumption of bottled water rose 56. 8 per cent to 164 billion litres from 2005 to 2009. Table 2: Global bottled water consumption: Litres per capita – 2005 and 2009 Country Italy Mexico United Arab Emirates France Spain Germany Switzerland United States Australia Global Average 2005 170. 3 128. 7 120. 7 129. 0 112. 0 110. 8 99. 1 70. 0 35. 3 17. 9 2009 202. 0 185. 4 179. 9 155. 8 140. 3 137. 4 109. 5 89. 6 45. 5 26. 6 Total % Change 18. 6% 44. 1% 49. 0% 20. 8% 25. 2% 24. 0% 10. 5% 28. 0% 28. 9% 48. 6% Projection figures for the industry were provided by industry experts at the recent Bottled Water Institute of Australia’s â€Å"Future Focus† conference. Beverage designed to help athletes rehydrate, as well as replenish electrolytes, sugar and other nutrients, which can be depleted after strenuous training or competition. 4 3 Page 2 of 21 Table 3 contains consumption statistics of bottled water in Australia, showing actual consumption for the past seven years and projected consumption for the next six years. Table 3: Australian bottled water consumption, 2003 to 2015 2003 605 30. 6 2004 677 33. 8 2005 715 35. 3 2006 765 37. 2007 825 39. 9 Consumption million litres Consumption per capita (litres) 2008 906 43. 3 2009 963 45. 5 2010 (P) 1024 48. 0 2011 (P) 1089 50. 5 2012 (P) 1159 53. 3 2013 (P) 1235 56. 3 2014 (P) 1316 59. 4 2015 (P) 1398 62. 4 P = Projection Table 4 shows total industry revenue over the past seven years and projected revenue for the next six years for the Australia bottled water manufacturing industry, compared to that of non-alcoholic beverages in total. Historical growth in bottled water has been derived from increases in total consumption, helped along by strong customer acceptance of new products launched over the past five years. The increase in the total Australian population together with an increase in per capita consumption of bottled water has contributed to this historical growth. (Compared with other developed markets, however, growth in the Australian market has been achieved from a relatively low base). These trends are expected to continue in the future. Bottled water will therefore continue to increase as a percentage of the non-alcoholic beverage market. Table 4: Australian bottled water and non-alcoholic beverage revenue – 2003 to 2015 2003 810 $1. 34 7 199 2004 920 $1. 36 7 675 2005 990 $1. 8 8 191 2006 2007 2008 2009 Bottled water revenue $m Bottled water Ave $ per litre Non-alcoholic beverages revenue $m Bottled water % of non-alcoholic beverages 2010 (P) 1 070 $1. 40 8 723 1 200 $1. 45 9 250 1 335 $1. 47 9 648 1 483 $1. 54 10 449 1 660 $1. 62 11 024 2011 (P) 2012 (P) 2 121 $1. 83 12 235 2013 (P) 2 375 $1. 92 12 871 2014 (P) 2 611 $1. 98 13 515 2015 (P) 2 796 $2. 00 14 177 1 877 $1. 72 11 619 11. 3% 12. 0% 12. 1% 12. 3% 13. 0% 13. 8% 14. 2% 15. 1% 16. 2% 17. 3% 18. 5% 19. 3% 19. 7% P = Projection An exception to the identified growth trends, however, is the delivery of bulk water for home and office use. This product type is now in the mature phase of its life cycle. It has experienced low growth over the past five years as more offices and homes install water filters as a result of improvements in filter technology. To counteract the decline in bulk water sales to offices and homes, bottled water manufacturers have developed new distribution channels for bulk water products. Increasingly bulk packs are sold in petrol station forecourts and supermarkets. To date, manufacturing capacity within the industry has meant that manufacturers have been able to meet growing demand using existing manufacturing infrastructure. Production stockpiling has not occurred which has helped manufacturers protect their profit margins. They have been able to achieve an increased weighted average price per litre as all production is generally sold in the year it is produced, reflecting the strong demand growth. The average price per litre has also been influenced by new product launches during the past five years, particularly the range of premium 5 waters and smaller, more convenient packaging sizes that achieve higher average prices. 2. Bottled water manufacturing The Australia bottled water manufacturing industry has similar manufacturing and distribution processes to the non-alcoholic beverages industry from which it emanates. 2. 1 Water supply There are several sources of water for bottling, such as underground springs, wells and water storages. The source of water plays a key role in the quantity and quality of bottled water that is produced. About 25 per cent of all bottled water comes from water storages that is tap water) that is further treated before 5 Premium waters are generally higher priced waters which have higher levels of purity or are sourced from natural springs. Page 3 of 21 bottling at an average price of $2. 40 per kilolitre. The other 75 per cent of water comes from groundwater at an average price of around $1. 00 per kilolitre. In some Australian states, permits are required to extract groundwater. Bottled water manufacturers often contract out the actual extraction of water to external providers. The price of water in Australia compared with other countries and with other products is very low. It has become the subject of debate due to diminishing water supplies caused by extended drought conditions in Australia. To increase water prices would be politically contentious and many consumers would argue that because water is a basic human need it should be free. It is significant to note, however, that Australians pay a thousand times more per litre for bottled water than they do for tap water of similar quality. 2. 2 Treatment Once water has been sourced, the next step is to filter and purify the water to remove organic compounds such as metal ions. These compounds can contribute adversely to the taste and odour of the water and to bacteria that may cause health problems. Some water, mainly mineral water, is naturally carbonated at the source. However, more commonly, carbonation of both spring and purified water takes place in the factory (where both the treatment process and bottling occur). For other drink types (for example sparkling wines or beer) carbonation is achieved naturally during the fermentation of sugar into alcohol. However, for sparkling water, carbonation cannot be achieved through a fermentation process, as no sugar is added. It is therefore achieved by injecting carbon dioxide, into the water under pressure. The pressure increases the solubility of the water and allows more carbon dioxide to dissolve than would be possible under standard atmospheric pressure. When the bottle is opened the pressure is released, allowing the gas to come out of the solution, thus forming bubbles. 2. 3 Bottling and labelling After the water has been treated, and in some cases carbonated, it is transferred (if carbonated, this transfer occurs under pressure) to a filling machine. Here, bottles or bulk containers are filled and then passed by conveyor belt to a sealing machine. Once sealed, the bottles are packed in cardboard boxes for transport. There are currently 22 bottled water manufacturers in Australia certified by Food Standard Australia. Some manufacturers operate on a contract bottling basis only, providing bottling services to companies that have their own brands or to supermarkets which sell private label products 6. However, a number of these bottlers do have brands of their own which they sell. 2. 4 Packaging Bottled water is provided to consumers in a variety of packages. These may be glass, PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) or polycarbonate bottles. Water can be purchased in a range of single or multiserve bottles from various outlets and is available in bulk packs for water coolers for home or office use. The technology required to bottle water is quite basic and widely available. However, to achieve the volume of manufacturing required to be cost competitive, the level of capital investment is large. Key improvements in technology have been focused on quality control and automation to meet the need for greater manufacturing efficiencies and the strict health and regulatory standards of food standards that apply across all Australian states and territories. Environmental concerns are rising in relation to the disposal of empty drink bottles. With the increasing amount of water being consumed, the issue of the resultant bottle waste has become significant. In Australia, of the 118000 tonnes of drink bottle plastic used every year, only 35 per cent is recycled. In South Australia, where consumers can redeem a deposit for drink containers, the bottles made up less than 10 per cent of the state's rubbish, compared with 13. 4 per cent nationally. Drink bottles also take up more space than other waste, comprising 38 per cent of total volume of litter. Recycling experts believe that the recycling of empty water bottles is hampered because most bottled water is consumed as a convenience beverage outside the home where recycling bins are not readily accessible. Following the success of reducing the use of plastic shopping bags it is thought that the introduction of a nationwide empty bottle deposit law would create the incentive to recycle bottles. This would also help to ease the burden on taxpayers who pay for the clean-up of litter. Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are usually positioned as lower cost alternatives. Page 4 of 21 3. Industry segmentation The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry has two clearly defined segments: †¢ Still water – this segment accounted for 7 6 per cent of consumption volume in 2009. †¢ Sparkling water – this segment accounted for 24 per cent of consumption volume in 2009. 3. 1 Still water Still water is generally consumed for hydration and thirst satisfaction at home, in the office or while travelling. Convenience is a major factor in the growth of the still water segment. It is used: †¢ as an alternative to other packaged beverages when consumers want to moderate their calories intake and seek an unsweetened, clean tasting and natural product. Water is the best and healthiest form of hydration as it is a fat and calorie-free thirst quencher; †¢ when consumers are not satisfied with the aesthetic qualities (for example, taste, odour and colour) of their tap water. Many people wish to drink something that is refreshing, clean and pure, and avoid certain chemicals used in the treatment of public water supplies, such as chlorine and fluoride; †¢ when consumers require the convenience of bottled water for their refreshment. This is especially the case with the development of more widespread leisure activities and the expansion of travel, for both business and pleasure; and †¢ for nutritional and performance benefits, such as near waters 7 and mineral water supplements claiming to have the nutritional components equivalent to a bowl of salad. As shown in Table 5 below, significant growth in bottled still water in Australia has occurred over the past six years, and this has driven most of the growth in the overall industry. As with the industry overall, the average price per litre has increased due to the introduction of premium bottled still waters. Table 5: Revenue and production- Still Water- 2003 to 2015 Type Revenue $million Production million litres Ave $ per litre 2003 555 516 $1. 08 2004 648 584 $1. 11 2005 708 619 $1. 14 2006 780 668 $1. 17 2007 883 720 $1. 23 2008 999 796 $1. 25 2009 1 127 847 $1. 33 010 (P) 1 279 901 $1. 42 2011 (P) 1 472 958 $1. 54 2012 (P) 1 688 1 020 $1. 65 2013 (P) 1 934 1 095 $1. 77 2014 (P) 2 154 1 173 $1. 84 2015 (P) 2 323 1 252 $1. 85 P = Projection 3. 2 Sparkling water Carbonated water was commonly known by the name of soda water until World War II. In the 1950s, new terms such as sparkling water began to be used due to the negative perceptions associated with use of the word ‘car bon’ being considered a chemical additive in water. Sparkling water is essentially still water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved, resulting in the formation of bubbles. Sparkling water is generally consumed as a refreshment beverage mostly while dining out rather than for hydration or thirst satisfaction alone. In the last few years, supermarkets have started to stock premium sparkling water brands. 7 Near Water – also known as functional waters. These are bottled water beverages which have nutrients added, such as fruit juices, vitamins or minerals to enhance the positive health benefits associated with water. Page 5 of 21 Table 6: Revenue and Production:- Sparkling water- 2003 to 2015 Type Revenue ($million) Production (million litres) Ave $ per litre 2003 255 89 $2. 7 2004 272 93 $2. 92 2005 282 96 $2. 94 2006 290 97 $2. 99 2007 317 105 $3. 02 2008 336 110 $3. 05 2009 356 116 2010 (P) 381 123 $3. 10 2011 (P) 405 131 $3. 10 2012 (P) 433 139 $3. 12 2013 (P) 441 140 $3. 15 2014 (P) 457 143 $3. 20 2015 (P) 473 146 $3. 24 P = Projection $3. 07 While experiencing declining growth, sparkling water is still showing some growth, albeit at much lowe r rates than still water. This reflects the refreshment beverage nature of sparking water which is generally consumed at restaurants and cafes rather than in the home. The majority of the sparkling water consumed is comprised of premium imported spring waters, such as Eau de Vivre, which is the world’s premier sparkling water brand. As such, the average price per litre for sparking water is substantially higher than that of still water (see Table 6). This reflects the increased cost of manufacturing required to carbonate the water, different closure types required to retain the carbonation, the cost of imports and the premium nature of this product. The increase in average price over the projection period reflects estimates in foreign exchange movements. Foreign exchange xperts forecast that the current high levels in the value of the Australian dollar are not sustainable and project them to decline in the future. 4. Distribution trends Bottled water is sold by manufacturers to independent wholesalers, including specialist confectionary and soft drink wholesalers as well as grocery wholesalers. Figure 1 below illustrates the current industry distribution channels. Figure 1: Australian bottled water distribution channels – 2009 Manufacturer Wholesaler Supermarket Convenience stores Direct Distribution Hospitality Home & office Delivery Vending machines Other End Consumer In the past few years, retailers have been increasingly buying direct from the manufacturer to reduce the cost of goods by eliminating the wholesaler margin from their purchase price. This has been facilitated by improved information systems that now provide timely information to manufacturers for production planning, thereby enabling them to engage in direct sales to a larger numbers of customers. The increase in direct distribution has been most notable amongst major industry competitors. Major retailers want to purchase from fewer, larger companies. Beverage wholesalers, however, still play an important role in distribution for smaller bottled water manufacturers. These smaller competitors generally have a smaller product range and are unable to meet major retailer demands for inventory management and direct to store delivery. Page 6 of 21 Table 7 shows the share of revenue in 2009 by distribution channel. Table 7: Major distribution channels share of revenue- 2009 Distribution channel Supermarkets and grocery wholesalers 2009 35. 0% 30. 0% 15. 0% 9. 0% 6. 0% 5. % 519 445 222 133 90 74 Revenue ($m) Comments Supermarkets use online ordering systems direct to manufacturers, bypassing wholesalers in general. Major growth in this channel reflecting convenience purchasing. Main outlet for the purchase of single-serve products. Dominated by higher priced spring and mineral waters, including imported products. Bulk packaged water is the main product through this channel. Placed in schools, sports clubs and other public places or venues . Niche value added brands only due to high transportation costs (e. g. exports) or specific to single distribution channels. Convenience stores (including petrol stations) Hospitality Home and office delivery Vending machines Other Branding is an important differentiator in the bottled water manufacturing industry. Existing competitors that have established brand names have an advantage over new entrants who have to spend heavily on marketing for brand recognition. Sales in convenience stores have always been an important distribution channel for soft drinks. This importance is growing, not only for soft drinks but also for bottled water, driven by the trend in more frequent convenience shopping for ‘time-poor’ consumers. Success in the convenience store channel is critical for any new product to succeed. If the brand recognition is achieved, it is often quickly followed with brand extensions, leveraging the brand to offer new flavours and packaging. Once consumer demand is established in the convenience store channel, the move into the supermarket channel generally supports maintenance of profit margins, considering that supermarket buyer power is reduced when strong product demand has been established. Manufacturers have had to respond to significant changes in consumer buying behaviour. Product distribution, presentation and availability has had to match these changes in order to maximise sales. Increasing quantities of product are now distributed through convenience stores and petrol stations. For example, bulk water packs were once sold via direct sale to offices. However, as more offices have installed their own in-built water filters, this channel has declined and there has been a shift to bulk water sales through petrol stations and supermarkets. A key strategy employed by non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers to lock out rivals is the placement of vending machines and refrigeration units in distribution outlets. This ensures that their products are stocked and presented for the best possible sales whilst making it difficult for competitors to get refrigeration space. The distribution outlet has to invariably agree not to stock competitor products as part of the terms of using the refrigeration equipment supplied. Vending machines are increasing in variety, size, style and sophistication, depending on where they are located. Distributors in some locations, such as private or non-government schools, have worked with the manufacturers to introduce the use of smart card technology for payment and therefore avoid the need for cash. Similarly, in the hospitality arena, manufacturers have to tender for the supply of beverages to key entertainment and sporting venues. Once a manufacturer has secured a contract with a venue, their product has guaranteed sales for a defined period of time. Quite often, patrons are not allowed to bring in their own beverages for consumption or are limited in the amount they are allowed to bring in. Hospitality, through restaurants and cafes, is the main distribution channel for sparkling waters and it is also common practice for venues to be locked into one particular manufacturer. Exports and imports represent about 5 per cent of industry production. These levels are not expected to change in the future due to the high cost of transporting the heavy weight and bulk of water. The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry is protected to some extent from the threat of water imports due to the high volume and low unit value of water, even though water with no additives is exempt from tariffs. For water that has added sugar or other sweeteners, there is a 5 per cent import tariff. The main distribution channel for imported waters is cafes and restaurants that primarily serve premium sparkling waters. Page 7 of 21 5. Demand trends Bottled water is a growing part of the non-alcoholic beverages industry. While the broader non-alcoholic beverages industry is growing, bottled water is growing at a faster rate due to increasing awareness of health issues. Research shows that people want better tasting and healthier alternatives to many of the soft drinks and sports drinks currently available. Market research surveys suggest that over 90 per cent of Australians consume too many sugary and caffeine-based drinks. As bottled water is part of this larger beverages industry, it is important to understand firstly, the trends impacting on non-alcoholic beverage consumption overall, as well as the trends specifically impacting on bottled water consumption. 5. 1 Non-alcoholic beverages Consumption of non-alcoholic beverages in Australia increased from 179. 7 litres per capita in 2005 to 228. 5 litres per capita in 2009. Per capita consumption trends for all non-alcoholic beverages generally follows consumption patterns in the United States. On that basis, there are still significant opportunities for growth in all non-alcoholic beverages, including CSDs. Currently, Australian per capita consumption is 63 per cent of the US consumption level. Increasing awareness of the obesity problem in Australia, as well as the firmly established focus toward health and wellbeing, is ensuring strong future growth for ’healthy’ beverages. This has resulted in the introduction of sugar-free or diet CSDs. However, many older Australians are not switching to sugar-free versions of the CSDs they used to drink. Instead, they are moving to alternative beverages. Hence the general decline in the consumption of CSDs has also been accompanied by a rise in the consumption of beverages that are perceived to be healthy, such as fresh fruit juices, flavoured milks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. Changing lifestyle trends, health consciousness and a growing ‘cafe culture’ have also contributed to an increased demand for these alternative beverages. For example: †¢ Freshly squeezed fruit juices, with fresh flavour attributes being preferred by the consumer. With the emergence of juice bars and a greater focus by manufacturers in establishing juice brands, consumption of juice products has increased. In the United Kingdom and United States, juice bar sales represent about 5 per cent of total juice sales in those countries. However, in Australia, juice bars are still only an emerging distribution outlet and offer a good opportunity for new product development and growth. Ready-to-drink teas, with their antioxidant properties being promoted, have become a popular ‘health’ drink. The Australian market for this product is currently 2 million litres per annum and predicted to grow to as much as 20 million litres over the next few years, particularly as the Australian population ages. Product development includes a variety of flavoured ready-to-drink teas. †¢ Flavoured milk is a growth beverage. Data shows that A ustralians are each drinking, on average, nearly 0. litres more flavoured milk per annum than a year ago. Perceived health benefits of milk have contributed to this growth, and this is expected to drive continued growth in the future. Milk sales have increased by 6. 7 per cent with low fat brands performing particularly well. Last year, each Australian, on average, drank 9. 5 litres of flavoured milk – more than the per capita figure for any other country. †¢ Both energy 8 and sports drinks 9 are growing products in a society that is increasingly health conscious and aspiring to be more active. Energy drinks have had double digit growth since 2006 and the sports drink market has grown 14 per cent on volume and 20 per cent on revenue compound annual growth over the last three years. 8 Beverages that are designed to give the consumer a burst of energy by using a combination of methylxanthines (including caffeine),vitamins and herbal ingredients. 9 Purified water with additives similar to those of sports drinks with the aim of providing hydration during sport. Page 8 of 21 5. 2 Bottled water Bottled water consumption has increased significantly over the past six years, but is still significantly below consumption levels of other developed countries including Europe and the United States. This indicates further opportunities for growth in Australia, primarily at the expense of CSDs and fruit based drinks, given the rising concern surrounding the link between CSD consumption and obesity, especially in children. One possible reason for the lower per capita consumption of bottled water by Australians is the relatively good quality of tap water available. Tap water contains fluoride ions which have a positive effect on tooth decay. The drinking of bottled water, which is distilled 10 to remove element such as fluoride, is believed to be contributing to an increase in the risk of tooth decay. However, most people continue to cook with tap water and this should provide sufficient fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Alternatively, some people wish to avoid exposure to fluoride, particularly systemic ingestion of fluoride in drinking water, and may choose such bottled water for its absence of fluoride. Nevertheless, surveys show that there is an increasing concern about the quality of tap water in Australia and that this is driving some growth in bottled water consumption. Growth is further supported by concerns about alcohol consumption and associated drink-driving accidents which has encouraged the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages, such as bottled water, when dining out. Females consume about 58 per cent of all bottled water in Australia. Young people, in particular females aged between 18 and 35 years, are the largest consumers of bottled water. In general, bottled water consumers are more health conscious and socially aware. Studies have found that younger generations are far more diligent in drinking their recommended daily intake of water and men are less likely to think about water consumption on a daily basis than women. In addition, for young women, image is an important factor in determining consumption behaviour. Figure 2 shows consumption by age group. Figure 2: Australian bottled water consumption by age group, 2009 30 25. 8 25 20 23 18. 5 14. 8 % 15 10 5 0 9 8. 9 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and older Age group (years) 10 Distillation is the process of eliminating impurities by heating a liquid until it boils, capturing and cooling the resultant hot vapours, and collecting the condensed vapours. Page 9 of 21 Due to the increase in health consciousness, water has also become a fashion accessory. Some consumers now carry a bottle of water with their mobile phone and iPod. Packaging is therefore critical. Small plastic bottles are preferable for many consumers as they are re-sealable, perceived to be more contemporary and can fit in car-cup holders. The convenience factor means that the most popular pack size is around 600 ml, as shown in Table 8 below. This is an important consideration for convenience when travelling for business or leisure. In fact, it is the convenience aspect that has to some extent, driven the growth in bottled water. Table 8: Australian still water revenue share by pack size Pack Size 1999 2004 2009 500 – 750ml 1–2 litre Bulk 47. 3% 22. 8% 29. 9% 52. 3% 27. 5% 20. 2% 57. 3% 32. 6% 10. 1% 2014 (P) 60. 3% 34. 8% 4. 9% P = Projection Increased future consumption of bottled water in the home is likely to result from continued growth in household disposable income in Australia. This disposable income growth will also sustain growth of takeaway foods and restaurant meals, both of which tend to increase consumption of bottled water and fruit juice. However, while currently experiencing positive growth, total household expenditure on consumable goods is expected to slow in the future. This will adversely affect growth in discretionary spending on all beverages. However, a factor which contributes positively to growth in the sales of bottled water is the climate. The gradual warming of Australia’s climate is expected to support further growth in water consumption. Bottled water is well positioned to benefit from the shift in consumer preferences towards healthier and natural drinks. Spring water is particularly popular in Australia because it is perceived to have come from a natural, pristine environment. This is reinforced by marketing that emphasises the pure and natural image of water. As well as purchasing more bottled water, consumers are also prepared to pay more; with 69 per cent of consumers recently surveyed believing quality is more important than price. New product development activities are targeting changing consumer lifestyle needs and the trend towards purchase convenience. There are now numerous bottled water brands available in Australia, from international beverage brands to boutique ‘rain farms'. The huge variety of waters and sources means that the bottled water market has a broad demographic reach. According to a recent consumer survey, at least 99 per cent of all Australians have tried or purchased bottled water in the last 12 months. The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry has pursued sales growth by developing products for niche markets. Smaller producers can supply relatively small segments with specialist or premium products. Given the continuing concern about the use of artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, the industry is expected to develop a range of premium products better suited to the demands of the health conscious consumer. For example, pet owners can now buy ‘vitamin-fortified’ water specifically formulated for their canine companion. 6. Costs and gross margins Bottled water has the highest profit margins of all non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages. This is due in part to the strong growth that the industry has achieved. Manufacturers are also able to sell all production in a year. Industry rivalry is relatively low, particularly as the major competitors are focused on supplying through different distribution channels. A percentage breakdown of costs in 2009 is as follows: †¢ 55. 2 per cent for purchases of supplies; †¢ 26. 8 per cent for marketing, distribution and selling costs; †¢ 12. 1 per cent for wages; †¢ 4. 1 per cent depreciation and administration costs; and †¢ 1. 8 per cent for utilities and rent. A net margin of 16. 3 per cent was achieved by the industry in 2009. Page 10 of 21 Purchases include water supplies, labels and other packaging materials such as glass and plastic resin bottles and closures which are generally purchased on 5 year contracts. One of the key costs is polyester (PET) resin for bottles; however, there is no forward market 11 for PET resin. As a commodity, PET resin has been subject to price rises over recent years, as the price of oil has increased. This is reflected in the minor decline in gross and net margins experienced by manufacturers in 2009, as shown in Table 9 below. Overall, however, the cost to create bottled water is relatively inexpensive. Therefore, water is a more profitable product than other nonalcoholic beverage categories. Table 9: Five year weighted average industry gross and net margins 2005 2006 2007 Gross margin % Net margin % 31. 3% 16. 6% 31. 9% 16. 9% 31. 1% 16. 5% 2008 2009 30. 7% 16. 3% 31. 5% 16. 7% Current levels of profitability are expected to continue. However, it is noted that as sales through the supermarket distribution channel increase, so too will the buyer power of these large retailers and this may have a negative impact on profitability levels. At a recent presentation, ABL’s managing director, Tom Dwyer, commented: ‘The increasing power of major retailers will squeeze the small competitors in both the food and beverage businesses. Without modern technology, smart systems and economies of scale, it will be very difficult for small manufacturers to generate an acceptable return on capital employed and maintain current levels of profitability. ’ 7. Industry key success factors and future predictions Industry experts summarise the following areas as critical to future success in the Australian bottled water manufacturing industry: †¢ Distribution and lacement: Control of distribution channels through an established and comprehensive network of distribution outlets to gain access to end consumers is essential to ensure timely delivery, low costs and maximised product reach through effective placement. If not operating in a niche market, manufacturers must become a major competitor in the wider market. I n general, a major competitor needs to have at least 20 per cent share of at least one distribution channel. Effective market orientation, product promotion, and advertising: Market research, product development and speed-to-market are important capabilities. Successful competitors need to be able to clearly segment the market and develop products that reflect the requirements of different customer groups. The ability to effectively promote their brand and provide label and packaging design is also important. First movers with effective distribution have an advantage in that new competitors need to spend heavily on marketing to catch up. The effectiveness of strong advertising, a sophisticated distribution chain and a focused strategy is critical in influencing consumer choice. Strong brand names contribute to the appeal of bottled water as an accessory as well as building a product's reputation for quality. Having these attributes allows manufacturers to win market share within particular consumer segments and charge premium prices. Economies of scope: Breadth of product range enables efficiencies in distribution, marketing and administration. Such efficiencies are gained when a competitor uses its manufacturing process to produce a wide range of beverage brands (and possibly also complementary products) which are provided as part of a total solution to the various distribution channel customers. Being a total beverage provider to major customers is becoming more important as these major customers are increasing in concentration and prefer to deal with fewer larger manufacturers. Economies of scale: Economies of scale are very important for a low value product since high volumes must be produced and sold to maintain profitability. Manufacturers must have effective cost controls and access to the most efficient manufacturing and distribution processes, tracking technology and techniques to monitor sales and respond accordingly. Economies of scale are particularly important for competitors who have undifferentiated products. Since unit manufacturing costs are an important element of profitability, it follows that economies of scale, based upon critical mass, are also important. Some manufacturers have commenced contract bottling for smaller industry participants in order to secure manufacturing volumes. †¢ †¢ †¢ 11 A forward market enables producers to lock in prices for a defined period of time, thereby providing certainty of costs. Page 11 of 21 At the recent annual Australian Beverage Congress, Alan Vaughan, an independent industry expert of 30 years’ experience, presented an extensive insight into the bottled water market and its future direction. Vaughan concluded his presentation with this comment: ‘The Australian and global beverage industries are in a period of growth and major transformation. In general, there has been a switch away from carbonated drinks to beverages with less sugar and additional functional benefits. To the younger customer, the older brands are looking a little staid, with bottled water and energy drinks viewed as more cool and exciting. This is reflected in marketing and advertising campaigns. People these days are working harder and have greater commitments. Bottled water and energy drinks are replacing other traditional beverages because they provide refreshment as well as a functional benefit, such as re-invigoration, replenishing hydration and energy levels, improving mental alertness and enhancing concentration. These beverages appeal to everyone from partygoers to office workers, through to truck drivers. ’ C. Industry competition 1. Basis of competition The basis of competition for non-alcoholic drinks are primarily price, convenience and taste. The main basis of competition by which bottled water competes against other beverages, such as CSDs, fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks, is health appeal. Given zero or very low sugar content, both still water and near waters have successfully developed an image of being healthier than other drinks and this has driven growth in the industry. To a degree, home filters also serve as a source of competition, although mainly against the bulk water segment. Tap water is also an external competitor, with a clear advantage in price. Beverage marketing and display are beginning to undergo dramatic change. There will always be the major conventional media promotions, but the consumer market is becoming much more time sensitive and there is a high level of competition from substitute products, mainly other non-alcoholic beverages. The major ways for industry participants to differentiate and compete successfully include: †¢ Branding, image and breadth of product range: Recent growth in bottled water is related to the successful positioning of a number of brands as fashion accessories. Both media support behind the brand and the design of the bottle including the label contribute to the appeal of a product. Breadth of product range is also important as concentration of major customers continues. Large retail buyers (both in the supermarket and convenience store channels) prefer to deal with large manufacturers or suppliers that can provide a large product range. Packaging: Convenience is a key benefit of bottled water. Hence bottle size, shape and functionality form a basis of competition. Bottles are designed with particular uses in mind, for instance some water bottles have a pop-top cap for ease of use when playing sport or training. Distribution coverage: An ability to satisfy the needs of retailers, and obtain favourable terms such as promotional programs and stock positioning is important. Market share dominance of distribution channels is important as it allows manufacturers to diffuse the power of large buyers and maintain strong profitability levels. The ability to secure shelf space in convenience stores is also important, given that success in the convenience store channel is a precursor to getting new products into supermarkets. Taste: Especially at the premium end of the market, taste can be a basis of competition for both still and sparkling waters. Use of market data: Access to and use of market data is also important. The larger the competitor the more likely they are able to afford retail check-out scanning data to understand what its customers are buying. In this way, manufacturers can ensure retailers replenish their stock as required. This provides larger manufacturers with an advantage of responsiveness and flexibility as they make use of this information and respond quickly. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Page 12 of 21 2. Current industry competitors The Australian bottled water manufacturing industry is dominated by large beverage manufacturers. Two of the major competitors are subsidiaries of global food and beverage conglomerates that are also major competitors in the non-alcoholic beverage market. Table 10 summarises the market share of the industry competitors in 2009. It should be noted that Australian Beverages Limited (ABL) is not currently in the Australian bottled water manufacturing industry, despite being a major competitor in the Australian non-alcoholic beverage market. Table 10: Market share by distribution channel and major competitors – 2009 Total market share 26. 9% 26. 3% 18. 3% 12. 0% 16. 5% 100. 0% Other includes export sales and use of purified water for medical procedures (for example: dental etc) ** Other competitors comprise small, locally based water manufacturers. No single entity has greater than 2 per cent market share Competitor Butlers Hydrate Water International Beverages Fountain Springs Other** Total Market Share Australian bottled water manufacturing industry – Market share by distribution channel Supermarkets Convenience Hospitality Home & Vending Other* & grocery stores (15%) office machines (5%) wholesalers (30%) delivery (9%) (6%) (35%) 27. 0% 35. 0% 25. % 15. 0% 30. 0% 38. 0% 22. 0% 20. 0% 15. 0% 35. 0% 20. 0% 17. 0% 35. 0% 15. 0% 10. 0% 10. 0% 5. 0% 15. 0% 70. 0% 5. 0% 16. 0% 15. 0% 55. 0% 20. 0% 30. 0% 100. 0% 100. 0% 100. 0% 100. 0% 100. 0% 100. 0% The industry has grown significantly to date. To keep industry profitability levels relatively high, the industry’s major competitors have tended to dominate one or two distribution channels only, rather than all channels. In this way, they hope to avoid strong head-to-head competition. This has assisted in keeping the overall level of industry rivalry relatively low to date. However, this is expected to change in the future as consumption growth begins to slow. Several new competitors have entered the market over the last five years. Moreover, industry consolidation has occurred. Major industry competitors have acquired smaller competitors to increase economies of scale, scope, market share and profitability. In 2009, the four largest competitors accounted for approximately 82 per cent of industry revenue. No major change is expected to this trend in the future as further consolidation will be difficult due to the relatively high market shares held by the four major companies. Regulatory concerns about restriction of competition will also affect further consolidation. Two of the competitors, Butlers Corporation and International Beverages, are owned by global food and beverage conglomerates that use Australia as the base for their non-alcoholic beverages operations in Asia. Industry experts believe that acquisition of either of these companies, to be used as a mode of entry into the industry and gain significant market share, is not possible. The parent companies will be unwilling to sell their Australian operations. The major industry competitors are summarised below. 2. 1 Butlers Corporation A wholly owned subsidiary of a large multi-national listed company, Butlers Corporation commenced operations in the United Kingdom in the 1800s as the official chocolatier to the King. Operations were expanded throughout the 20th century to include other types of confectionary, biscuits, snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages. Geographic expansion was also undertaken. Butlers Corporation is now a global giant in its chosen products. Butlers established its operation in Australia during the 1950s. It has held the majority market share in the Australian confectionary, non-alcoholic beverage and snack food industries for the past 20 years. The company entered the Australian bottled water manufacturing industry during the 1980s through the acquisition and consolidation of several state-based water manufacturers. This helped Butlers to become the first bottled water manufacturer to have national distribution. Page 13 of 21 Butlers has strong distribution capabilities given its broad product range. It is the largest supplier to convenience stores and the second largest to the hospitality distribution channels. Growth in its market share of the supermarket channel has also been strong over recent years, in particular through its well known still water brand ‘Olympus’. The company also holds significant market share in the sparkling water segment, having obtained the Australian license for Eau de Vivre, the worlds leading sparkling water brand. One of the areas of focus for Butlers is innovation for all its beverages. This includes a large of number of soft drinks such as flavoured mineral waters, flavoured milks and fruit juices. Its broad product offering that includes complementary snack products, has been leveraged to achieve strong sales in convenience stores and through vending machines. 2. 2 Hydrate Water Pty Limited Hydrate Water is a privately owned company that originated in 1993 in Queensland. The company has access to natural springs in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and a long term agreement with key water utilities in these states to access water when required. It distributes nationally from ISO 9002 quality accredited manufacturing facilities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. The company has products in the sparkling and still water segments. The products include energy drinks, fruit juices and a limited range of high quality carbonated soft drinks. It is also the manufacturer of the leading brand of still water, H2O, that is sold through the supermarket distribution channel. Hydrate is seeking a stronger presence in convenience channels. Its business model focuses on using its funds to support retailers so that the retailers can offer promotions, rather than spending on direct consumer advertising. The company has recently begun investigating the use of scanned retail data to monitor sales trends and adjust production volumes accordingly. This investigation into scanning data is due to having run out of inventory at the end of last financial year when the manufacturing plant was closed for annual cleaning and maintenance. As a result, the company had lost some market share. A number of the company’s water products are targeted to the sporting and energy drink consumer. One of its best known brands, ‘Viva! ’, has a 72 per cent market share in sports water products. Hydrate Water has been able to leverage the high brand recognition of ‘Viva! ’ to successfully introduce flavoured water. Similarly, Hydrate Water sells the leading brand in sparkling mineral water and has again leveraged this brand by introducing a number of flavoured mineral waters, including diet drinks. Both these initiatives have resulted in above average market growth for the company. The company is particularly well known in the industry for its packaging innovation and engineering design capability. Hydrate Water developed ‘Pop Tops’ – small plastic bottles that were very successful with young children as they fit perfectly into lunch boxes and have the advantage of being re-sealable. The ‘Pop Top’ range increased its bottling turnover by 50 per cent. This product won the coveted Australian dietician award for ‘Best New Product’ when launched. It also received the Australian Health Foundation endorsement for its diet drinks. In addition, the company has been commended by dieticians for promoting products that address the increasing concerns of childhood obesity linked to CSDs. Hydrate Water was also the first company to introduce stackable bulk water packs for sale through supermarkets. The management team at Hydrate Water have extensive industry experience, having a collective 80 years in the industry between them. Operations manager, Simon Miles, is well regarded in the industry and is currently the chairman of the Bottled Water Institute of Australia. Current owner, Jack Wells, has indicated he wishes to retire in the next five years, and has been grooming Simon Miles as his successor. An offer for acquisition was received from International Beverages last year, but Wells turned down the offer as he did not want to sell the Australian business he established to an international company. Page 14 of 21 2. 3 International Beverages Limited International Beverages is the wholly owned subsidiary of a large multinational company and sells fruit juices, energy and sports drinks, water and soft drinks. Its initial entry into the Australian market was through fruit drinks. During the industry consolidation in the 1990s, the company entered the bottle water manufacturing industry through acquisition. Through its parent company, International Beverages has the licence to sell the world’s leading brand of bottled still water Aqua Grande, in Australia and New Zealand. The company also sells the imported sparkling water brand San Vitale one of the most popular mineral waters bottled at the source. This product, in particular, has given the company a strong share of the hospitality channel. Company growth has been driven by new product development and product extensions which have leveraged existing capabilities and focussed on specific consumer requirements. The company’s latest successful product launch is calcium enriched water targeted at aged care facilities and nursing homes for women at risk of osteoporosis, a bone degeneration disease. 2. Fountain Springs Pty Limited Fountain Springs is a Sydney based company that has access to a naturally rising spring located in the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales. To date, the company has been unable to secure distribution and shelf space in major Australian retail outlets. This is because its product range is limited to only two pack sizes, 600ml and 2 litres. An export strategy was th erefore developed with the assistance of the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade). Fountain Springs is now Australia’s largest exporter of spring water and better known overseas than in Australia. In the past two years, the company’s bottled water exports have grown sales revenue significantly, having secured a contract with the major UK supermarket chain Besco. Growth is also expected through its expansion into UK convenience stores and petrol station channels which is planned for later this year. The UK was the first export market for Fountain Springs where it was able to leverage the perception of Australia as ‘clean and natural’. Since developing this UK market, the company has also been successful in developing business in the Middle East, South East Asia and the United States. Given the cost of transport to these export markets, Fountain Springs has a niche strategy and sells only premium grade water in the 600ml and 2 litre pack size at a higher price. However, market research shows that there is still very low consumer awareness of its products and brand in Australia. To raise awareness, a cause-related marketing strategy has been adopted. Under this program, the company donates a percentage of its profits to partner charities in its chosen markets. This has been central to the growing market awareness of the company in its selected markets. It leverages the networks and relationships of its partners to develop new business and sales. As a result of the company’s success in overseas markets their brand ‘Aqua Caliente’ is now being stocked in selected school canteens in Australia as a natural alternative to sugar laden CSDs and fruit juices. Given Fountain Springs did not have the capability to distribute directly to schools, it entered a distribution arrangement with a school food provider. The company also altered its cause-related marketing strategy whereby it would donate a proportion of all bottled water sales in each canteen to the school. The money was to be used by the schools to purchase new equipment or facilities for the school. Despite the success of its export strategy, the company has had mixed financial results over the past few years. This has been largely due to set up costs associated with its export business and distribution arrangements in the UK. It is rumoured that the company is in financial difficulty. Rumours abound that bankers have been requesting monthly audits of the cash position so that the company can maintain its line of credit. In addition, it is believed that its major UK supermarket customer, Besco, is demanding price reductions therefore squeezing margins for the company. Poor hedging of foreign exchange transactions with the company’s UK debtors has also contributed to its declining financial position. Page 15 of 21 D. Australian Beverages Limited (ABL) 1. History Australian Beverages Limited (ABL), formerly known as Australian Soft Drinks Limited, commenced operations in 1937. The antecedent company was established by a group of enterprising pharmacists who had previously made carbonated soft drinks in their pharmacies which were then offered for sale in sealed bottles. The first manufacturing plant opened in Sydney in 1938. Business began slowly, but the arrival of American soldiers in Australia in 1942 had a significant impact on both sales and market acceptance of carbonated soft drinks. Australian Soft Drinks initiated its move into non-carbonated soft drink beverages in 1984 when it began manufacturing fruit drinks. This followed the acquisition of a fruit juice manufacturer in Victoria. The fruit drinks’ business expanded nationally over the next 10 years. In 1990, Australia Soft Drinks entered the milk drink market with the purchase of manufacturing facilities from a dairy co-operative. The company officially changed its name to Australian Beverages Limited upon listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 1996, to reflect the broader beverage base of the business. In the years since its ASX listing, ABL has adopted a multi-beverage strategy wherein its product range has been expanded to cover all categories of the non-alcoholic beverage market. However, bottled water remains outside this product range. The company has also moved into the manufacture and distribution of snack food products through its acquisition of several small businesses in 2004. It aims to strengthen distribution relationships with convenience stores and hospitality channels. These developments have resulted in ABL’s revenue composition to change from 90 per cent CSD-based in 2000 to 68 per cent CSD-based in 2009. The aim is to further reduce dependence on CSDs by 2015. ABL intends to increase its market share of non-CSD beverage products so that CSDs will represent less than 50 per cent of company revenue as part of its multi-beverage strategy. 2. Business strategy ABL’s vision is ‘To satisfy Australia’s thirst by being a manufacturer of non-alcoholic beverages for every occasion in every location’. The company aims to achieve this vision by pursuing the following strategic goals for the 2007 to 2012 period: ? offer a wide range of products in the non-alcoholic beverage and complementary markets; ? grow the company’s share of the non-alcoholic beverage market to move from the second largest to the argest competitor in this market. This goal will be achieved by: ? offering a wider range of products; ? increasing per capita consumption of non-alcoholic beverages through product and packaging innovation; ? expansion into new non-CSD beverage categories; ? extend key customer relationship capabilities and grow product availability. This goal will be achieved through effective placement of refrigerated drink equipment and outlet expansion. This strategy would help the company to establish a major presence in all major non-alcoholic beverage distribution channels; ? aintain world best practices throughout the company’s operations to deliver cost discipline, low cost leadership and timely responsiveness to changing market demand; and ? ensure that the company’s operations are environmentally and economically sustainable. At a recent strategy presentation to market analysts, managing director, Tom Dwyer, outlined the company’s intention to be a major competitor in all categories of the non-alcoholic beverage market. He stated that ABL hopes to achieve this aim by being the supplier of choice for the distribution channels of supermarkets, convenience stores and hospitality outlets. It is hoped that ABL’s position in the snack food market, which it recently entered via acquisition, would be made stronger by another potential acquisition in line with the general consolidation already taking place in the food and beverage supply industry in Australia. Such an acquisition would add further breadth to the company’s total product offering to its customers in all major distribution channels. Of all the competitors, ABL would provide the greatest share of beverage and snack foods. Page 16 of 21 By offering a broader product range, ABL expects to leverage its market power in soft drinks to sales of related products. It also aims to control product supply, apply discounts, introduce loyalty rebates or promotions, and secure conditions of use on supplied refrigeration equipment. As more Australians now drink different beverages at different times of the day, Dwyer highlighted his belief that a modern beverage company needs to be highly flexible in manufacturing, distribution and marketing as well as be able to operate in all product areas. 3. Business operations ABL is currently the second largest competitor in t