Wednesday, November 27, 2019

8 Famous People That Were Expelled From College

8 Famous People That Were Expelled From College Usually we imagine college dropouts as street walkers and bums.  However, a lot of people have reached success despite being kicked out of college. Their lack of degree has been more than compensated by wealth and fame. Talent and ambition are the most important factors of prosperity. E ven a college degree cant guarantee successful future. Many celebrities were expelled from college because of different reasons, but still we all know their names. Here are the famous people who made out just fine without earning their degrees. Steve Jobs Probably there are no people who dont know the story of Steve Jobs. Co-founder of Apple dropped out of Reed College after six months of studying. However, he was lucky to get into computers and started attended meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club. That was his successful start in the computer industry. Probably the Mac, iPhone and iPad wouldnt have existed if Steve Jobs stayed at school. The results of his work are so significant that at the time of his death, his net cost was $11 billion. Really cool for a college dropout. Mark Zuckerberg College students use their dorm rooms for studying, sleeping, eating, hanging out with friends. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in his. When the networking sites popularity exploded, he left Harvard and never returned to studying. Now we cant imagine our life without Facebook, the Zuckerbers decision has worked out pretty well for the twenty-something. Lady Gaga Before she became Lady Gaga, she was Stefani Germanotta. She attended New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts, but never graduated from it. Lady Gaga dropped out after just a year in order to pursue her music career. She broke onto the New York club scene with amazing burlesque performances and conquered the love of the audience with her unique style and great songs. Princess Diana Diana Spenser attended West Heath Girls School but failed all her 0-level examinations. Then she visited a finishing school in Switzerland but dropped out from there as well. Diana went to work as a part-time assistant at the day care center. At the age of 19 her working days were over as she became engaged to Prince Charles. Albert Einstein Could you think that one of the greatest scientists and thinkers in the world history had a troubling school life? He was expelled from high school for rebellious behavior and failed the entrance exam to the Zurichs Federal Institute of Technology. Later he returned to FIT and finished his eduction. Salvador Dali The prominent surrealist painter was expelled from the Academy of Art in Madrid. Dali was kicked out because of criticizing his professors and disturbing the peace. He said that his professors were not qualified enough to grade him on exams. In his career Salvador Dali produced over 1,500 paintings, dozens of sculptures, designs for theater sets. People from all over the world enjoy his works displayed at different museums and permanent exhibitions. Harrison Ford The star of Indiana Jones and Star Wars attended Ripon College but was expelled right before graduation. Now he is known all over the world as a great actor and film producer. His career has spanned six decades and no doubt, his input into the film industry is enormous. Rachel Ray This cooking TV show star didnt attend college and had no special qualification in the culinary. Actually its hard to believe that her net is estimated of $60 million now. Great for someone who didnt even apply to college! She took part in many popular shows and programs and is a successful cooking star and businesswoman. The point of the list above is: always have a goal and work at that goal every single day. Dream big and work towards your dreams. Good luck!

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Hamlets isolation essays

Hamlet's isolation essays One's isolation is often caused by a tragic event. The difference of opinions carried by opposing parties during these events causes arguments which lead to isolation. One person's isolation can cause their family and friends terrible hardships and heartaches. Isolation not only ruins relationships but also can result in the destruction, frustration and often madness of the person being alienated. When one cannot handle the separation being imposed on them by others one starts to isolate themselves. When one in isolated they usually do not have the power to change their situation. Throughout Shakespeare's Hamlet the main character is isolated from the people and home that he loves most by Polonius, the lord chamberlain, by Gertrude, his mother, and by Claudius, his uncle. Polonius played a major role in isolating Hamlet from the one he loves. Polonius forbade Hamlet from seeing his daughter, Ophelia. He did not trust the intentions the prince had for his daughter and tried to deter her from having a relationship with him. He feared that he would harm her and therefore advised her by saying: Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers , Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorations of unholy suits, Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, Soon afterward Hamlet stated behaving extremely fierce toward Ophelia. He came to her dressed in rags and severely disordered and clamed that he did not love her and never had. Subsequently, she informed her father of this disturbing behavior. Polonius brought this information to the king and queen stating "...I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true..." (II ii 96-97) Polonius had a great dislike toward Hamlet and consequently denied all rights to see his daughter. Gertrude alienated her only son from herself by going against everythi ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Supply Chain Management and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supply Chain Management and Innovation - Essay Example Though the concept of innovation is not an unknown or new concept for many of the organizations, the old fashioned strategies that were adopted in the olden days may not suit to today's business environment. In order to improve the performance and profitability, today, organizations are required to involve in the most exciting innovative experiments. This would definitely help them create a nice future for the organizations failing which they may not be able to compete with the increasing competition and other innovative competitors. Though most of the companies believe that innovation is one of the factors that help the organization perform and achieve huge profits, it is revealed through a recent study that only 25% of the organizations across the world believe in innovation being the key strategy for the organization's success. Actually, this approach should not be followed. The organizations and all the employees of the firm are required to give the highest priority to innovation in order to sustain the competition and achieve higher profits and also to perform better. (Supply Chain Management) 2. Poor cross-firm integration and collaboration lead to supply chain planning problems. This situation was faced by a company called Leitax, a consumer electronic company. In order to overcome the problems in integration, the company introduced a new system that helps it resolve the existing problems and create better integration among the different functions of the supply chain. The major benefits of increased-integration are better information-sharing, accurate planning and also aligned execution of the plans. Information sharing doesn't simply mean sharing of information among different members. The scope is much broader. Sharing of information requires a lot of attention to be paid to aspects like behavioral dynamics of the operations management. Along with integrating the information requirements for planning within the supply chain, coordination of systems can also help in upholding the organization differentiation that is perceived by the various stakeholders. In a dynamic and yet challenging supply chain environment, a consensus forecasting system can be advantageous in buy-in integration and many other similar concepts. Operationalizing the integration as a functional alignment can yield better results to any organization. Alignment is always a positively influenced by collaborative engagement. Alignment encouraged by collaborative engagement can be more important than achieving, superior performance along such dimensions as speed or accuracy in individual information processing steps of the S&OP process. (Watson) Bibliography 1. Supply Chain Management. Sypply chain management case studies. 3 November 2007. 12 November 2007 . 2. Watson, Rogelio Olivia and Noel. Cross functional Alignment in Supply Chain Managment. 6 Spetember

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

What is the effect on african people of growing up in poverty Essay

What is the effect on african people of growing up in poverty - Essay Example African countries fall near the bottom of any list measuring small size economic activity such as gross domestic per capital and income capita, despite the wealthy natural resources. Poverty in Africa is mainly in rural areas. Over seventy percent of the African poor people reside in rural areas and highly rely on agriculture for livelihood and food. Eastern and Southern Africa are the parts with a high concentration of persons. The situation of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is rising faster than the population itself (Kavanagh, 2011). In many parts of Africa, poverty has its origin from the colonial system and the institutional and policy constraints that is forced on poor people. The land is a major issue in Africa, with many African nations having land ownership disputes leading much useful land being unused. In some other parts of Africa, there is the unreliability of rainfall causing lots of food shortages. There is an association between poverty and climate change. Poverty raises the propensity and severity of calamities reduce people’s ability to reconstruct and recover. Africa’s economic depression is self- perpetuating as it leads to more of the warfare, diseases, misgovernment, and corruption. Poverty in Africa makes people have difficulties in attaining their basic needs like food, clothing and shelter. People are living in extreme poverty rarely access highly nutritious food. Even if these foods are accessible, it is likely that they are not able to buy them. People in poverty are scrawny simply because they do not have enough food to eat (Cleveland, 2014). One of the most severe effects of poverty in Africa is health effects. Diseases are most common with people living in poverty since they do not have enough resources to maintain healthy living conditions. Sanitation conditions are indigent, increasing the possibility of contracting diseases. Additionally, due to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Tecnology Adventage Essay Example for Free

Tecnology Adventage Essay Modern technology has solved many problems that people face and play an important role in the development of many countries. Modern technologies create many kinds of products computers, cloning technology, and video games etc.. Technology today has made life better and quicker In our modern society, people cant see themselves without computers, cell phones, voice mailetc As we look at technologies, questions are risen. The Technological progress make our society more convenient and safe. Making impossible things possible are similar features of the change which previous people have experienced by social change, like shifting from a hunting society to an agricultural society and establishing a commercial society due to the invention of new tools. To consider these advantages and change of society, modern technology, which we use today, might be not only a new tool but also the tool, which makes a dramatic change in history. However, the contribution of modern technology to society should not be eliminated and should be distributed evenly. ADVANTAGE: Modern technology has solved many problems that people face and play an important role in the development of many countries. Modern technologies create many kinds of products computers, cloning technology, and video games etc.. Technology today has made life better and quicker In our modern society, people cant see themselves without computers, cell phones, voice mailetc As we look at technologies, questions are risen. The Technological progress make our society more convenient and safe. Making impossible things possible are similar features of the change which previous people have experienced by social change, like shifting from a hunting society to an agricultural society and establishing a commercial society due to the invention of new tools. To consider these advantages and change of society, modern technology, which we use today, might be not only a new tool but also the tool, which makes a dramatic change in history. However, the contribution of modern technology to society should not be eliminated and should be distributed evenly. ADVANTAGE: Modern technology has solved many problems that people face and play an important role in the development of many countries. Modern technologies create many kinds of products computers, cloning technology, and video games etc.. Technology today has made life better and quicker In our modern society, people cant see themselves without computers, cell phones, voice mailetc As we look at technologies, questions are risen. The Technological progress make our society more convenient and safe. Making impossible things possible are similar features of the change which previous people have experienced by social change, like shifting from a hunting society to an agricultural society and establishing a commercial society due to the invention of new tools. To consider these advantages and change of society, modern technology, which we use today, might be not only a new tool but also the tool, which makes a dramatic change in history. However, the contribution of modern technology to society should not be eliminated and should be distributed evenly. ADVANTAGE: Modern technology has solved many problems that people face and play an important role in the development of many countries. Modern technologies create many kinds of products computers, cloning technology, and video games etc.. Technology today has made life better and quicker In our modern society, people cant see themselves without computers, cell phones, voice mailetc As we look at technologies, questions are risen. The Technological progress make our society more convenient and safe. Making impossible things possible are similar features of the change which previous people have experienced by social change, like shifting from a hunting society to an agricultural society and establishing a commercial society due to the invention of new tools. To consider these advantages and change of society, modern technology, which we use today, might be not only a new tool but also the tool, which makes a dramatic change in history. However, the contribution of modern technology to society should not be eliminated and should be distributed evenly.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Narketing in the Digital Age :: essays research papers

Marketing In The Digital Age ANSWERS Be sure to answer all parts of each question. Be sure to use complete sentences whenever appropriate. Good Luck! 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What were the four major forces that shaped the digital age? Digitalized and Connectivity Internet Explosion New type of Intermediaries Customization and Customerization 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the four major e-commerce domains? Business to Consumer Business to Business Consumer to Consumer Consumer to Business 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Define internet, intranet and extranet Internet: A vast public web of computer networks, which connect users off all types   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Around the world to each other and to an amazingly large information repository. Intranet: A network that connects people within a company to each other and to the Company network. Extranet: A network that connects a company with it’s suppliers and distributors. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discuss the benefits of integrating online selling with in-store selling (use examples). For example the store Game Stop and Game Stop dot com. They have an advantage on both territories and they broaden the customer base, by being available and online. You can afford to discount more sometimes online, to keep the customer shopping, and the company can make the customer service base open both online and in person, no matter how you bought the product. Also if you there was a problem with the product, you can physically take it back to the store and they can return or exchange. So the benefits are great, because the company has both markets at it’s advantage. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  E-commerce and the Internet bring many benefits to both buyers and sellers alike. Briefly discuss the benefits to both buyers and sellers. For buyers they might get the opportunity to by a mass quantity at a low price and it can keep a company’s overhead down. For a buyer, to me the main element is convenience, because you do not have to go to the actual store, you tend to get online discounts that is not available in store, and you have a better chance in obtaining your product, because you can possibly be obtaining it directly from the company. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discuss the differences between click-only companies and click-and-mortar e-marketers. Click-only companies are online only, but a click- and-mortar has both Brick and Mortar and has added an e-commerce to the company. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Define viral marketing. What is the link between viral marketing and word-of-mouth communication? Discuss the benefits of viral marketing. Viral Marketing is the internets version of word of mouth. Vial marketing involves creating an email or another marketing plan that is so infectious that it makes a person want to forward it.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Why Do We Cry When Watching a Film

This is the feature from BBClearningenglish. com for more information and _____ the view go to the BBCworldservice. com ____ post card. R: hello, I'm Rob and welcome to 6 minute english. With me today in studio is Ms. Feifei. Hello there. F: Hi Rob. R:In today's programme we are discussing films make us cry and why we actually enjoy watching something that makes us burst into tears or another words to cry out loud. We are also looking at the language associated with crying. So crying out loud surely this is something that you have done, Feifei? F: I'm afraid yes so I have done that.R: Is there a particular film is made you cry? F: I think you have to see the film Turner and Hooch. And how about you Rob? R:Well, being a man obviously I will never cry well almost. There is an old children's film called The Railway children. At the end, when the children's father returns from exile, his daughter runs out the station platform shouting: My daddy my daddy. That makes me misty-eyed. F: You ‘re big softy. R: I suppose I'm. Now Feifei, before we discuss this subject further, here's your question for today: Which film has won the most ever Oscars awards? Is this.. . Ben Hur b. Slumdog Millionaire or c. Gone with the wind F: I think I'm going to go for answer b. Slumdog millionaire. R: ok. Let's find out if you are right at the end of programme. Of course, the 85th academy awards better known as the Oscars were held recently and there was one major weepy that won several awards. F: a weepy? you mean a film that makes us cry. R: Yes and that film was Lei Miserables. I have seen it really is a tearjerker. It literally causes tears to roll down our checks. So why do we chose to see the film or movie that makes us get so emotional ?F: I suppose it ‘s the mark of a good film if it causes us to reveal our emotions. A really sad story if it's well acted and directed, can really make us blub (another word for crying). And a sob srory one where the character tries to g et our sympathy for him or her can have the same effect. But what is it about a film that can makes us cry when we can't cry in real life? R:Well, according to psychologist Dr Everon Lemon, we allow our emotions to be imfluenced when we watch a film. What word does she use to mean † influenced†? Dr.Everon Lemon: People want to have their emotions manipulated, because then they are allowed to have them. We spend so much of our life being told you shouldn't feel like that, you don't feel like that when in fact we do you like that. And both the visual and the auditory allows us to know what emotion we are meant to feel. F: So Dr Everon Lemon says we like to have our emotions manipulated, influenced by a film. In real life we told how we should feel. R: But when watching a film, at the cinema for example, we can let our emotions loose.But there is something else in a film that effects our emotions and gives us goose bumps or a feeling that makes our hair stand on end and we get little bumps on our skin. F: Yes, Dr Lemon says there are visual and auditory clues that provokes our feelings so that is the style of the pictures and the music or sound effects that are used. R:( music) Like the music in the Jaw movie although that's not really a tearjerker. F: oh Come on, Rob. I bet you cried at the scary bits. R: I told you men don't cry.Although there is one film that has had grown men crying their hearts out which means they have been crying uncontrollably. That is the film Toy Story 3. F: Really R:Yes, I don't think it's because the film is sad but because watching it makes men nostalgic about their young and perhap they can see their kids reflected in the story too. F: Well I bet these men were crying alone. They wouldn't want to be seen crying in public. R: Well not according to Phillip Sheppard who composes or writes film music. He thinks letting our feelings out, he calls it by catharsis is better in a group. Mr.Phillip Sheppard: All of us sort of nee d to find a catharsis, especially within a group to have this sort of place to have an emotional response. It ends up being something when you need to have that kind of release. As British people we are terribly bad at it I think. But when people find an outlet for it such as a film, especially when they are in a crowd, people's emotional responses are much more instantaneously responsive. R: So he says we all need to find a catharsis. Being in a group is a good place for letting your emotions out. When you watch a film with others you react to other people's emotional reponses.F: So if one person cries then other people will start to cry too. Unless you are British of course. R: That is what Phillip Sheppard thinks and we could say: It's a crying shame, meaning it's regrettable or it's an unfortunate situation. F: Ok, Rob well let's not cry over spilt milk. R: Huh F: Let's not get upset over something quite small. Can I Just have the answer to today's question, please? R: Yes, of c ourse. Earlier I asked you which film has won the most ever Oscars? F: And I said Slumdog Millionaire. R: And you were wrong. The answer is actually Ben Hur.The 1959 Film has won 11 awards the same number has also been won by Titanic and The Lord of the rings, The return of the King. Well Feifei before we go, please could you remind us of some of the cryng-related words and phrases that we have heard today. F: Sure. We heard: burst into tears misty eyed a weepy tearjerker blub a sob story goose bumps crying their hearts out it's a crying shame cry over spilt milk R: Thanks Feifei. Well it's a crying shame but we are out of time. Please join us again soon for 6 minute english from bbclearningenglish. Both: bye R: that's whole 6 minute english from bbclearningenglish. com.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

EXPLORING CONSUMER PERCEPTION ABOUT PREMIUM WATCHES IN INDIAN CONTEXT Essay

He had formulated several aspects of marketing mix strategies in the past to face diverse kinds of challenges. For Chakravarti, any challenge in the watch industry, especially in an emerging market such as India, was something he looked forward to, as it gave him immense satisfaction when he was able to find some insights. Xylys was a premium watch brand launched by Titan a few years ago; the brand was aimed at creating a unique perception among consumers. The challenge was to create and shape a perception unique to the brand, since premium watches in India were associated with the Swiss brands Omega and Rolex, or Tag Heuer and other similar brands, which were more contemporary in nature. There were several interesting possibilities for Chakravarti to consider. Would a conventional-positioning approach be sufficient? Was it necessary to obtain some insights regarding the application of the uniqueness aspect to the self-perception of consumers? How were such aspects of uniqueness related to other established brands? How important was the â€Å"Swiss-made† label? Did the buyers and prospective buyers of premium watches hold any specific stereotypical images of such watches? The case delved into several aspects of the perceptual fields associated with consumer behavior with the objective of finding the most appropriate approach to further the prospects of the Xylys brand. No tC The liberalization of markets, the rising disposable income, exposure to western lifestyles, and the need for the new generation to establish an identity for itself were some of the reasons for the growth of the luxury watch category in India. Consumers were buying not only durable categories that were useful to them and satisfied functional aspects, but also categories and brands that reflected their personality. India had 28 states and seven union territories with a population of 77.42 million urban households. The income levels were categorized as follows: 62.7 million households earned up to INR 1,50,000 (Indian Rupees) per annum (1 USD was equivalent to about 45 INR), 11.6 million households earned between INR 1,50,000 to INR 3,00,000 per annum, and 3.1 million households earned 1 more than INR 3,00,000 per annum. With respect to the spending of households on top 10 necessities across all 2  classes of consumers, watches figured at the eighth position, on an average. The latest McKinsey report on India’s consumer market pegged spending on personal products and service necessities (watches were included as the eighth most required item, as described above) at 8% share-of-wallet (SOW) in 2005; this was expected to climb up to 9% 3 SOW by 2015, and to 11% SOW by 2020. THE WATCH INDUSTRY IN 2011 Global 1 â€Å"The Marketing White Book 2010–11: One Stop Guide for Marketers,† BusinessWorld, New Delhi, 2010, pp. 52–54. Ibid., p. 63. 3 â€Å"The ‘bird of gold’: The rise of India’s consumer market,† McKinsey Global Institute, May 2007, http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/india_consumer_market/images/India_Interactive1.swf, accessed on April 11, 2011. Do 2 S. Ramesh Kumar and Kasturi Baral prepared this case for class discussion. This case is not intended to serve as an endorsement, source of primary data, or to show effective or inefficient handling of decision or business processes. Copyright  © 2011 by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (including internet) – without the permission of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 2 of 15 rP os t A significant decline in the global production of watches was witnessed in 2005–2009, with the volumes in 2009 at a fifth of the expected numbers. 4 This was attributed to the plummeting demand in the recession-hit markets of the United States, Japan, and Europe, among others. The premium segment suffered the worst, with the exports of Swiss watches dropping by 22% in 2009, despite having risen to an unprecedented high the previous year. 5 However, what was inexplicable was that while the rest of the world found  even regular watches unaffordable, the developing markets of China and India were experiencing growth in consumer demand for luxury and premium watch products. India In five years, the Indian watch market had grown at an average rate of 8% per annum. 6 The recession during 2008– 2009 hindered the sector’s growth, with a drop in the sales of luxury and premium watches, which was compensated by the growth of volume in the economy segment. 7 Thus, despite the global trends, the value and volume figures for 2009 stood at 40.6 billion units and INR 54.6 billion, with a growth of 8.5 and 15.4% in volume and value, respectively. 8 op yo In terms of category sales, the highest share, as per value, involved watches priced between INR 500 and 3,000. The premium segment—retailed between INR 4,000 and 15,000—had been growing at an exponential rate of 20% annually. 9 Low per capita consumption on the one hand and the growing demand for luxury watches on the other constituted the factors that forecast the compounded annual growth rates of 7.3% and 13.7% in volume and value, respectively, for the period 2009–2014. 10 INDIAN WATCH INDUSTRY Historical Perspective tC The Indian watch industry had its origins in the 1960s, with HMT’s Janata being launched in 1962. Before HMT, watches were sourced exclusively from imports, and could be afforded by only a small number of consumers. HMT was the first major watch manufacturer in India, and the sole indigenous player,  until Titan Industries Limited—a Tata and TIDCO joint venture—was formed in 1984, and started retailing watches in 1987. Titan, with its focus on satisfying the customer’s unspoken needs, gradually wrested market power and shares from HMT and became the undisputed leader in the wristwatch segment over the last three decades. The only other major Indian player was P. A. Time, with its brand Maxima, which managed to survive despite fierce competition. Other indigenous brands such as Allwyn, Shivaki, and SITCO failed to keep up with Titan and languished, with marginal to negligible market shares. No In 1992, liberalization opened up the Indian market to foreign players, and Timex was the first on the scene. It was soon followed by Casio, Rolex, Citizen, Tissot, Omega, Rado, and TAG Heuer (the new export–import (EXIM) policy introduced in 1999 relaxed the hitherto stiff upper bar on imports of luxury wristwatch brands). After the foreign direct regulations were changed by the government to allow up to 51% of foreign direct investment in single-brand retail operations, global brands set up subsidiaries in India with apparel brands such as Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger, Benetton, and Levi’s, also launching brands of their own. Growth of Industry Do The Indian watch industry began in the 1960s with the public sector enterprise HMT, which was the government’s initiative to start the indigenous manufacture of watches. The import industry brought in the more fashionable watches, but the basic need for timekeeping was satisfied by the sturdy and reliable mechanical wristwatch models 4 â€Å"Watches in India,† Country report, http://www.euromonitor.com/watches-in-india/report, accessed on July 22, 2011. Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 10 Ibid. 5 This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 3 of 15 rP os t manufactured by HMT. In the absence of other brands, HMT could afford to retain goodwill despite offering limited styling and choices to its customers. A few decades earlier (when HMT held a monopoly in the category), a watch was a product that anyone who had taken up a job aspired for. Traditionally, the penetration levels were quite low during this time; the notion of a â€Å"watch for the masses† was diffused in the psyche of consumers only after the late eighties, when the country witnessed major lifestyle changes. The nineties enhanced this perception as many brands entered the  market following the liberalization of governmental policies. The Tata group introduced the quartz watch in the 1980s under the Titan brand, and differentiated themselves on the basis of accuracy, style, choice, presentation, and vigorous push-marketing. 11 Timex, in collaboration with Titan, launched its range in India in the nineties, with a mutual understanding that the former would keep to the low-price plastic segment, while the latter would manage the high-price metal segment. Timex positioned itself with the tagline â€Å"You don’t have to be rich to afford a Timex,† and was well accepted by the market. After a few years, Timex became an independent brand and set up its own distribution channels, and emerged as a brand associated with the sports and casual wear segment. op yo Early in the twentieth century, many multinational players entered the market, which was made possible by the EXIM policies that raised the bar on the import of luxury watches in India. AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMPETITION The single largest player was Titan, with a brand share of 20.6% in 2009. 12 The next player worth mentioning was Swatch, with a relatively small share of 5.9%. 13 Timex was a relatively strong multinational brand in the market. Rolex, PA Time, Citizen, and Casio had small significant shares, and HMT was also present in the Indian market. Despite the presence of many brands, the market was still primarily controlled by the unorganized sector (to the tune of 65%) even in 2009. The present competition arose from the increasing foray of multinational players into the lucrative luxury segment; however, the real challenge was to tackle the spurious imports being sold by the unorganized sector. tC Watches transformed from time keeping instruments to fashion accessories during the eighties and nineties owing to significant lifestyle changes; this was reflected in some of Titan’s advertisements. Watches as fashion accessories were in competition with a variety of other products such as apparel and fashion handbags; hence, watches had to have a clearly differentiated element of perceived utility apart from fashion. 14 SEGMENTATION OF THE WATCH MARKET The watch industry could be segmented according to various criteria: technology, benefit, and price. No Watches could be classified into three kinds based on technology: mechanical, quartz analog, and quartz digital. The first went out of vogue since the bulky mechanical format did not allow for elegant design; it dropped in volume shares from 7.2% in 2004 to 4.6% in 2009. The second kind was the largest in both value and volume, and was expected to remain the market driver for growth in 2009–2014. Digital watches suffered from the consumer perception of being low cost and lacking in style, and hence, the market for them had not yet picked up. The sales figures by value for these sub-sectors for 2009 were INR 3,000, 46,000, and 6,000 million, respectively. The major market players in these three sectors were HMT, Titan, and Casio, respectively. Do The second basis of classification was benefit, and the market could be divided based on use, namely, casual, formal, and sports. Many of the brands offered some options in all three segments, but most catered only to the first two segments; the sports segment remained a largely untapped segment. Nearly 35% of all watches retailed were casual, 60% were formal, and a mere 5% belonged to the sports segment. 11 â€Å"The Titan Story,† http://www.titanworld.com/titan_stories, accessed on November 29, 2010. â€Å"Watches in India,† Country report, http://www.euromonitor.com/watches-in-india/report, accessed on July 22, 2011. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid. 12 This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 4 of 15 rP os t The watch market could be classified into economy, standard, premium, and luxury segments. 15 The mass market (i.e., the economy segment) accounted for nearly 67% of volume and 50% of value shares, and was catered to almost entirely by the unorganized sector. Popular (standard), with prices ranging from INR 500 to 1,200, was the lowest range offered by the organized sector (Titan and Timex, primarily). The premium segment consisted of watches in the INR 1,500–5,000 range, offered by almost all the indigenous and multinational brands. The demand from the middle and upper income groups promised to be the growth driver for this segment in 2009–2014. op yo A better explanation in terms of consumer behavior was the third basis of segmentation as defined by Yankelovich (1964). 16 He presented a scheme for the non-demographic segmentation of various product categories, including watches. Segmentation by value was considered to be particularly apt for this market. Thus, the authors arrived at three distinct segments, each offering the customer a different benefit and value than the others. As was stated earlier, the watch had always been a product that appealed to people, but the nature of the appeal and the associations related to watches changed with the changing environment. A watch or a specific brand in particular became a symbol of several associations that were in tune with the changing environment. These associations were generally glamour, fashion, sports, and fun, and the intensity of these associations became pronounced depending on the respective segment toward which a brand was positioned. Lifecycle stages also mattered—a school student would celebrate his/her first watch with neighbors and friends, a college student would garner attention among his/her friends with a recently bought watch, and an young executive who had been successful in his job might reward himself with a premium watch after a few years of hard work, and also â€Å"announce his arrival into a world of success† to the outside world. †¢ †¢ Value for money: Low/regular-priced watches that were accurate and sturdy. Owners tended to replace these when they failed.  Premium watches: High-priced watches, with assured longevity, excellent workmanship, and good styling. Owners were ready to pay a premium for the benefits that accompanied these brands. Special watches: Extra benefits such as fine styling, brand name, and accessories (such as gold casings) were desired by potential customers. The watch, apart from being a fashion accessory, was part of a ritual gifting ceremony, and needed to encapsulate the emotional benefits required to succeed. No †¢ tC Symbolic and lifestyle categories that were created in the last 20 years or so included apparel, watches, mobile phones, portable music players such as iPods, cars, televisions, two-wheelers, and spectacles, to name a few socially conspicuous product categories; brands made use of such psychological needs of consumers to position themselves, with one category often competing with another. For example, a typical middle class household in India that had bought a TV (it is a well-observed fact that a TV is generally high on the purchase agenda of a middle class family) on installment basis (the installment plan allows a consumer to pay for the purchased product over a period of time through monthly payments to the seller/retailer) might postpone buying a new watch for a student in the family who was entering college, owing to financial pressures. Such instances would be rare in a developed market, especially with regard to the purchase of a watch. It was interesting to note that the lower end offerings (relatively lower end to be precise, when compared to the price of luxury watch brands) from brands such as Titan also used glamour, romance, and celebrity orientation for the positioning strategies of several of its brands (such as Titan, Fastrack, Sonata, and Ragaa). Titan was a leader in the organized quartz analog watch segment, and millions of pieces had been sold over the years. It was interesting to note that regardless of the price range or the benefit, watches held a symbolic appeal in the Indian context—an appeal that could be associated with the self-perception or the personality/style a consumer would like to project to the outside world. Luxury watches had a special appeal with regard to such an orientation among consumers. Do The watch market in India was divided into three broad segments: mass market (price below INR 1,000), midmarket (price between INR 1,000 and INR 10,000), and premium market (price starting at INR 10,000). Luxury watches in turn, were categorized into three sub-segments: 15 16 Ibid. Yankelovich, D., â€Å"New Criteria for Market Segmentation,† Harvard Business Review, March/April 1964. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context 2. 3. Premium watches: INR 10,000–50,000. This was the space where Xylys operated. The other prominent brands in this space were Tissot, Seiko, and Citizen, in addition to fashion brands such as Emporio Armani and Hugo Boss. Accessible Luxury: INR 50,000–3,00,000. The biggest Swiss brands such as Rolex, Omega, Longines, and Tag Heuer operated in this space. Exclusive Luxury: INR 3,00,000 and above. Very high-end brands such as Breguet, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Breitling, and Hublot populated this segment. rP os t 1. Page 5 of 15 From the point of view of look, there were four philosophies from which brands tended to choose and occupy, namely, dress, classical, fashion, and sport. For example, among sporty watches, Tissot, Tag Heuer, and Breitling were the brands in the premium, accessible, and exclusive luxury sub-segments, respectively. LUXURY BRANDS op yo The market for luxury watches was estimated to be 3% of watch retail, and was growing at almost 20% annually, which was more than twice the growth rate of the entire market. 17 Luxury brands were priced above INR 15,000, and primarily included imported brands offered by multinational players, such as Omega, Rado, Longines, Tag Heuer, and Tissot. Titan was the only Indian brand in this sector currently, with Xylys at the luxury end of its portfolio. Personal interviews with some managers at retail outlets suggested that the competition to the Xylys brand was from established brands such as Seiko and Tissot. 18 The main consumer of luxury brands was the new generation executive, who was set to move toward the prime of his/her career, and who had a keen sense of brand consciousness. These included an increasing number of young and middle-aged professionals in the upper strata of management in corporate houses, and also Indians who belonged to the higher socio-economic strata and had a penchant for luxury products. The major consumers of watches in the luxury segment included CEOs and senior professionals in their thirties and forties, new generation entrepreneurs, and young working professionals. tC Successful brands sold because they positioned themselves based on the benefits they offered to those who possessed them; such benefits could be functional, symbolic, or experiential. 19 Brand concept management 20 stated that for long-term success, the brand image needed to be based on a brand-specific abstract concept. The authors felt that such an orientation would help the long-term plans of luxury watch brands. No Functional brands provided tangible and practical benefits, and satisfied the real need for the product. Brands needed to necessarily satisfy functional needs, since these were the hygiene factors for acceptance in this category. Symbolic brands, on the other hand, catered to the consumers’ preference for brands that matched their own â€Å"selfconcept† 21 and their symbolic needs for self-expression, prestige, and the enhancement of self-image and sense of belonging. Experiential brands satisfied the owner’s need to experience sensory pleasure, variety, or cognitive simulation. Luxury watches were bought for their symbolic and experiential benefits as opposed to their functional ones. The selling points were the status and sophistication that the brand denoted when worn by the owner; although aesthetic appeal and durability were important, precision and price were not. Do Hence, the positioning diagrams for luxury watches would need to be based on factors such as status, prestige, and ego gratification.  The methodology was derived from earlier studies on the positioning of brands. 22 Three sets of questionnaires were used to record the respondents’ opinions on brands, adjectives and phrases related to brand symbolism, and more indepth queries regarding the characteristics of brands and their users. 17 â€Å"Watch industry in India to grow at 9%,† India Infoline News Service,  February 5, 2010. Interviews with Viraj, Branch Manager, World of Titan at Brigade Road, Bangalore and Saumya, Branch In-charge, Titan (multi-brand outlet) outlet at Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore. 19 Park, C. W., Jaworski, B. J., & MacInnis, D. J., â€Å"Strategic Brand Concept Image Management,† Journal of Marketing, Vol. 50, October 1986, pp. 135–145. 20 Ibid. 21 Malhotra N. K., â€Å"Self Concept and Product Choice: An Integrated Perspective,† Journal of Economic Psychology, Vol. 9, 1988, pp. 1–28. 22 Bhat, S., & Reddy, S. K., â€Å"Symbolic and Functional Positioning of Brands,† Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1998, pp. 32–43. 18 This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context rP os t METHODOLOGY Page 6 of 15 The objective of the study was to analyze and link several aspects of consumer behavior, and to compare users and non-users of premium watches. Three sets of questions were prepared. One set of questions dealt with the selfconcepts of consumers, another was about the brand personality aspects of their watches, and the last set of questions was related to the  psychographics of individual respondents. Non-users were respondents who were potential buyers of premium watches in the near future. Scales were drawn from several resources available in the extant literature. 23 Forty current users of premium watches and forty potential users (prospective buyers) of premium watches were administered the questionnaire in April, 2011 in Bangalore, India. op yo Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 were associated with self-concept, brand preferences along with personality traits, and the activities, interests, and opinions (AIO) of potential users of premium watch brands. Exhibits 4, 5, and 6 dealt with the same factors of the present users of premium watch brands (self-concept, brand preferences along with personality traits, and AIO). The description of the positioning strategies of the various brands presented below is based on the authors’ perception of the advertisements of the respective brands. XYLYS Xylys was a premium Swiss-made watch brand from the house of Titan in India. Priced between INR 10,000 and INR 33,000, the Xylys range of watches was available in three collections—Contemporary, Classic, and Sport—and offered over 60 distinctive models. Xylys was available at select World of Titan showrooms, key multi-brand outlets, and at exclusive flagship boutiques in select cities. tC Xylys targeted the lower spectrum of the luxury watch segment. Titan, which was the market leader in the mid-price segment in India, felt that the upper end of their target customers was moving towards iconic global premium brands. The designs were created in collaboration with renowned Swiss designer Laurent Rufenacht, and Titan’s own design advisor, Michael Foley. It was manufactured in a state-of-the-art factory in Switzerland, which had a heritage of over 80 years in the art of watch-making. All Xylys watches were created with exquisite craftsmanship and impeccable detailing, were painstakingly made from carefully selected materials, and were crafted with a passion for detail. No While carefully analyzing the consumer behavior of customers of premium watch brands, Titan found that consumers were highly influenced by the â€Å"country of origin† association. Consumers loved the â€Å"Swiss-made† tag, and there was a huge association of quality, precision, premium, etc. with this tag. The insight was that it would be difficult for an â€Å"Indian-made† tag to impress the target segment. Do The name Xylys was designed to have only two syllables, a distinctive name in itself. The brand charter aimed to convey style, attitude, and power. Xylys was created for new generation achievers who went beyond the obvious. Xylys reflected their values, attitudes, and unique personal identities. The brand was targeted at today’s people, both men and women, who were supremely confident and conscious of the image they projected. These individuals actively sought new and unconventional experiences. Xylys, with its unique positioning of the â€Å"Power of X,† underlined the power of one’s attitude. This attitude stemmed from a person’s self-belief, which enabled one to achieve success through a passionate pursuit of one’s dreams. Xylys was launched as a contemporary brand targeting upwardly mobile, successful men and women. The brand segmented the market based on psychographic profiles. 23 Tian, K. T., Bearden, W. O., & Hunter, G. L., â€Å"Consumers’ Need for Uniqueness: Scale Development and Validation,† Journal of Consumer Research, June 28, 2001, pp. 50–66; Netemeyer R. G., Burton, S., & Lichtenstein, D. R., â€Å"Trait aspects of Vanity: Measurement and Relevance to Consumer Behavior,† Journal of Consumer Research, 21, March 1995; Schiffman, L. G., Kanuk, L. L., & Ramesh Kumar, S., Consumer Behavior, 10th Ed, Pearson Education, p. 143. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 7 of 15 rP os t Xylys defined its customers as contemporary, dynamic, successful people who had attitude and confidence. The brand wanted to celebrate their success with them. The customers of Xylys were highly individualistic persons who did what they loved. These people would love to express themselves and show their success to the world. The three brand ambassadors of Xylys came from varied fields and represented the attitude of the new generation achievers. Actor Rahul Bose (ad), international supermodel Saira Mohan (ad), and tennis star Carlos Moya embodied the attitude of living life fearlessly on their own terms, with a passion to pursue their dreams. Speaking at the launch, brand ambassador Rahul Bose said, â€Å"Like every movie I choose to be a part of, I have chosen to endorse this brand after careful thought. I can only support those products that I am fully convinced about. It is an exciting new brand from India’s leading watchmaker with an identity that reflects the attitude and values that I consider important—bold, unconventional, and distinctive.† In 2010, the brand changed its positioning from â€Å"Symbol of Success† to â€Å"Feeling of Love.† The brand talked about falling in love with Xylys. Xylys ran a campaign reflecting the new positioning, which was a significant deviation from the core positioning of the brand. The entire brand personality of Xylys was changed in the current campaign. op yo The new identity reflected the attitude, lifestyle, and personality of the new generation consumer. â€Å"You don’t possess a Xylys, it possesses you†: this reflected irrational desirability of the brand. The new creative expression was carefully designed to reflect the effect Xylys watches had on their consumers. It was this aspect that created an â€Å"irrational† desire to own the watch, strongly backed by the â€Å"rational† reasons, namely, that Xylys came from the house of Titan and was Swiss-made. After the launch in 2006, the brand saw the volume of sales doubling between 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, and sales grew at about 33% since then. In terms of value, Xylys grew at a compound annual growth rate) of 54%. Exhibit 7 displays an Xylys’ advertisement. TISSOT tC Tissot, with its signature â€Å"Innovators by Tradition,† pioneered craftsmanship and innovation since its foundation in 1853. Tissot was a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor. For over 155 years, the company had its home in the Swiss watch-making town of Le Locle in the Jura Mountains, and in 2011 had a presence in over 150 countries. As official timekeeper and partner of the International Basketball Federation, the Australian Football League, the Chinese Basketball Association, and MotoGP, and the World Championships of cycling, fencing, and ice hockey; Tissot was committed to respecting tradition, underlining its core values of performance, precision, and setting new standards. No The different collections of Tissot included Touch, Sport, Trend, Classic, Gold, Pocket, and Heritage; and the price spectrum was much wider than that of Xylys, covering both the affordable luxury and the premium luxury segment with ease. The Indian brand ambassador for Tissot was movie star Deepika Padukone, daughter of a former badminton world champion. Her Tissot watch was projected as a symbol of luxury and glamour complementing her multi-faceted lifestyle. The similarities between her personality and the Tissot brand were captured in the brand’s advertisements: â€Å"We are both adventurous, sophisticated and classy, yet very approachable.† Do Tissot’s subsequent advertising campaign revolved around the theme â€Å"In Touch with Your Time.† In its revolutionary new global campaign based on this theme, Tissot used a series of executions featuring brand ambassadors who presented luxury as being accessible rather than exclusive. The brand attributed its success to the trust customers all over the world had in the quality and pleasure offered by Tissot timepieces. Millions of wearers evidently refused to compromise, and the campaign specifically congratulated them on their discerning selection of a stylish Swiss-made watch. The campaign’s approach focused on the idea of â€Å"substance† (the unquestionable quality attached to traditional Swiss craftsmanship) and â€Å"style† (a truly appealing watch design). This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 8 of 15 rP os t The new global Tissot campaign captured real moments in the lives of its ambassadors where reality seamlessly merged with glamour. A variety of locations that were local to the ambassadors (e.g., Deepika Padukone in Mumbai, India) were used for the shoots, which enhanced the campaign’s integral authenticity. SEIKO Do No tC op yo SEIKO Watch India Private Limited is a 100% subsidiary of SEIKO Watch Corporation, Japan set up in 2007; it is headquartered in Bangalore. Over the years, SEIKO has established its leadership position in a number of countries. Backed by such experiences and with India being one of the prioritized markets, the brand is expected to bring its â€Å"total SEIKO brand experience† through its â€Å"flagship stores† that will also provide good customer service. 24 The brand is available at several higher-end  multi-branded watch outlets in the country. SEIKO’s technological development is focused on the creation of â€Å"emotional technologies† 25. While the brand may be positioned below Tissot or Xylys (based on the observation of price points at retail outlets by one of the authors), the brand is likely to be perceived as a brand with strong value given its heritage of technology and innovation. 24 25 http://www.seiko.in/corporate/india.html accessed on October 26, 2011 http://www.seikowatches.com/story/index.html accessed on October 26, 2011 This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Exhibit 1 Page 9 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Self-concept (Potential users of premium watch brands) I would feel embarrassed if I was around people and did not look my best. 3.775 It is important that I always look good. 3.275 People notice how attractive I am. 3.675 My looks are very appealing to others. I want others to look up to me because of my accomplishments. 3.075 3.075 4.15 Achieving greater success than my peers is important to me. 3.475 op yo I am more concerned about professional success than most people I know. 3.575 In a professional sense, I am a very successful person. 3.825 My achievements are highly regarded by others. 3.4 Others wish they were as successful as me. 3.675 I am a good example of professional success. 3.25 I often look for unique products or brands so that I create a style that is all my own. 3.225 The products and brands that I like best are the ones that express my individuality. 3 tC I want my achievements to be recognized by others. 3.375 I enjoy challenging the prevailing taste of people I know by buying something radical. 2.95 I often think of the things I buy and do in terms of how I can use them to shape a more unusual personal image. 3.05 No I rarely act according to what others think are the right things to buy. When a product I own becomes popular among the general population, I use it less. 2.625 Concern for being out of place does not prevent me from wearing what I want to. 2.85 Source: The results were based on the questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Do Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree for each respondent, and the values were coded as Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Neither Agree nor Disagree = 3, Disagree = 2, and Strongly Disagree = 1. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Exhibit 2 Page 10 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Brand and user personality (Potential users of premium watch brands) Brand Factors User Factors 3.525 Up-to-date 3.525 Reliable 4.075 Reliable 4.125 Down-to-earth 3.65 Down-to-earth 4 Honest 3.8 Honest 3.85 Daring 3.125 Daring Spirited 3.775 Exciting 3.625 Imaginative 3.7 Successful 3.825 Upper class 3.325 Tough 3.2 op yo Up-to-date 3.8 3.675 Exciting 4.05 Imaginative 3.975 Successful 3.625 Upper class 3.5 Tough 3.5 tC Spirited Source: The results were based on questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Do No Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1) for each respondent. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Page 11 of 15 rP os t Exhibit 3 Activities, interests, and opinions (Potential users of premium watch brands) When I must choose between the two, I usually dress for fashion, not for comfort. 3.25 I try to arrange my home for my children’s convenience. 2.975 I take a lot of time and effort to teach my children good habits. I like parties where there is lots of music and conversation. I would rather go to a sporting event than a movie. I like to work on community projects. 2.85 3.075 3.425 3.4 3.7 I think I have more self-confidence than most people. 2.55 I am more independent than most people. 3.725 I think I have a lot of personal ability. 3.8 I like to be considered a leader. 3.95 op yo I have personally worked in a political campaign, or for a candidate, or for an issue. 3.7 I sometimes influence what my friends buy. 3.85 People come to me more often than I go to them for information about brands. 3.5 tC My friends or neighbors often come to me for advice. 3.25 I spend a lot of time talking with my friends about products and brands. 3.575 I would like to spend a year in London or Paris. 3.175 I would like to take a trip around the world. 3.825 I will have more money to spend next year than I have now. 4.375 I spend more than an hour everyday reading the newspaper or watching the news. 4.025 I like to meticulously plan for future savings and expenditures. 3.175 No I often seek out the advice of my friends regarding which brand to buy. Do Source: The results were based on questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1) for each respondent. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Exhibit 4 Page 12 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Self-concept (Present users of premium watch brands) I would feel embarrassed if I was around people and did not look my best. It is important that I always look good. People notice how attractive I am. 3.325 3.75 3.45 My looks are very appealing to others. I want others to look up to me because of my accomplishments. I am more concerned about professional success than most people I know. op yo Achieving greater success than my peers is important to me. I want my achievements to be recognized by others. In a professional sense, I am a very successful person. 3.425 3.65 3.75 3.925 4.225 3.65 My achievements are highly regarded by others. 3.6 Others wish they were as successful as me. 3.4 I am a good example of professional success. 3.7 3.225 The products and brands that I like best are the ones that express my individuality. 3.325 tC I often look for unique products or brands so that I create a style that is all my own. I rarely act according to what others think are the right things to buy. 2.75 2.925 I often think of the things I buy and do in terms of how I can use them to shape a more unusual personal image. 3 No I enjoy challenging the prevailing taste of people I know by buying something radical. When a product I own becomes popular among the general population, I use it less. Concern for being out of place does not prevent me from wearing what I want to. 2.825 3.2 Source: The results were based on questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Do Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1) for each respondent. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Exhibit 5 Page 13 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Brand and user personality (Present users of premium watch brands) Brand Factors User Factors Up-to-date 3.775 Up-to-date Reliable 4.275 Reliable 3.8 4.025 3.35 Down-to-earth Honest 3.95 Honest 3.925 Daring 3.6 Daring 3.675 Spirited 3.75 Exciting 3.95 Imaginative 3.925 Successful 4.125 Upper class 3.975 Tough 3.975 3.65 op yo Down-to-earth Spirited 3.875 Exciting 3.9 Imaginative 3.6 Successful Upper class Tough 3.725 3.7 3.625 tC Source: The results were based on questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Do No Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1) for each respondent. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Page 14 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Exhibit 6 Attitudes, interests, and opinions (Present users of premium watch brands) When I must choose between the two, I usually dress for fashion, not for comfort. 2.775 I try to arrange my home for my children’s convenience. 3.725 I take a lot of time and effort to teach my children good habits. I like parties where there is lots of music and conversation. I would rather go to a sporting event than a movie. op yo I like to work on community projects. 3.95 3.075 3.225 3.325 I have personally worked in a political campaign, or for a candidate, or for an issue. 1.725 I think I have more self-confidence than most people. 3.625 I am more independent than most people. 3.975 I think I have a lot of personal ability. 3.775 I like to be considered a leader. 4.125 My friends or neighbors often come to me for advice. tC I sometimes influence what my friends buy. People come to me more often than I go to them for information about brands. 3.75 3.325 3.3 2.95 I spend a lot of time talking with my friends about products and brands. 2.875 I would like to spend a year in London or Paris. 3.175 No I often seek out the advice of my friends regarding which brand to buy. I would like to take a trip around the world. I will have more money to spend next year than I have now. 4.2 3.925 3.75 I like to meticulously plan for future savings and expenditures. 3.65 Do I spend more than an hour everyday reading the newspaper or watching the news. Source: The results were based on questionnaires administered to users and non-users of premium watch brands. Note: The statements were measured on a Likert scale ranging from Strongly Agree (5) to Strongly Disagree (1) for each respondent. The mean values were the average of the same across all the respondents. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860. Page 15 of 15 rP os t XYLYS: Exploring Consumer Perception about Premium Watches in the Indian Context Exhibit 7 Do No tC op yo Advertisement for Xylys The authors would like to thank Mr. Manoj Chakravarti, Senior Advisor, Ms. Superna Mitra, Head, Global Marketing, Titan Industries Limited and Prof. Dinesh Kumar, Chairperson, Research & Publications, IIM, Bangalore for the support provided to this case study initiative. This document is authorized for use only by Arijit Santikary at Siva Sivani Institute of Management until December 2013. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Permissions@hbsp.harvard.edu or 617.783.7860.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Brachylogy - Short and Sweet

Brachylogy - Short and Sweet Definition Brachylogy is a  rhetorical term for a concise or condensed form of expression in speech or writing. Contrast with: battology. Also known as  breviloquence. See Examples and Observations below. Also see: AbbreviationAsyndetonBrevityConcisenessEllipsisGappingZeugma EtymologyFrom the Greek, short speech Examples and Observations Brachylogia. . . . Brevity of diction; abbreviated construction; word or words omitted. A modern theorist differentiated this use from ellipsis in that the elements missing are more subtly, less artificially, omitted in ellipsis.(Richard Lanham, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, 2nd ed. University of California Press, 1991)My very photogenic mother died in a freak accident (picnic, lightning) when I was three, and, save for a pocket of warmth in the darkest past, nothing of her subsists within the hollows and dells of memory . . ..(Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita, 1955)Brachylogia is not always a vice. Sometimes its obscurity is the price paid for convenient brevity, or signals euphemism or irony. Ex: coffee-break (a break in which to have coffee); a social disease (one contracted through close [social] contact). Brachylogia is of great help to the novelist in avoiding repetition of the declarative verbs (to say, etc.).(Bernard Marie Dupriez, A Dictionary of Literary Devices. Univ. of Toronto Press, 1991) brachylogia (brachiologia; brachylogy; brachiology) Concision of speech or writing; thus also any condensed form of expression, as for example when Antony in Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra tells a messenger Grates me; the sum, meaning This is annoying me; get to the point of what you have to say. The term is most often applied to expressions involving the omission of conjunctions, as in the figure known as asyndeton.(Chris Baldick, The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford Univ. Press, 2008) Pronunciation: brak-i-LOH-ja, bre-KIL-ed-zhee Alternate Spellings: brachylogia

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How To Distribute Your Content To Reach More People [E-Book]

How To Distribute Your Content To Reach More People [E-Book] As bloggers, you  can learn a thing or two from musicians. Musicians feel the need to share their art with the world. Just like you. To do that, musicians  record albums.  Then they tour  to promote their albums- they go from city to city to find their audience- ask distributors to sell their albums, and share their music online. In short, musicians  create great content and work hard to distribute  that content. The Complete Insiders Guide: How To Distribute Content To Reach Your Audience #contentdistributionAnd like musicians, this is why you should care about content distribution: You pour yourself into creating awesome content that people want to read. That time and energy you put into your content is hard to come by. You probably have an audience who  already knows and loves you, but there are others like them who just dont know about your newest creation. The best way to maximize your  time and content- and reach a broader audience  that cares about what you have to say- is to distribute your content. How Owned, Paid, And Earned Media Work Together For The Best  Content Distribution Heres a traditional way of thinking about content distribution with owned, paid, and earned media: And while you might lean toward one or another, all three together make a really effective  combination. A simple way to think about owned, paid, and earned content distribution  is a three-legged stool. Without even one of its legs, the stool would fall over.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Leadership and Innovation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Leadership and Innovation - Assignment Example This in turn is supposed to improve the organization's operational flexibility and thus the ability to deal with change. For the study of leadership, the above mentioned changes have led to the widespread adoption of empowerment strategies. Such an adoption is understandable: if one flattens an organization's structure, there is little choice but to empower the organisations lower-level workers with broader decision-making responsibilities. As a result, the traditional "limits to power" once designated by boundaries of hierarchy and rational authority are blurring (Gordon 2002). This paper deals with the questions of leadership and its intrinsic relation with organisational change and innovation within the framework of a case study - the experience of WL Gore & Associates, Inc. The paper consists of three major parts, related respectively to leadership, change and innovation, each chapter discussing both theoretical concepts and their practical implementation at Gore & Associates. The New Leadership paradigm incorporated three main categories of theory - transactional leadership, transformational leadership, and culture-based leadership. ... Such an adoption is understandable: if one flattens an organization's structure, there is little choice but to empower the organisations lower-level workers with broader decision-making responsibilities. As a result, the traditional "limits to power" once designated by boundaries of hierarchy and rational authority are blurring (Gordon 2002). This paper deals with the questions of leadership and its intrinsic relation with organisational change and innovation within the framework of a case study - the experience of WL Gore & Associates, Inc. The paper consists of three major parts, related respectively to leadership, change and innovation, each chapter discussing both theoretical concepts and their practical implementation at Gore & Associates. Leadership in WL Gore & Associates, Inc. Transactional and transformational leadership The New Leadership paradigm incorporated three main categories of theory - transactional leadership, transformational leadership, and culture-based leadership. The transactional leadership theorists, including those theorists who explored the concept of leadership through the eyes of followers, explained leadership as contingent on a condition of transaction or exchange between leaders and followers. Alternatively, transformational leadership theory argues that "good" leadership is achieved through more than just tangible inducements. It suggested that leadership can be conceptually organized along a number of charismatic and situationally correlated dimensions: charismatic leadership, inspirational leadership, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. The culture-based theorists viewed leadership as being culturally specific, where "good" leadership, among other things, primarily depends on whether or not a

Friday, November 1, 2019

The role of the IMF in helping poor and debt-troubled countries Case Study

The role of the IMF in helping poor and debt-troubled countries - Case Study Example Certain occurrences such as post-war rehabilitation or various crises could lead to a situation where a country would have minimal resources to support the running of its government. In order to replenish their reserves, the IMF lends money with certain conditions according to standards it has predetermined for compliance. In order for the countries to pay their international obligations as well as finance their local subsistence, the IMF would lend them the money. The loan is granted provided that they meet conditions set including interest and imposition of fiscal policies that must be enforced by the borrowing state. These prerequisites result to high-conditionality lending that must be adhered to before they can fully enjoy the loan. The IMF is essentially a bank, and, just as the common knowledge about banking institutions suggest, it is also for profit. First off, a member country may avail of financial assistance if there is a balance in its international payment that it cannot satisfy. It then requests an arrangement through a lending instrument where the IMF (2014) â€Å"stipulate specific economic policies and measures a country has agreed to implement to resolve its balance of payments problem† through a Letter of Intent (n.p.). This is then approved after presentation to the Executive Board and thereafter the funds are transferred in staggered basis according to their enactment of the programs. There have been many criticisms of the fund and how it’s policies of across the board conditions have led to the regression of many borrowing nations. Bird (2005) argues that the commonplace resentment proliferated during the 1990s to end the IMF would not have sat well decades earlier when countries severed communist ties left without funds (p.17). It is a commonplace scenario where countries in debt continue to be in debt unable to