The Role of Religion in Contemporary Irish Society Essay

The Role of Religion in Contemporary Irish Society - Essay Example Contemporary sociologists have judged that â€Å"any sociological study of Ireland must reflect the importance of religion in the shaping of our contemporary society, its continuing relevance in terms of everyday social life and the still central role of religious institutions† (Tovey and Share, 2003, p. 384). This observation, however, runs counter to the belief that was a cultural shift in all Western societies which started in the period of the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, which introduced a whole new set of scientific tools. Max Weber, Émile Durkheim and other early proponents of the new discipline of sociology described evidence of a shift away from religion and towards rationalisation. The term â€Å"secularization† is used to describe this change, and the â€Å"secularization thesis† is a belief that religion will slowly fade in the face of new scientific, and by implication better, ways of seeing the world. This paper shows, however, that there is evidence in the recent history and sociology of Ireland to prove that the secularization thesis does not hold, since contemporary Ireland fully reflects modern cultural trends and yet it is by no means an increasingly secular country. Origins of the secularization thesis. In the Middle Ages, a Christia n world view dominated the whole of Europe, with close links being maintained between Church and State, and other religions such as Judaism and Islam being classed as outsiders. Secular monarchs reigned in the firm belief that they had a divine right to rule, and they often used their powers to enhance the dominance of the Christian Church, leading to the Crusades and the demonization of other faiths and other nation states. The reformation polarised Catholic and Protestant branches of Christianity so that in Europe, at least, religion became associated with conflict between factions within Europe. Ireland played a decisive role in the early stages of the Christian colonisation of Europe, and Ireland’s continual loyalty to Rome in the face of British rebellion is a reflection of political differences as much as it is a religious position. The relationship between Church and State remains close in Ireland, since there was no split between the monarch and Rome, and this explain s the influence that religions continues to have at the present time on Irish political and social affairs. In Victorian Britain and Imperial Germany the protestant work ethic was credited with producing the beginnings of the capitalist system, and Karl Marx theorized religion in this context as a logical an necessary part of this culture of trade and industry. In the analyses of Marx, Engels and Lenin, religion was a thriving force to be reckoned with, and they very much supported the underlying motivations that led people to put their faith in it: â€Å"Religion is a many-faceted reflection of the real world, including deep-seated human needs for security, consolation, and beauty. They (Marx, Engels and Lenin) do not want to take away from people the solace, comfort of beauty that religion brings to their lives †¦ religious beliefs are not merely illusory; they stand in the way of man’s mastering both nature and his social relations in the interests of a better and fu ller life† ( Selsam and Martel, 1987, p. 225). A combination of these political ideas,

Latin America Conflicts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Latin America Conflicts - Essay Example Latin America has seen everything- from conquests, through colonization and revolutions and to modern day violence- all of which has played a major role in various stages of its advancement (2001). In this paper, we shall discuss how the abuses committed by foreign invaders – first the Spaniards, then conquer of Veracruz by France and ultimately the imperial rule imposed by the United States has shaped the history of Latin America (L.A). The two biggest empires of Latin America, Aztec and Incas, were conquered and exploited by the Spaniards. Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro respectively were the main leaders of the Spaniards behind the conquests of these two large empires. Cortes who was a Spanish conquistador had attacked the city of Aztec with a small troupe of 600 men and had successfully captured the whole empire that consisted of ten thousand warriors. Cortes way of conquest has always been described as ruthless, guile and violent. Cortes audacious and unscrupulous def eat of Aztecs had left behind a trial of bloodsheds and had also inspired many Spaniards to follow his footsteps. One of them was Pizarro who undauntedly followed the Cortes policy of dividing the native population against one another and exploiting traditional enmities (Minster,n.d). Pizarro along with his four brothers and a small group of just 2000 men and 65 soldiers had tactfully captured the city of Incas which had an army of 30,000 soldiers. He like Cortes had used audacious and ghastly ways to defeat Incas. Many conquistadors soon followed in the footsteps of Cortes and Pizarro to invade Latin America and handicapped it through bloodshed and violence (M.Fisher & K.Fisher, 2000). More so , to add to the misery of the local people the conquistadors further tortured them by making them slaves. The native population started disappearing due to conquistadors continued torture. These empires had been conquered by the conquistadors, mainly with the aim of acquiring large volumes of wealth and humungous profits. But as the local population started disappearing and only a small population was left to do the work, the Spaniards turned to African slaves. These slaves faced torture, racism attacks, and abuses by the Spaniards which further increased the repression in these countries and later on led to rebellionism and revolution over here. With the discrimination of people according to races -on top were the whites, then the mestizos, the blacks and then the indigenous people further intensified the urge of the native people to rebel and consequently led to the revolutions which shaped the future of Latin America over the centuries (Chasteen, 2001). The spread of the news of revolutions across the world like the American Revolution, the French revolution and more closely the revolution in Caribbean, woke up the people of Latin America and ignited the spirit of anti-colonialism in them. The history of Latin America was not without blood and fire which can easily b e established through the revolution which happened in Mexico. The people of Latin America were segregated into the classes of rich and the poor by the Spaniards. During colonialism, wealth and race played an important role in shaping the society. The basic reason to classify the people was to separate â€Å"the whitest of the white from those who already lost some of the

Eddie Mabo, the Indigenous Land Father Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eddie Mabo, the Indigenous Land Father - Essay Example For almost a decade, this man fought for the rights of his people by taking a case to court with the intention of having it overturn the terra nullius land system in Australia, which alienated the indigenous people from their land. The sheer determination of this man, against all odds, ensured that he had one of the greatest wins in Australian history for an indigenous person, because the ruling made, overturning the terra nullius system, ensured that over three hundred years of injustice had almost come to an end (Pannell and Vachon 2001, p.238). The overturning of this system further granted the indigenous people the confidence of identifying themselves with the land of their ancestors and ensured that their right to it was recognized beyond doubt. Eddie Mabo was a man who rose from humble origins as a gardener to becoming one of the national icons of Australia because of the fact that he was deeply involved in fighting for the rights of his people. While he was born in the Torres Strait Islands, Mabo spent most of his life in Queensland, and was in fact not a well-known figure in his home island until after he took his case on indigenous land rights to court. It was only after his death from cancer as well as the court victory over the land issue five months later that his fellow indigenous people on the island welcomed his as one of their own. His victory did not only affect the people of his home island but also all the indigenous people of Australia and this is the reason why Mabo has become one of the most respected men among them (Burke 2007, p.240). The idea that an indigenous person could almost singlehandedly challenge the Australian status quo and gain a great victory from it was one of those instances which were unheard of in the history of this country. The indigenous people had long been suppressed by the colonial government, and later by the white settlers who dominated and continue to dominate almost every aspect of life in Australia (Furniss 2001, p.279). Mabo’s posthumous court victory ensured that the indigenous people were recognized as a legitimate part of the Australian population with the same rights as those who dominated the society (Thorner 2009, p.391). Furthermore, it may have played a role in the recognition of indigenous people as reasoning human beings who had, throughout the history of the colonization of Australia had been treated unfairly; the court case was therefore the first step in correcting the injustice done to them (Reilly 2000, p.23). The overturning of the terra nullius policy can be said to be, in reality, a policy of inclusion whose purpose is to ensure that all the Australian people have an equal chance to compete in making their dreams and aspirations come true. Previously, indigenous groups were completely excluded from the majority of economic activities in Australia except for those which were considered to be labour intensive (Nettheim 2008 p.167). Moreover, these groups were rarely ever accepted in the mainstream Australian life, therefore, Mabo’s court victory can be said to have been a step towards the inclusion of the indigenous people into the centre of Australian society. From the very beginning of the Mabo’s case in court, there has been opposition towards it with those against it stating that it is giving an unfair advantage to minority

MBA Strategy of Ducati Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MBA Strategy of Ducati - Case Study Example Following its 1996 liquidity crisis, Ducati, an Italian manufacturer of high-performance motorcycles, took several initiatives, under the guidance and leadership of Federico Minoli whose main aim was to strengthen the company’s brand by turning Ducati into a global brand that appealed not only to â€Å"extreme† customers but also to a broader spectrum of customers, enhance its portfolio by venturing into several new market segments and increase and expand its sales and profitability. Ducati faced severe competition from the Japanese manufacturers such as BMW, KTM, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha in all the three major segments. Thus, in order to broaden its spectrum of revenue sources, Ducati, in 1997, entered into the business of accessories and apparels by acquiring a stake in Gio.ca.Moto; a company that was already producing a line of accessories for Ducati, this contributed to 16.6% of its total revenues in the year 2000. Ducati’s strategic decision of out sourcing it's production and logistic spare parts translated in greater availability of parts and improved distribution channels, while the decision of revising its pricing policy led to a phenomenal increase in the contribution of spare parts to total revenues. As of 2001, the company’s outsourcing has grown to approximately 87% with the company planning to take it even higher to almost 90%. Due to the standardization of its products, Ducati was touted as one of the most efficient manufacturers in the industry, despite its relatively low volumes in 2001 as shown in the table below: The apparel and accessories business had grown consistently following the entry of Ducati in this line of business, and thus had only one strong contender – Harley Davidson. In 2001, the company launched two basic models – 996 and 748, each in 3 different versions. This contributed to almost 43% of the company’s total revenues, the key competitors being targeted under this segment were – Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda.     Ã‚  

Anti forensic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Anti forensic - Essay Example Innovatively, there are anti-investigation techniques, aimed at making information collected by automated tools as well as fresh-and-blood investigators. With the help of modern operating systems, especially by the nature of management of data, events, and information, it is easy to find these individuals. However, due to the different techniques applied by computer users, it is hard to find people who use anti-computer forensics. Introduction Recently, due to the development of anti-computer forensics into a significant field of study, more researchers have undertaken intensive studies and research on the issue. Defined as any attempts focused on affecting negatively the existence, amount or quality of evidence from a crime scene, or making an analysis of the examination of the evidence difficult or impossible to conduct, anti-computer forensics is essentially a creative way of sabotaging any type of investigations into a crime scene. However, anti-computer forensics is a more techn ologically advanced method, which criminals use in hacking. This approach makes sure that it is hard for investigators to find the criminals, and if they were to find them, make it impossible for them to prove ha they ever found them. Most of the researchers do not put into consideration the use of forensics as a method of ensuring the safety of one’s personal data or information. Criminals use different techniques to protect their identity from the authority. However, not only is this approach useful to criminals, individuals have excessively use it in stalking each other. It is due to the rise in the use of this technology that many researchers have undertaken to conduct research and study on this form of technology (Lim, 2008). As a result, I take to conduct research on the techniques used by people in anti-computer forensics. The effectiveness of these techniques to their users will also form part of this research. Problem Statement In the recent years, there has been a s harp increase in the number of anti-forensic techniques used by criminals in frustrating investigative processes. Due to technological advancement and innovation, criminals have increasingly perfected their acts, by developing means and ways of overwriting data, hiding or deleting it to obscure it from the investigators (Busing, et al. 2005).. This is not the only way in which these criminals make investigations impossible to investigators. Another way of doing this is by sabotaging any form of investigation, to make sure that the law does not catch up with them. This leads to the abandonment of numerous cases in their investigation stages, while others never proceed to full trial due to lack of evidence. Even if the evidence is available, if accessed by criminals, and due to immense tampering, it is scanty, unreliable, misleading or damaged (Shanmugam, et al. 2011). As such, this study seeks to identify the methods and techniques used in anti-forensics. Literature Review According to Busing et al., (2005), computer Forensics is the use of scienti?c knowledge for collecting, analyzing, and presenting evidence to the courts. On the other hand, Anti-Forensics includes tools and techniques that frustrate forensic tools, investigations and investigators. Shanmugam, et al. (2011) point out

Buying Decisions of the Parents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Buying Decisions of the Parents - Essay Example Older children exerted greater influence on their parents; a child’s gender was not a significant factor that influenced their parents’ buying decisions.  Researchers have suggested that, the â€Å"family as a consuming and decision making unit is a central phenomenon in marketing and consumer behavior† (Commuri& Gentry, 2000, p. 1). Since the late 1960’s, marketing managers have identifiedthe central role of the family in decision making and consumption of products (Assael, 1998);family units havebeen at the center of interest of marketers and academics in the line of marketing (Moore, Wilkie, & Lutz, 2002; Shoham&Dalakas, 2005).Joint decisions by the consumer and family members work toward influencing or modifying the desire and disposition of the other family member toward a certain consumer good (Foxall, 1977). A family unit had an intermediating function,and also was the point of integration of an individual within the precincts of a large r society. Being the primary consumption unit, the family was also the primary target for all the available products and their categories (Schiffman&Kanuk, 1983). The family unit might be defined as a group of people residing together who might be related by marriage, blood, or adoption (Loudon & Della Bitta, 1993). A nuclear type of family would consist of a husband, a wife, and their children. An extended family included the nuclear family members and other relatives. During the course of a single day there will be multiple decisions made by family members (nuclear or extended), and in a majority of the cases the wife or the husband will be the prevailing decision maker within the family. Commuri&Gentry Many researchers had focused their studies â€Å"on family consumer behavior and a majority of the literature has been on decision role — who makes what decisions† (Commuri&Gentry, 2000, pp. 8). Other researchessuggeststhat the influence of the wife and the h usband would most likely change according to the (a) product types being considered for consumption, (b) the step reached in the process of decision making,(c) purchase influence type, and (d) the basic characteristics of the particular family that was making the decision (Assael21998).  According to other research, the type of product under consideration was divided into four main categories (see Figure 1). These were: Product types for which the husband had the major influence (Mowen, 1995). Product types for which the wife had the dominant influencing factor (Mowen, 1995). Product types for which the decisions can be taken by either the wife or the husband and for which either spouse can be the dominant factor, called the automaticdecision type (Assael,21998). Product types where the husband and wife go in for a joint decision,called the syncretic decision type (Assael,21998). Figure 1. The family decision making proces. Adapted from Consumer behavior and marketing acti on(p. 462), by H. Assael, 1998, Cincinnati, OH:

Estee Lauder Essay Example for Free

Estee Lauder Essay I. BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANY Està ©e Lauder Companies, Inc. founded by Estee Lauder and her husband Joseph in 1946 started by selling four skin care products invented by her chemist uncle in beauty salons and hotels. The enterprise established their first department store account with Saks Fifth Avenue in New York in 1947. By 1960, Estee Lauder was an international manufacturer and marketer, selling their products in the famous Harrods Department Store in London. In the subsequent years, they opened outlets in Central America, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, New Zealand and Switzerland. Today, Estee Lauder markets its products through different brands in more than 140 countries and territories. It also holds the global license for fragrances and cosmetics. The company consists of a collection of prestige brands targeted at a diverse selection of consumers. The group’s portfolio of brands includes the most recognized labels for mature customers (Estee Lauder, Clinique, Prescriptives, Aramis, and La Mer), eco-correct labels (Aveda and Origins), as well as hip labels (M.A.C., Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and Bumble, Kate Spade, jane, Darphin and Smashbox). The Estee Lauder Companies is an organization which engages in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of several beauty products. The company is divided into four sectors, skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. Estee Lauder is based in New York City and currently employs 32,300 people. The products are mostly marketed through department stores, specialty retailers, upscale perfumeries, pharmacies, salons, and spars. Additionally products are sold at company owned free standing stores and through e-commerce in selected countries. The company is still controlled by the Lauder family, which controls about 70% of the voting shares. Estee Lauder’s grandson is currently the chairman of the board of directors. II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This case analysis attempts to determine the most effective strategies Estee Lauder must use in the Philippines. To determine the main objective of this case the researchers focuses on the major components of the case analysis which are as follows: A. Market Analysis 1. To what extent will the Filipino consumer will support or use Estee Lauder products? 2. What are demographic profiles of the target users of Estee lauder in the Philippines? 3. What are the information needs of the Filipino consumer to divert their patronage to Estee Lauder products? B. Technical Analysis 1. Based on the needs of the Filipinos what would consist the basic collection of Estee Lauder products that should be put up into Philippine markets? 2. Where the possible locations that will effectively inform and market to the Filipino consumer the Estee Lauder products? III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The primary objective of this study is to determine the most effective strategies Estee Lauder must use in the Philippines using market analysis and technical analysis. A. Market Analysis 1. To determine the perception of the Filipino consumer on Estee Lauder products versus other beauty product competitors. 2. To verify the demographic profiles of the target users of Estee lauder in the Philippines. 3. To determine the information needs of the Filipino consumer to divert their patronage to Estee Lauder products. A. Technical Analysis 1. To enumerate the possible collection of Estee Lauder products that should be put up into Philippine markets? 2. To plot possible locations that will effectively inform and market to the Filipino consumer the Estee Lauder products. IV. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS A. Analysis of the Macro environment 1. Demographic Environment In the next 20 years, there would be an expected growth of sales of cosmetic products because roughly 70 million people around the world will reach an income that will allow them to purchase such kind of product. In the next 40 years, aging population in the world will multiply by 2.5 times. With an increase in the world’s aging population, life expectancy would improve too. 2. Social and Technological Environment Social environment is a broad concept which may be affected by all factors to be considered in making analysis in the Macro environment of the company. There is a significant factor that may affect sale of products easily. Majority of the Filipino consumers especially those who live in the National Capital Region may support products easily because of the practice called mental colonialism. What is imported is better. Of course it is! Filipinos tend to patronize imported products most especially those that are known for years. In fact, products made by the Estee Lauder Company are sold in some known malls all over the Metro Manila region. May it be cosmetics or fragrances; consumer will buy it as long as they have the money. Social media affects Filipinos perception about a certain thing. If there is one thing that Estee Lauder to focus on in trying to caught more attention from Filipinos, it shall be in the social media. I have noticed that they cannot be seen in the TV commercials, radio stations or even print ads. They appear in print ads but rarely with the local magazines. Since Estee Lauder is based in London, cosmetics are mostly designed for the white people. This company should create cosmetics that are compatible with the Asian skin especially to the Filipinos. Filipinos are fond of social networking sites which may be an advantage of Estee Lauder to advertise products internationally easily and can hear feedbacks with just a click. Since Estee Lauder prices ranges from mid-high to high, not all Filipinos can afford to have a single product on their pouches. Mid-range to elite people may patronize the product continuously but not those who are tight with the budget. Filipinos should be aware that though it may be a little expensive, the bill spent is worth every product. It has been a practice that those who can’t have those products, shift to an imitation of the original. I believe, these products should be innovated even more where in all Filipinos can afford to use Estee Lauder products in their daily routine. They should know the big difference between the original and the imitation. What is it? We should see it ourselves. 3. Economic Environment All sectors of the cosmetics industry showed growth in the Philippines in 2008/2009, according to Euromonitor. Beauty and personal care sales were US$2.26bn, a 2% rise year on year. The highest growth was in colour cosmetics (7.9%), skin care (6.3%), deodorants (4.3%), hair care (4%) and fragrance (2.9%). The mass market is dominant in the Philippines, accounting for 96.3% of all bath and shower sales. As elsewhere in the southeast Asian region, the major players are foreign multinationals – Unilever, followed by Procter Gamble, L’Orà ©al, Està ©e Lauder and Shiseido, according to the trade association Chambers of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines (CCIP). In the beauty and personal care sector, Colgate-Palmolive is the third largest company, behind Unilever – who in 2009 adopted a strategy of offering smaller-sized packaging, targeted at middle and lower income consumers – and Procter Gamble, according to Euromonitor. The economic slowdown in the Philippines has prompted growth in direct selling. Companies such as US-owned Avon and Philippines-based Ever Bilena Cosmetics adopted commitments to boosting revenues through discounts and tapped into a female labour market keen to increase household incomes. The market appears to be remaining vibrant. Between January 2009 and January, 2010, 511 new cosmetics products were launched in the Philippines, according to market research group Mintel – the highest number (176) was in skin care, followed by soap and bath products (131) and hair products (108). B. Competitive Analysis 1. Intensity of the Rivalry Among Existing Competitors Està ©e lauder’s brands face great competition in the cosmetics industry. Internationally it competes with Loreal, Avon, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden and Bare Escentuals. Though there are a lot of competitors in the industry, Estee lauder consists of various products that competes on each of them. Està ©e Lauder’s all-natural products face competition from Bare Esentuals. Its mid-end products compete against Revlon, Avon, and Elizabeth Arden. Additions to these competitors are the local companies in the Philippines like Ever Bilena and Careline. Rivalry intensifies because there are a lot of companies that are in to beauty products. Competition is more intense because of the local brands that use price cuts or other marketing tactics to boost unit volume. And because most Filipinos are thrifty, rivalry is stronger when the cost incurred by customers to switch their purchases from one brand, like Estee Lauder to another, like Careline, are low. Competitors might get a close competition with some EL products. But because of its variations of beauty products Estee lauder possesses, it still rises above the others internationally. Its professional makeup brands, M.A.C. and Bobbi Brown face significantly less competition because of their target marked of specialized clientele. In more than 25 years, Ever Bilena has become the number one Filipino brand. It has penetrated an industry dominated by global giants, and have made products best suited for our Filipina consumers with international quality at affordable price. Ever Bilena and Careline cater products that are way too cheap compare to EL and other international beauty companies. Ever Bilena and Careline target market are different from the target market of EL. They target teenagers who need beauty products for their everyday use. It outwits EL by selling their products in a very low price. Our country is considered as third world so along with that it gives EB and Careline the edge among competitors because of the market it targets, basically the Masa. Estee lauder is known for its reputation and expertise in beauty products. EL has been in the industry for years. They have gained loyal customers as time pass by, and as quality of their products improved along with it. They got an edge among other competitors just by the name it carries. But in the Philippines, those who cannot afford high-end beauty products will definitely not patronize Estee lauder products. It’s a really tough completion EL have in the Philippines, but it still stand a chance in competing with other local products because of the colonial mentality of the Filipino, love for foreign products. 2. Threat of the New Entrants Locally, the barrier is high but we can say that there is a great chance of any other aspiring businessman to enter into the industry. Economies of scale act as a great barrier to entry, and with EL, its sales for the past few years. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. today reported a strong financial performance for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 based on the financial statement posted via internet. In line with these facts gathered, we can say that the stability of the company is very strong that becomes a barrier for new entrants. Its capital requirement established in the industry by Estee Lauder is so large that it becomes a discouragement for the new companies planning to enter the industry. Another barrier is the Estee Lauder product differentiation. It offers different products that create a barrier by forcing entrants to incur expenditure to overcome existing customer loyalties. New entrants must spend a great deal of money and time to overcome this barrier. Filipinos will always patronize products that are affordable and with good quality. They can enter the industry by taking the form of aggressive price-cutting and increased in advertising. Estee Lauder is considered as high-end beauty products for the Filipinos. Only few can afford to buy fragrances, skin cares and make-up Estee Lauder offers. If the new entrant penetrates in the market by having the strategy of offering its products in a relatively low- price, it will definitely boom Filipino consumers. Watson beauty care, easily took Filipino patronage by selling different variety of products in a low prices. The barrier is really high when it comes to reputation and quality. But in the Philippines, the door in entering the industry is very much open to those who are willing to produce quality products in affordable prices. 3. Bargaining Power of the Buyers The consumers can bargain in this industry simply because they are the buyers purchases are a sizable percentage of the selling industrys total sales. The products are unimportant to the quality of the customers product or service. The item being purchased is sufficiently standardized among sellers that not only can buyers find alternative sellers. 4. Bargaining Power of the Suppliers Suppliers do not play a big roll and have little bargaining power in this market. Big brands like Està ©e Lauder develop essential ingredients in their own RD department, and only outsource basic and non-value-adding chemicals and packaging. 5. Threats of Product Substitute As a rule, the lower the price of substitutes and the higher the quality and performance of substitutes, the more intense are the competitive pressures posed by substitute products. We Filipinos go for the ones that are almost free of charge that gives us the same result that a costly product offers. We are the most resourceful race. Filipinos are naturally creative and imaginative people. Filipinos can invent a lot of things to substitute any products just so they can save money. We are also fan of herbal products which is the result of our being authentic Filipinos. Along with these ideas, the threats of product substitute are very high in the Philippines. Though Estee Lauder produce a brands, Aveda and Clinique, which focus on producing products made with natural ingredients and anti-allergens, many will still go for the naturals, literally, to make their skin or hair really good. V. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Threats: * Intense competition in cosmetics has increased and market initiators with quality providers are a serious threat to the firm. * New entrants, even though the market has considerably mature in the sense that it has captured customer loyalty, but there is always room for improvement in this field. * Counterfeit commodities affect the sales of the branded commodities. 9%, according to the Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting, of all the world trade comprises counterfeit goods. Opportunities: * New markets are emerging in various countries where the firm can inject its products, such as India, China (known to be the 2nd largest cosmetics market in Asia) etc. * Markets where wealthy rule is also a good opportunity to tap in because of the tendency of the wealthy to own luxury commodities. * Many nations are growing to be beauty conscience every passing day; the firm will do well in order to tap-in without any delay and initiate in order to get customer loyalty attached to its products. * Diversification of the distribution channels. * Expansion to global markets, worldwide. Weaknesses: * Lack of concentration regarding customer value (Client.) * Profit oriented (loses sight of the customer) * Weak Liquidity Position (decline in the firm’s liquidity in the past few years.) * Distribution Network’s lack of reach to other viable markets. * Declining operating income in various market marks the weak penetration of the products in those specific markets. Strengths: * Strong Brand Reputation (The brand is associated with luxury quality. Also has a strong brand portfolio). * Research Development (Role model and leader in identifying consumer needs, and preferences and developing products accordingly). * Strong Distribution Network (The products are sold to a limited stores that compliments the image of the brands such as department stores, upscale perfumeries, specialty stores, professional hairdressers etc. specially in U.S.) * Vigorous Revenue Profitability (Net Earnings for fiscal year 2010 $478 million while Net sales were $7.8 billion.) * 31,000 employees working under its umbrella, full-time. (approximate value) * Products are sold in more than 150 countries. * Powerful marketing techniques used by the firm: Free Gift, Gift-With-Purchase, Makeup Artist Events (for trying out the new products) etc. * Operations and cost maintenance with the firm holds a strong positive attitude in the long run. * Regulations are increasing due to the voicing of different groups about harmful chemical ingredients in cosmetic products. VI. GENERIC STRATEGIES Differentiation â€Å"Differentiation is a competitive business strategy whereby firms attempt to gain a competitive advantage by increasing the perceived value of their products and services relative to the perceived value of other firm’s products and services† – Charles W.L. Hill, Gareth R. Jone No other companies has done better than Estee Lauder company. They are already on top but the concept of being unique or different is far more important today that it was years ago. The company should consider strategies in differentiation. First, they can use quality/price differentiation for Estee Lauder. The company can improve more on the quality of their cosmetic products so that customers will build loyalty to the company. Next, said company could use product differentiation by adding more features, specifications, design or the image, packaging and benefits on their products. Also, they can use differentiation by repositioning. To regain its position as a premium product, Està ©e Lauder must reposition itself. A successful repositioning would require the Està ©e Lauder brand to develop a clear brand image and provide its customers with something that is unique. There are a few possibilities that Està ©e Lauder could take; Està ©e Lauder could emphasize the natural ingredients in a product, the romance and sexiness, or the technology involved in a product. Another possibility for Està ©e Lauder would be to create a new brand image through the release of a sub-brand. In considering each of these strategies, it is also important to take into account how Està ©e Lauder’s competitors will react. Natural Ingredients. Currently, Està ©e Lauder’s customers are not interested in the naturalness of the ingredients used in Està ©e Lauder skincare products. This is evidenced by the fact that Està ©e Lauder does not promote the natural ingredients and yet they still have customers. To redefine the brand as one that emphasizes natural products might ostracize the current Està ©e Lauder customers. In addition to this, the natural ingredient skincare market is not high-end. The main competitors in that market are Biotherm and Clarins. These brands are well recognized by those customers that place natural ingredients above technology; however, they cannot demand as high a price as Està ©e Lauder for their skincare products. This would not be a wise move for Està ©e Lauder. Romance. Another option for Està ©e Lauder would be to position the brand so that it is appealing for those women who desire the romance and sexiness that is associated with cosmetics. This positioning strategy would place Està ©e Lauder in direct competition with Lancà ´me. As Lancà ´me is a French brand, it already has an advantage over Està ©e Lauder as France is widely associated with romance. The Està ©e Lauder brand would have to work very hard to overcome Lancà ´me’s natural advantage. A first glance comparison of an Està ©e Lauder and a Lancà ´me booth at Macy’s will show that Està ©e Lauder’s image is lacking the luscious, red lips of Lancà ´me. Instead, Està ©e Lauder’s image is of the elegant Carolyn Murphy and Liya Kebede. Their images are beautiful but distant and lacking passion. To rework this image would be extremely difficult. Direct competition with Lancà ´me would also be unfavorable. By more heavily emphasizing its technology, Està ©e Lauder also has the opportunity to occupy the trendy end of the technology market as opposed to being a complete dermatologist-brand. This is due to the elegance and fashion that is associated with Està ©e Lauder. Presently, the bestsellers in the skincare market in general are anti-aging formulas. In the growing Asian skincare market, the bestsellers are anti-aging and whitening formulas. Both these formulas rely heavily on technology, so it is a good time for dermatologist-brands to enter the market. By occupying the trendy end of the technology market, Està ©e Lauder will have a good position against these strong new entrants. VII. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION Estee Lauder can implement Horizontal Integration where the company will buy another company. If they really want to increase the sales in the Philippines, they can buy local brands and kill the competition. VIII. RECOMMENDATION/ CONCLUSION Based on the data gathered we can conclude the following: 1. Filipinos are aware of Estee Lauder and they consider this as a very high-end product. They patronize competing product that offers more reasonable price. Estee Lauder should formulate products that they can offer to Masa, a product for Filipinos. Same as to what L’Oreal did in the Philippines, when they introduced shampoo and conditioner that is close to the price of local brands. 2. Estee Lauder’s target market is middle-aged female whose buying power is relatively secure and thus are less price-sensitive. Filipinos are price sensitive, with that they should formulate strategy that is similar from the first conclusion. 3. Filipinos need lots of information about beauty care. We should be informed about the importance of Estee Lauder’s product, and what are the difference between their product to other companies and substitute product we are using. They should increase their advertisements in the Philippines. Technically, they are so known in the industry that they don’t need any advertisement, but Filipinos are fan of idiot box that they rely mostly to what they see on TV. 4. The collection should consist of products that can be offered to middle market. It should be affordable and with good quality. The collection should be focusing on whitening skin and affordable cosmetics. 5. Aside from department stores and exclusive beauty shops, Estee Lauder should try putting up a place for their products in drugs store like Mercury and Watsons, which include every product they offer. They are already doing this but just to chosen products. They should start advertising their cosmetic products to these places where people have easy access and this will help people to get familiar to Estee Lauder’s product.