Market analysis of the Procter and Gamble company

Market analysis of the Procter and Gamble company Procter Gamble is a major U.S. manufacturer of soaps, cleansers, and other household products. PG have three main product lines: household and personal care, food consumer and health care products. PG interact with over five million consumers each year in approximately sixty countries around the world (PG. 2010). PG has remained on the Fortune 500 listing since 1955 and has never ranked less than number 35 in the last fifty-five years (AGG Data. 2010). In 2009, it ranked number 20 of Fortune 500 companies with revenue of $83.503.00 million and profit of $12,075.00 million (AGG Data. 2010). According to Mr. John E. Pepper, CEO Procter Gamble, the company has a history of growth and expansion. Every ten years for the last fifty years, the company has doubled their business. He feels the companys success has been based on their brands, including those that created a whole new category. For example Pampers was the first affordable disposable diaper and Crest was the first fluoride toot hpaste both manufactured by Procter Gamble (Pepper. 1999). No company in the world has invested more money in consumer and market research than Procter Gamble. Each year the company conducts at least fifteen thousand research studies and invests three-hundred and fifty million dollars in consumer research (PG. 2010). In order for the company to maintain profitable and grow, they must engage in strategic development that encompasses relooking at their processes, structures and culture and creating the hub and spoke structure for competitive intelligence operations. Company Background: Procter Gamble was formed in 1837 when brother-in-laws James Gamble, a soap maker and William Procter, a candle maker joined forces. The firms starting capital was $7,192.24 and they agreed on a 50/50 distribution partnership (American Chemical Society. 2007). Formation of the company coincided with the economic expansion of the United States. Their first products, soap and candles, were transported by steamboats down the Ohio River to Mississippi and New Orleans. By 1850, the company was able to expand their distribution to additional markets using railroads. The company grew into a million-dollar enterprise during the Civil War when the firm obtained contracts to supply the Union Army with soap and candles. However, in 1879 the company was forced to eliminate its candle making when consumers switched to kerosene. The company expanded its soap making to stay competitive by experimenting with developing a castile-like product that was inexpensive enough to be mass marketed. Ivory So ap was the answer. The soap was made from coconut and palm oil, lathered easily, remained solid and lasted longer than other soaps. The company aggressively marketed the new product and the success of Ivory led Procter Gamble to being a multi-million dollar industrial icon. In the 1930 and 40s, the company utilized technology and chemical experimentation to expand its product line into synthetic detergents that were marketed globally. The company introduced Dreft and then Tide. Now it was no longer consider just a soap company. The company later began to make personal-care items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant; food products such as cake mixes and coffee; and miscellaneous products such as cellulose pulp and chemicals. Mission Statement Vision Statement: Vision Be, and be recognized as, the best consumer products and services in the world Mission Procter and Gamble will continue to serve consumers by continuously innovating products that will allow us to be leaders in household and personal care, health care, and food products. To produce products with the utmost care to give nothing but quality to our communities. And to continue to grow so that we can maximize our shareholders wealth (Procter Gamble. 2010). Procter Gamble was built on the theory of touching consumer lives with brands that make life a little better every day. They connect with consumers by offering affordable products and packaging specially designed to meet consumer needs which has allowed Procter Gamble to remain profitable for one hundred-seventy three years. Internal Analysis External Analysis: Procter Gamble has a strong internal and external foundation. It has built its reputation on achieving the goals it sets forth, following their vision and establishing principles based on their beliefs about business and consumers. The company has remained a front competitor in innovation by introducing new and improved products to consumers brought on by market changes. PG realizes that in a competitive market speed of research and development is a key element. Mr. Michael Allan, Director of Baby-Care stated to Mr. Pepper, CEO, It wont be the big that eat the small; it will be the fast that eat the slow (Pepper. 1999). Procter Gamble realized that the company needed to refocus their attention to continue to achieve a winning strategy to meet internal and external challenges. Leadership felt that their growth was to slow and their complexity was too high. Their objective became to build and create leadership brands globally better than ever before and to capitalize on the knowledge , capability and commitment of its employees. This will be achieved by simplification of the organization structure, minimizing processes, introducing technology and making strategic changes to their culture. SWOT analysis of your plans focus area(s): Strengths: Profitable Adaptability of Product Line to meet consumer needs. One of Procter Gambles strengths is it remain profitable in a struggling economy. It produces products that are personal care items that are necessities even in hard times. Procter Gamble 2009 annual report to investors shows it employed 102,000 employees in 80 countries and reported net sales $79,029 million (PG. 2009). The Board of Directors proposed a dividend of $1.64 per share for 2009 (PG. 2009). Since the corporation is profitable, they are able to invest these profits into acquiring additional companies that will add new products and services to its portfolio to focus on consumers needs. Weakness: Turnaround time for Research and Development products. Complexity of organization structure Currently research products take three to four years to develop and market. Given the consumer demands and competition this is too long and the company sales declined in 2009 compared to 2008. PG organizational structure is multi-tiered for each product line. Changing environment necessitates scale down of management positions and develop the hub and spoke structure for competitive intelligence operations. Opportunities: Global marketing New Products, improvement in existing products, manufacturing and marketing techniques. Procter Gamble has the opportunity to market products in emerging technologies. By positioning themselves in the development of new products and improvements to existing products they are at the forefront of technology development with vast opportunities for growth. This has the potential to lead to an increase in customers and raise profits. PG also has the opportunity to market their products in other international areas. Currently PG products are sold in 180 countries (PG. 2009). The corporate structure provides the framework to tap the benefits of a global organization with speed and efficiency. Threats: Ecological Factors Economic Factors Sales are dependent on consumer spending. When the economy is weak and consumers reduce spending, PG feels the impact. They must remain competitive with prices and offer diversification of their market line so they can maintain a financial balance. PG operations must remain compliant with governmental regulations concerning recycling and bio-degradable materials and other mandated ecological factors to preserve the environment. Goals: (3-5 years) Eliminate the overlap in management Initiate the hub spoke structure for competitive intelligence operations Expand sales of product line globally International expansion to markets with potential for growth and limited competition exits Decrease turnaround time for research and development products Customer responsiveness Product development cycles Product or service improvements Speed in delivery or distribution Develop open Innovation Strategy Emphasis on process innovation that permits low-cost product design, manufacturing methods and distribution Product cost reduction Long Term Objectives Support the business strategy, organizational principles and culture. Attract and retain required talent Accept financial responsibility to shareholders The goal of long term objectives is to support the business strategy as change is implemented. The strategy should be the reference point and link to the design and mechanics of implementation. Linking plan design to the business strategy generates employee motivation and buy- in to the changes being implemented which establishes the culture of the work environment. Attract and retain required talent ensures profitability and endurance. Position PG to be the employer of choice by offering attractive, competitive employment opportunities for long-term financial security across many global locations. Build a personnel structure that allows mobility as changes to organizational structure are deemed necessary. Remain profitable and supportive to shareholders by declaring yearly dividend on stock holdings. Strategy Analysis and Choice: Generic Strategy: Differentiation A long term strategy must be based on a core idea or generic strategy that gives direction to the company to strategically compete in the consumer marketplace. Differentiation for Procter Gamble involves creating unique products and marketing them to consumers by stressing their products qualities are superior to its competitors. This strategy defines loyal customers who will pay a premium price for their brand because they truly believe in the product. Marketing should be aimed at the qualities that set the product apart and above its competition. Grand Strategy: Concentric Diversification Grand strategies are the basis of coordinating and sustaining efforts toward achieving long-term business objectives by providing basic direction for strategic actions. Concentric diversification is a key grand strategy for Procter Gamble. It involves acquiring businesses that are compatible with PG in terms of technology, markets and products. According to Pearce Robinson, The ideal concentric diversification occurs when the combined company profits increase the strengths and opportunities and decrease the weakness and expose to risk (Pearce Robinson. 2010. P. 221). Plan Goals and Implementation: Procter Gamble should continue to monitor trends in the market and consumer requests for products and implement a corporate retrenchment strategy to enable them to expand their product line and to make their product available to other international locations based on market research. This can be implemented by PG conducting a stakeholder management survey. By hiring a global marketing information firm to conduct a stakeholder management survey, the information can be used to identify, prioritize and develop improvement initiatives in areas that needed improvement as identified by consumers. The survey would also provide geographical information on profitable areas to introduce PG products. An increase in research and technology operating budget will allow emerging technologies to continue to be developed and products readily available to consumers. According to Information Week, Procter Gamble management structure is reorganizing the companys current corporate structure is four geo graphic business units. The new structure will now be seven global business units based on product categories which is call the product team structure. The company is highly energized and moving forward with increased spending in Information technology (InformationWeek. 1999). Critical Success Factors: Critical success factors are the steps that the business, both management and employees, must take to bring the strategies into a reality. The factors may vary from time to time, but they must be addressed in order for the company to operate at optimal efficiency. . A critical factor for Procter Gamble is quality and innovation. The company must aggressively market new products and bring research technologies to customers quicker. Critical success factors are beneficial to companies as they provide focus and keep the employees and management going in the same direction. Another critical success factor is increasing revenues. A company must be profitable to be successful. Another factor is expansion of customer service. PG must be reachable when consumers have a question. Controls and Evaluation: Controls must be in place to evaluation success. Financial statements will validate if sales are increasing and profits are increasing. Forecasting is a vital control. A monthly and yearly projection should be made by management to project the sales of products by area. The evaluation would be done monthly to compare the plan to the actual units sold. This information will provide PG with marketing information for inventory qualities, product turnover and stagnant product lines. Conclusion Todays market is characterized by highly competitive organizations which are all vying for consumers loyalty. Firms are faced with the challenge to maintain their own competitive edge to be able to survive and be successful. Procter Gamble was built on the theory of touching consumer lives with brands that make life a little better every day. They continue to connect with consumers by offering affordable products and packaging specially designed to meet consumer needs. Procter and Gamble must maintain an innovative approach by introducing new products and re-facing existing product lines to compete and satisfy consumer demands, to allow them to remain profitable for the next one hundred-seventy three years.

Dilemma: African American and Nonviolence Essay

The omnivores dilemma is a modern problem for all human beings. These days, there are many options for a person to eat, but not all are healthy. Every day people go to supermarkets and feel totally lost because there are so many choices. Source #2 â€Å"Louis Armstrong. † Grolier. Web. 1 Jan. . Source #3 â€Å"Armstrong,Louis. † Grolier. Web. 1 Jan. . Source #4 â€Å"Louis Armstrong. † Facthound. Web. 1 Jan. . Source #5 Raum, Elizabeth,ed. Louis Armstrong : Jazz Legend. 2007. Protesting Nonviolently Did you know that three major figures used the method of nonviolence to change the world? Nonviolence has been a successful way to protest for many years and has provided major changes in life for people. Nonviolence is the best way to protest and make a major point. Gandhi was one of the first people to use nonviolence in a major way. A book tells how Gandhi went to jail instead of others because he did not fear a jail cell and proved he was nonviolent. When Gandhi organized a march officers beat the protesters and injured them severely, but they did not raise an arm to fight back. Gandhi sent a letter to Lord Irwin saying how british rule is a curse and he will stop at nothing to free his people from british rule. Gandhi initiated the first acts of nonviolence and won freedom for the people of India. Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolent acts to fight against segregation. When MLK was part of a boycott he took full responsibility when he was arrested and said he wasn’t going anywhere or going to fight back. Martin was picking up more volunteers for protesting and said that it was hard not to fight back but they still had to lay down their weapons. The time MLK led the bus boycott he was arrested, people who had participated in the boycott actually walked down to the sheriff’s office to be arrested and to see if their name was on the list. Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolence to get rights for colored people and followed Gandhi’s example. Nelson Mandela worked fighting racial segregation in South Africa, or apartheid, using nonviolence. Mandela’s organization started out using violence but soon converted to Gandhi’s way of nonviolence which was better morally and tactically. Nelson Mandela took lots of his time recruiting helpers for the cause. Although the work was dangerous, he was convinced that nonviolence was the way to win. Mandela talked about how if he was put to a death sentence his work work and actions would live on. Nelson Mandela adapted Gandhi’s work to help free the people of South Africa from racial oppression. Nonviolence worked to help lots of different kinds of people throughout history and proved major points. Gandhi started nonviolence and became a major figure for lots of people. Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolence to gain rights for colored people in america and became a pivotal figure in american history. Nelson Mandela became the first South African president and is also a major figure in history. Nonviolence has changed the world majorly and next time you see a picture of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. , or Nelson Mandela you might think a little more about them.

The Amendment Of Same Sex Marriage - 1441 Words

The Judicial branch told the states that it is unconstitutional to not allow same sex couples to marry or have a marriage license. The Fourteenth Amendment talks about the right for Due Process. The Fourteenth Amendment protects privacy rights. Obergefell vs Hodges talks about same sex marriage. Some states did not want to give marriage licenses to the same sex and that was part of the issue in Obergefell versus Hodges. In the 1980s, it was hard to be gay or lesbian. It was considered criminal in some states. The Fourteenth Amendment does support the case of same sex marriages. For both opposite sex marriage and same sex marriage the partners need a license to be married. The court has a Due Process Clause to help with the Fourteenth Amendment. The Due Process Clause states, â€Å"The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to marry as one of the fundamental liberties it protects, and that analysis applies to same sex couples in the same manner as it does to opposite- sex couples.† (Whalen) The exclusion of same sex couples from the right to marry one another goes against the Due Process Clause. â€Å"The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment also guarantees the right to same-sex couples to marry as the denial of that right would deny same-sex couples equal protection under the law.† (Whalen) Religious organizations have to adhere to the principals of same sex marriages. â€Å"The Constitution and judicial precedent clearly protect a right to marry and requi re states toShow MoreRelatedThe Amendment Of Same Sex Essay941 Words   |  4 Pagesof Hodges and offer these accompanying thoughts. In order to determine if the state is required under the Fourteenth Amendment to license a marriage of same sex, we must establish a foundation in regards to marriage and its entitlements. The court argues that marriage â€Å"is not a fundamental right,† and with this conclusion, the state is not be required to legally recognize any marriage it does not see fit. Fundamental rights are due strict scrutiny, but issues of liberty interest only require rationalRead MoreThe Issue With Same Sex Marriage1704 Words   |  7 PagesThe Issue with Same Sex Marriage has been debated for over a decade and we have seen conflicts of concerns regarding the rights of homosexuals. Do they have the right to same sex marriage? First must look for the level of definition from the word marriage. We must first look at the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), in which i t states that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman. On July 18th, 2006, the Congressional voted on the proposed Amendment that befell onto the House ofRead MoreSupreme Court Case Study725 Words   |  3 Pages with a 5-4 majority, a controversial ruling decreeing that denying equal recognition to same-sex couples was in violation of the Equal Protections Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Those on the minority cited concerns of judicial restraint, the connection between marriage and procreation, and whether or not marriage is a Constitutional issue in the first place. Nevertheless, equal recognition for same-sex couples became the law of the land. History James Obergefell and his partner John ArthurRead MoreWhy Did The 14th Amendment Guarantees Equal Protection Under The Law?1092 Words   |  5 Pagesthe summer of 2015 the U.S supreme court ruled in favor to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 countries in the United States. This all occurred because of the Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) case. This very important case involved â€Å"14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased† and the couples argued that the â€Å"state officials violated [their] 14th amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have marriages lawfully performed in another state given full recognition and alsoRead MorePersuasive Essay On Same Sex Marriage1368 Words   |  6 Pages Marriage is the legal and formal recognition of the union of a man and a woman. This simple definition has been modified several times.In the past, marriage was allowed only through the union of the same race, such as a white male and white female, black male and black female, however, now, it is a battle of allowing the marriage of the same-sex. The fight is not only to help protect rights for same-sex couples, but, also, to interracial couples, who have been experiencing racism and discriminationRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage1256 Words   |  6 Pagessupreme court ruled in favor to legalize same-sex marriage in all the fifty states .This was a huge change in the world and this difference was made because of popular case which is called the Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). This very important case involved â€Å"14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased† in this case the couples argued that the â€Å"state officials violated [their] 14th amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have marriages lawfully performed in another stateRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Recognized?1692 Words   |  7 PagesKrisha McCoy Final Paper August 25, 2014 SHOULD GAY MARRIAGES BE RECOGNIZED ACROSS STATES There are many debates going on about whether gay-marriage should be recognized by all United States. Why is it that some states ban gay-marriage but others allow it? Why is it that some states declare that a ban on gay-marriage is unconstitutional yet others say it is not? Why is it that some states recognize gay-marriages from other states but others do not? These are some questions thatRead MoreChanges Law Of Same Sex Marriage1624 Words   |  7 PagesChanges Law of Same Sex â€Æ' The issue of gay marriage has been with a great deal of civil argument. Many people have taken stands that favour their position on the issue of same sex marriage. The reasons given against same sex marriage are that they are not according to the social norms and practices. They also state that they are not likely to hold. The position held by others that same sex marriage should be allowed states that those who want to practice should not be interfered with. Too manyRead MoreGay And Same Sex Marriage963 Words   |  4 PagesThe topic of gay (or same-sex) marriage has been a controversial topic throughout the nation for many years. Like most issues, different people have opposite views on the idea of the subject. Some states governments support the idea while others are totally against it. Also, within each individual state there are people that have their own opinion of the issue. Both supporters and opponents within the states have tried to pass different amendments to establishe d laws, in which reflect their viewsRead MoreEssay on Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized1238 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the Human Rights Campaign, the 2000 Census reported 3.1 million people in the United States of America were living in same sex relationships. These citizens reside in 99.3 percent of the counties across the nation and it is estimated that between 1 and 9 million children are being raised by gay, bisexual or lesbian parents (Human Rights Campaign). These individuals are American citizens protected by the United States Constitution. Article 14.1 of the United States Constitution entitles

The Weapons and Tactics Used by Terrorists

Does The Media Create Negative Self Image - 882 Words

Does the media create negative self image in women? According to NY Daily news, â€Å"The average American watches more than five hours of television every day†. People all over the world are victims of the media, whether it is online, television, magazines, billboards, etc. The mass media has a very powerful impact on what we do, how we act, and how we portray ourselves and others. Along with general entertainment, the media is used for advertising, campaigning, and so on. Over time the media has continued to expand, influencing something much bigger and self concerning; body image. Women of all races and body types are advertised in today’s culture, where some are described to be more favorable than others. In most of these advertisements you see are women who appear to set very unrealistic expectations. The media’s capability of manipulating an image may play a large role in the widespread body dissatisfaction. The growth of technological advancements over the years has became very controversial on being a positive or a negative development. Photographers have access to a countless number of editing and enhancement tools, and they do not see anything wrong with doing so. Jeff Schewe from Photoshop news says We have wonderful tools to create images, new digital cameras and photographic digital printers and powerful tools such as Photoshop and we are expected to do what -- nothing? I don t think so,. Before an image is released to the public it would be distorted toShow MoreRelatedThe Influence of Mass Media on the Young Male Image Essay1645 Words   |  7 Pages Mass media creates a stereotype promoting an image of how a young man should act, appear, or resemble in todays society. The media has a great influence over what we view and hear as a society and it can have an effect especially on a younger men and the image that they want to portray. Moreover, the media has a lot to do with the image we perceived in our minds and young men are easily perusable by what they see or hear. With the media flooding negative influence, it builds up to having thisRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society1224 Words   |  5 Pages Social media is a variety of platforms provided to the public as a medium for expression and communication. Seemingly, social media could be viewed as a positive contribution to society, but one must consider the underlying effects of society. Many of us don’t take into account the role that social media plays in the way we perceive things, think, and live our lives. Social media plays a critical part in societal norms. â€Å"Social norms are rules of conduct that governs interactions among individualsRead More Understanding the Causes of Negative Body Image Essay518 Words   |  3 Pages Understanding the Causes of Negative Body Image I chose to read the book titled â€Å"Understanding the Causes of Negative Body Image† by Barbara Moe because I plan on focusing my research paper on how the media has strong control over women’s development of self-esteem and body image. The message that the media is sending creates the context within which people learn to value size and shape of their body. Moe’s book focuses on how our culture is preoccupied with weight and appearanceRead MoreStudies of Social Media and its Effects on Adolescent’s Body Image 1166 Words   |  5 Pagestechnology has evolved into something people cannot live without. Mixed in with all of the improvements, social media has become a major asset in the lives of people. Social media can include websites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but can also include video games and magazines. However, social media is not always genuine. In the mindset of adolescents, these medias help to create unrealistic ideas of who they are and who they should be. As if going through puberty isn’t difficult enough, teenagersRead MoreMedia s Effect On Self Esteem1731 Words   |  7 Pagesthe media has become ever-increasingly present in our everyday lives. The latest fashion editorials and the most exclusive celebrity selfies are always just a click away. Something so pervasive, however, should be intently studied and handled with extreme caution due to the vast influence it can have over its audience’s mind. Too much exposure to certain stimuli has previously been shown to affect cognition and behavior in adolescents. So why should media be any different? Social media appsRead MoreSocial Media and its Effect on Eating Disorders793 Words   |  3 Pagesthe internet on social media websites, leaving harsh marks on all who read them, especially the extremely impressionable youth of America. Today’s youth is becoming heavily reliant on social media outlets such as Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook, but it comes with a problematic cost, mental disorders on the rise. Eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders are rapidly becoming more and more common in hospitals all across the nation, and social media is fueling the fireRead MoreA Social Web Laced With Poison914 Words   |  4 Pagesand social media have brought power back to the people.† It makes sense that he would possess such a positive view of social media, because his job more or less depends on it. However, the reality is a little less sunshine and rainbows. Social media has undoubtedly changed the way humans can communicate with each other, even making it possible to contact people in a far off country. There is a bit of a catch though. For all of its perks, social media is creating a profoundly negative effect on thoseRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesOver the duration of time, I have noticed the great deal of power that media has influenced on how women ought to appear. The relationship between social media and its users is a high effect on people and causes many problems. We are constantly thrown images of women and men to categorize what is eye catching. It has been clear that social media has blossomed in the last few decades to only deliver us with messages. Social media is applying to us, th at looking more like the Kardashians and less likeRead MoreBody Image And Dissatisfaction Of The Thin Ideal1577 Words   |  7 Pages Body Image and Dissatisfaction The media’s interpretation of the â€Å"thin ideal† has caused people to modify their personal perception of body image, which is defined as the â€Å"internal representation of one’s own outer appearance reflecting physical and perceptual dimensions† (Borzekowski; Bayer). This notion is akin with self-esteem and self-concept possibly resulting in individuals having an inadequate body image as well as low self-esteem. The term â€Å"body dissatisfaction† is defined as a negativeRead MoreThe Between Media And Body Image1348 Words   |  6 Pagesconstructed by the society and by the media. But women are affected that kind of construction. Mass media give narrow definition about the standard of beauty. Delis noticed this massage everywhere, especially in the media, â€Å"I am so affected by Glamour magazine and Vogue and all that; I’m looking at all these beautiful women. They’re thin. I want to be just as beautiful. I want to be just as thin. Because that is what guys like† (Hesse-Biber, Sharlene Nagy 12). The media representation of the thin ideal

Symposium by Plato Free Essays

PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE Apollodorus: the narrator of the symposium Aristodemus: the person who told Apollodorus about the symposium Glaucon: the unknown man Phaedrus: the person who suggested that everyone has to make a speech about love Pausanias: Agathon’s Lover Eryximachus: a doctor/physician Aristophanes: comedic playwright Agathon: a tragedian Socrates: the protagonist of the symposium Alcibiades: Socrates’ admirer THE HOUSE OF AGATHON (416 BC.) Apollodorus was chased and asked by an unknown man (probably the unknown man is Glaucon) about what happened to the banquet. That man, asked him about the speeches regarding the concept of Love or the god Eros, which were basically based on the accounts of Socrates, and all the other speakers who were present in the symposium. We will write a custom essay sample on Symposium by Plato or any similar topic only for you Order Now The symposium occurred in Agathon’s house, this is when a celebration was held in honor for the victory of Agathon. Apollodorus started his discourse about love with his companion based on the dialogues and accounts of Aristodemus. ARISTODEMUS’ conversation with APOLLODORUS According to Aristodemus, he met Socrates fresh from bath, and asked him whether he was going to the banquet or not. But Socrates said that he was not invited; but he said â€Å"To the feast of inferior men the good unbidden go†. Aristodemus received a warm welcome from Agathon. Agathon asked him about Socrates, he asked if Socartes will come. Aristodemus then was asked to find Socrates and bring him to the place, but he said that, â€Å"I believe that he will soon appear†, and as expected, all of a sudden, when the supper was on its halfway, Socrates entered. The highlight of the banquet is hard drinking. But, Pausanias said if they could drink with at least, least effect. â€Å"How can the drinking be made easiest?† They should avoid drinking so hard. Which in turn, they all agreed that the drinking would be voluntary. All of a sudden, Exryximachus proposed that all of them would have to give their speeches regarding their insights about love to honor and praise their god, Eros. THE SPEECHES ABOUT EROS PHAEDRUS’ SPEECH Phaedrus stated that Eros is an almighty God, a noble one and considered as the eldest among all of the gods. He explained his proposition based of the account of Hesiod, that, once there was a chaos that brought the Earth and Eros to existence. He also stated that Eros is matter of self-sacrifice of the lover for his beloved, that, the lover is ready to sacrifice himself and die for his beloved. In order to prove things right, he had mentioned several notable events which may serve as proofs that love is sacrifice, he associated the concept of love by taking the accounts on happened in the story of â€Å"The Iliad† and â€Å"Eurydice†, that, the lovers died for their beloved ones. PAUSANIAS’ SPEECH He stated that Eros and Aphrodite were inseparable, and in line with this, he also spoke that there were two goddesses, because if there is not Phaedrus’ statement about love is enough. He told to his comrades that Eros should get the praises he deserves. According to him, there were to gods; the Heavenly Aphrodite and the Common Aphrodite. The Heavenly Aphrodite is whom he called the elder one, who has no mother and Uranus’ daughter. While, the Common Aphrodite is whom he called the younger, and the offspring of Zeus and Dione. He emphasized that, the action varies depending upon its manner of performance, he said that it could either be good or evil as per what has been performed. He also pointed out that the Common Aphrodite is way far different from the Heavenly Aphrodite. That, those people who believed in and affected by the love of the Common Aphrodite appears to become the most foolish, ill-mannered, and senseless beings, because of they are much more concern solely to accomplish only the end but not the noble end. On the other hand, those beings who are greatly affected and inspired by the Heavenly Aphrodite would be the more greathearted, courageous and intelligent in nature, because she is clean, divine and has no wantonness within. ERYXIMACHUS’ SPEECH According to Eryximachus who is a physician that time, the concept of love could somehow be associated with the use of his own art, which is his art of medicine. He also emphasized that, in being unlike or having the concept of opposites, love could be in its outmost presence and achieve harmony within. He emphasized his concept of achieving harmony, that, harmony could be achieved if it is in the state of being discord. â€Å"Harmony is discord.†    He also said that love is good, love is accompanied by temperance and justice, and love is the source of our harmonious life and happiness. ARISTOPHANES’ SPEECH The comedian Aristophanes commenced his speech in a way of telling an ancient story about the origins of the mankind. He stated that, in the beginning, originally, there are not one, not two, but three sexes present in mankind. There is the feminine one (woman), the masculine one (man), and the union of the two, which is also called as â€Å"Androgynous†. He explained the physical characteristics of what we called Man. According to him which is based on a tale, â€Å"His back and sides forming a circle; and he had four hands and four feet, one head with two faces, looking opposite ways, set on a round neck and precisely alike; also four ears, two privy members, and the remainder to correspond†. He also pondered on the abilities of this creature, that, this creature â€Å"could walk upright as men now do, backwards or forwards as he pleased, and he could also roll over and over at a great pace, turning on his four hands and four feet, eight in all, like tumblers going over and over with their legs in the air; this was when he wanted to run fast†. Aristophanes associated the description of the three sexes to the earth, the moon and the sun. He said that, the original formulation of all of these is that, man is the offspring of the sun, woman is the offspring of earth and the united two which is the man-woman creature is believed as the offspring of the moon. According to the tale of Otus and Ephialtes. Zeus thought of a clever way of making this matter organized. He then said that, man will continue experiencing life, but in separate ways, so that they could live independently. In order to make things happen, Zeus used his lightning to strike and split them into two. The concept of love here occurs within the creatures themselves, they will part their ways and try to seek for their other halves for the sake of wholeness. But, Zeus dared, that, if they remain in their state of insolence and impertinence, he would split them again would have to live with a single leg. In line with this, he also said that they must praise the god Eros for he had helped them a lot in all aspects of human nature. AGATHON’S SPEECH According to him, he has a different way of acknowledging the god Eros, for he was really sincere when it comes to praising Eros. He has a different overview when it comes to Eros. His idea of the god Eros was contradictory to the fact of Phaedrus who claimed that Eros as the eldest among all gods, but for him, he considered Eros as the youngest among all gods, a youthful one forever, and Eros is the most blessed and the fairest. Eros is also tender, that, in order to understand the essence of his tenderness somebody has to rely on Homer. Eros tenderness was able to touch the hearts and souls of the gods and men and make his home and space in it. Eros was able to focus on the moral and virtuous character of love where courage, justice, temperance and wisdom were fully acknowledged. SOCRATES’ SPEECH Socrates’ speech is based on the account of a Diotima wise woman from Mantineia. She is his instructress in understanding what love really is. He went to Diotima because of his ignorance and consciousness, that, he wants to know the mysteries of love. According to Diotima of Mantineia, Love is not good as it is and is not fair at all. She said that Eros appears to be a great god for those who are not aware. Diotima stated that Eros is just a great spirit or also known as a daimon, wherein he mediates between the mortal and the divine. For Diotima, gods are not philosophers or wisdom seekers, because gods are wise by nature. She said that Eros is also a lover of wisdom, for he is a love of the beautiful. Love is expressed through procreation, but this procreation must be beautiful. Why beautiful? Because beautiful is considered to be harmonious, while ugliness is considered to be the inharmonious. However, with respect to divinity, this procreation should only be undertaken between a union of a man and a woman. Diotima said that, love is immortality, because, for the people, generation is something that is immortal and eternal, and by that people would desire for immortality coupled with goodness. Both the body and the soul could be pregnant. People who are pregnant in the body concerns of having blessed offspring in the future. People who are pregnant in the soul concerns of having eagerness to have wisdom and virtue. He said that his words could be called as an â€Å"encomium of love†. (The company made a huge applause after the speech of Socrates. Then, suddenly Alcibiades’ voice was heard, he was so intoxicated and kept on shouting and roaring â€Å"Where is Agathon? Lead me to Agathon.† He came then with an intent to crown Agathon, even if he was in a great state of intoxication. He also crowned Socrates. He joined the conversation as permitted by Eryximachus, and said that he would only speak about the truth.) ALCIBIADES SPEAKS Alcibiades expressed how he praises Socrates. According to Alcibiades, Socrates is like the busts of Silenus, and elsewhere like Marsyas the satyr, because of he had a face that looks like a satyr. (Socrates is a satyr and a siren.) He stated the resemblance of Socrates to Marsyas. He said that both of them were so influencial but of different ways. In the case of Marsyas, he uses instrument and make melodies or music to captivate the souls of men. While, on the other hand, a Socratic way of making influence uses only himself and his words to charm and captivate the souls of men. For him, Marsyas and Socrates are worthy to listen to because they are believable compared to other speakers that he had heard of. He said that he was in love with Socrates and yet stated that they have had a great understanding and he tried to seduce Socrates but it did not work on his favor. He also emphasized â€Å"In vino veritas† which typically means, â€Å"In wine, truth†. He ended his talk saying to Agathon that â€Å"Be not deceived by him; learn from me and take warning, and do not be a fool and learn by experience, as the proverb says.† The end. PHILOSOPHICAL REVIEW Symposium by Plato profoundly introduced the diverse overview of the speakers about the concept of love in the form of making a speech. This dialogue embodied the maxim of the philosophical interpretations with respect to Eros. The propositions of each speakers vividly described that love has no distinct sense and has no specifications at all, because of its in-depth meaning. Each speech unfolds hidden truths on how love may be absorbed, which in turn, brought the readers to the extent of questioning which one is believable or plausible. The storyline also highlighted that, â€Å"In wine, truth† or â€Å"In vino veritas†, because the symposium itself explains that through a hard way of drinking of wine, shocking revelations and truths about love were pronounced and suddenly came out to be some sort primary basis in understanding the underlying meaning of love itself. This account of Plato tries to widen the readers understanding of what love is, its origins, its competing ends, and so on. There are so many sentiments which may trigger the mind through understanding the in-depth meaning of love. It could be the concept of love by Phaedrus, which entails that Love is a matter of sacrifice, it could be of Pausanias’ account which describes that love could be heavenly or common, it could also be by Eryximachus’ dialogue which explains love could be associated to the art of medicine, it could also be of Aristophanes, who once told a tale about the origins, it could be Agathon’s speech which explains that Eros is the most blessed and the fairest god, or on the dialogue of the exceptional Socrates, who explains that love is beautiful. In a nutshell, Symposium by Plato explains love in different ways and helps in understanding the grasps of the complexity of love. And, it showcases variety of aphorisms in different accounts which could be absorbed and reflected on. REFERENCES PLATO. DIALOGUES OF SOCRATES. S.l.: ARCTURUS PUBLISHING, 2018. How to cite Symposium by Plato, Papers

Audit of Payroll for ABC Distribution Company And Techniques

Questions: 1. Using the gross pay in the payroll file, check the totals for the whole file? 2. Determine if any employees are being paid more than $2,500 gross pay and print a report of such employees with full details including their name, work department and job description? 3. In preparation for the design of a sampling plan, analyze the composition of the employee gross pays using stratification. Include a summary of gross pays for each work department? 4. Produce a report showing the work department, employee number, full name, gross pay per period, pay date and cheque number for each paid employee. Sort and subtotal this report by work department? 5. Produce a report showing the details of any employee not paid? 6. Produce a report showing the pay details for any paid employee who is not on the employee master file? 7. Identify and briefly discuss any issues that suggest the possibility of fraud? Answers: Introduction This report aims to discuss the computerized payroll system, which is used by the ABC Distribution company. Simultaneously, this report provides the payroll data through different excel sheet like EMPMAST (Employee Master File), PAYROLL, and WORK DEPTS. Basically, this report presents the audit memorandum to the partner in charge. Finally, this report is also provided recommendations regarding internal control towards the frauds. 1. Calculation of Gross Pay in Payroll Sheet As per the calculation in MS Excel, total gross pay in the payroll file of the ABC Distribution Company is $99585.46. 2. Calculation of Employee paid more than $2500 with details In the appendix, table 1 shows the different employees who are getting more than $2500. Along with this, it also depicts the full details of all employees regarding their name, job description, gross pay, and department. Thus, company pays overall $27820.42 of total gross pay $99585.46. 3. Analyze the Employees Gross Pay using Stratification Stratification helps to divide the cluster of people in a single society (Hauser and Featherman, 2013). Thus, if we are designing the sampling plan, employees gross pays is $99,585.46. Table 5 in appendix provides the gross pay detail of different steta (departments) of the company. Along with this, it shows the ABC distribution pays the largest gross pay to the D11 Department as compared to other departments. Meanwhile, company pays lowest to the E83 department. 4. Report Showing Gross pay to Different Department Table 3 in appendix depicts the gross pay of the different department employees of the ABC distribution company. 5. Calculation of not paid Employees Detail On the basis of table 4 in the appendix, it can be identified that there is no detail has been find out of employee MELONI in the company payroll sheet. At the same time, MELONI name created in the employee master file. Therefore, this issue may create the possibility of fraud in the company payroll system. 6. Calculation of paid detail employees whose name not mention in master file of company Appendix table 2 evaluates the 3 employees whose names are not mentioned in the master file of the company. Though, company pays the $8754.17 of total gross. 7. Issues related to fraud There are different frauds possibilities occur while generating the computer based payroll system such as computer fraud, where the operator can alter the pay rates data easily (Gbegi and Adebisi, 2015). This fraud may also affect the inventory; cash receipt fraud, and fictitious refund frauds. Apart from this, ghost employees fraud may also occur, because some existing employees getting wages of nonexistent employees in the organization (Hess and Cottrell, 2016). Thus, this fraud happens in a big organization where the internal control system is weak. Further, unauthorised hours are also a fraud due to wrong working hours are posted in sheet (Glodstein, 2015). In spite of this, false expenses and expenditure reordered in the payroll slip are also a cause of fraud. Recommendations From the above analysis, it can be recommended that the ABC organization management should review computer generated payroll receipt. This would be helpful to identify any false payment to the wrong person and unusual hours worked (Wood, et al., 2013). Further, company should look at the cancel cheques, payments in order to stop the wrong payment. In order to avoid the ghost employees fraud, company should take different initiatives like conduct an audit in every three months. Verify return W-2 forms. Similarly, company management should also cross verify the payroll statement for any wrong payment by using the audit (Young and Moyes, 2014). Thus, this method would improve the feasibility of internal payroll. Moreover, a supervisor should responsibility to verify all claims and expenses payment so that to control any fraud possibilities. Thus, above suggestions, would be helpful to overcome the possibility of fraud. Conclusion On the basis of above analysis, it can be identified that the ABC distribution company has effectively managed its payroll system. Thereby, company pays total gross pay i.e. $99585.46. Meanwhile, it is observed that there is possibility of fraud while paying the salary like ghost employee, computer fraud, and unauthorized hours. Further, company should appoint the supervisor to verify all the claims, salaries, and expenses before transferring the amount in staff account. Similarly, company should regular conduct the audit to rectify the financial data, which helps to reduce the possibility of frauds. References Gbegi, D. O. and Adebisi, J. F. (2015)Analysis of fraud detection and prevention strategies in the nigerian public sector,Journal of Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa (JGGSDA),2(4). Glodstein, D. (2015) Occupational Fraud: Misappropriation of Assets by an Employee,Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies,21(5), pp.81. Hauser, R. M. and Featherman, D. L. (2013)The process of stratification: Trends and analyses. Netherland: Elsevier. Hess, M. F. and Cottrell, J. H. (2016) Fraud risk management: A small business perspective.Business Horizons,59(1), pp.13-18. Wood, J., Brown, W. and Howe, H. (2013)IT Auditing and Application Controls for Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises: Revenue, Expenditure, Inventory, Payroll, and More(Vol. 573). USA: John Wiley Sons. Young, R. and Moyes, G. D. (2014) An examination of the effectiveness of test-of-controls audit procedures for detecting fraud,International Journal of Auditing Technology,2(1), pp.22-36.