Sexuality As A Social Construct - 1486 Words

Hannah St. Lifer Sexuality as a Social Construct Heternormativity is the idea that there exist two distinctive classifications of the genders, males and females, with customary roles in society. The idea asserts that heterosexuality is the only normal sexual orientation of people and that all sexual and marital relations must abide by this norm. Society has adopted this belief and constructed it into a standard of life. It is normal for people to automatically presume that most other people are heterosexual and that heterosexuality is the default sexual preference. Thus, all other sexualities that are nonheterosexual are a deviation of the default. Heterosexuality is the most appreciative and is the most acceptable sexuality for a man and†¦show more content†¦Monogamous, reproductive heterosexuality is also valued socially above all other forms of sexuality. Society has constructed the belief that heterosexuality is the ideal sexual identity, and society subsequently critiques non-heterosexual identities, such as gays, bis exuals, and trans, which all fall outside this custom. As a consequence of society deeming heterosexuality as the ideal sexuality, sexualities that are biologically infertile are less socially acceptable in society. Nonheterosexuals are seen as deviants and consequently mocked and ridiculed by society. Gayle proposes that same sex relationships are inferiors, but, â€Å"stable, long-term lesbian and gay couples are verging on respectability, but bar dykes and promiscuous gay men are hovering just above the groups at the very bottom of the pyramid.† For instance, society already considers gay males to be lower on the hierarchy, but those males, which are less masculine, are even lower on the pyramid. Society has constructed these â€Å"less masculine† gays to be â€Å"more gay†. However, homosexual males that still obtain monogamous relationships are more appreciated in respect to gays who are not in relationships. For example, famous gay couples such as Ellen DeGeneres’s relationship, and the gay marriage po rtrayed on Modern Family, are valued in society. These are higher up on the pyramid because both gay couples are in stable relationships that

Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller - 1788 Words

The nineteen-thirties and forties were a very masculine dominated period. The father was the head of the home and most times his businesses were sent down to his children when he stops working. A strong relationship between a father and his children is very central to keeping a healthy home. Once the relationship begins to weaken, the entire family becomes unstable. Willy not having a strong father figure himself made him struggle with his personality and that led to him instilling the wrong values and causing a breach in his relationship with his sons. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman expresses how the bond between Willy Loman and his two sons produces the downfall of the Loman family. Willy Loman a sixty year old salesman living†¦show more content†¦Willy never really had a father when he was growing and he lost his father at a young age and he references this when he tells his brother Ben, as â€Å"well dad left when I was such a baby and I never had a chance t o talk to him and I still feel-kind of temporary about myself† (Miller 36). With that type of declaration an intervention can be said that Willy Loman longed for a relationship with his father. His statement that he feels kind of temporary about himself reveals that something is missing in his life and he seems to recognize this himself. Ben, Willy’s older brother served as a substitute father. Ben left home at the age of seventeen to search for their father in Alaska, but ended up in Africa, where he discovered diamond mines and came out of the jungle at twenty-one becoming a very rich man. Though Ben died, but in Willy’s mind, Ben represents the fantastic success for which Willy has always wanted but can never seem to accomplish. And he only appears in Willy’s illusions, carrying a suitcase and umbrella. After Ben died, Willy also looked up to Dave Singleman as a father figure, an eighty-four year old salesman who he met in Alaska and false idolized him thinking he was the embodiment of the American Dream because he called his buyers and completed his sales without ever leaving his hotel room. After he died, Willy discloses that his associate with this Dave Singleman persuaded him to turn out to be a salesman

Ending School Shootings Free Essays

Justin Bizarro Mrs. Nye English 1301 14 November 2012 Stopping the Tragedy of School Shootings Every single day, millions of kids across the country wake up, get ready for the day, and head to school. The parents of these children trust the school with many things; a safe bus ride, a productive environment, and most importantly, keeping their kids safe throughout the day. We will write a custom essay sample on Ending School Shootings or any similar topic only for you Order Now School districts take pride in this, and on a normal basis, things will go smoothly. Despite all of their efforts, though, one of the most serious and saddening problems that affects schools today is the occurrence of school shootings. Since 1980, there have been over 50 deadly shootings in the United States that occurred on school campuses. There have been many actions taken to prevent these terrible acts, but because they are so unpredictable, shootings still occur. There are many more things we can do to prevent school shootings, horrible events that do not need to occur, and to help those who suffer from thoughts of violence. Shootings have been a problem for hundreds of years. Beginning in 1927, individuals have been driven to intense measures and have taken it out on classmates, teachers, or even random victims. Unfortunately, almost every single incident involving school shootings could have been avoided if people would have taken precautions and said something. Dr. Fred Bemak, a professor at George Mason University, feels that situations can be dodged if we just talk to one another. â€Å"This is a very individualistic society, and we need to work more toward becoming a collective one. We need to work in groups to help foster tolerance and acceptance for others† (Orr 92). One of the most saddening things is the fact that often times, the attacker is a victim driven to these extremes. There are many different things that can be pointed to as the cause of school shootings, including mental disorders and family trouble, but perhaps the largest contributor is bullying. â€Å"One-third of U. S. students have experienced bullying, either as a target or the perpetrator, and 8 percent of those reported bullying or being bullied at least once a week† (Orr 25). We constantly hear the media telling us about how serious of a problem bullying in schools is, but even the news underestimates how bad it is. According to a study produced by Secret Service after the Columbine shooting, one of the most famous deadly school shootings ever, bullying is a leading cause in driving someone to a breaking point. â€Å"Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted, or injured by others prior to the attack† (Threat Assessment). Bullying is something that will never entirely go away, but there is not nearly enough being done to put an end to it. If this problem were taken out of the equation, hundreds of lives could have been saved. More programs need to be put into place that make people aware of this impending problem, and schools need to be more firm about putting their foot down against bullying when it occurs. In turn, the chances of a victim lashing out will be hugely diminished. In this day and age, firearms are much too easy to acquire. There are laws that say you must be a certain age to purchase a gun, and laws that make the punishments clear for supplying a minor with a weapon, but kids across the country find ways to get them illegally with ease. In the eyes of gun-control advocates, the correlation between violence and a growing supply of guns is clear: the greater availability of guns leads to more gun-related deaths† (Gun Control). Guns are a great thing for many reasons, and in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, every American has the right to possess a gun, but in the wrong hands they can have deadly consequences. They also become all the more dangerous when someone driven to the break ing point owns one, and lashes out. Shootings can be entirely spontaneous and throwing a deadly weapon into the picture makes them all the scarier. Gun-control advocates add that the mere existence of a gun in a home raises a family’s risk of harm significantly. A 1993 study by criminologist Arthur Kellerman, for example, concluded that the presence of a gun in the home actually triples the risk that someone in the home will be killed† (Gun Control). By reducing the access to firearms, the school shootings will be directly effected in a positive way. Students aren’t the only people who start school shootings. There are countless stories of former students and adults coming onto school campuses and shooting them up. One of the leading questions is how did they get on to the campuses so easily? â€Å"Backers stress that the chief reason for imposing mandatory-ID policies is to improve the safety of students in school buildings and around campus. By requiring students to carry IDs, trespassers can be detected more easily, they say† (Student ID Cards). Generally, when someone wants to enter a school campus during the school day, they have a specific purpose for going there. Assuming someone wanting to access a school is up to no good would be wrong, but it goes back to the old saying, â€Å"better safe than sorry†. ID’ing people coming and going from schools would definitely not be a hindrance to anyone, and if it could prevent deadly attacks from happening, what would the harm be? â€Å"More than three-quarters of school shooters had a history of suicidal thoughts, threats, gestures, or attempts. Most of these students were known to have been severely depressed or desperate at some point before their attacks† (Threat Assessment). Approximately 1 in 4 people in the United States suffer or have suffered from depression at some point in their lives. To really comprehend this, an understanding of the meaning depression is crucial. Dictionary. com defines depression as â€Å"a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate†. Depression is a serious mental-health issue, and it takes a strong toll on its victims. Thankfully, modern medicine is advanced enough that we can now treat people with this truly awful condition, helping their personal lives along with preventing possible dangerous situations stemming from this disorder. By beginning to identify these individuals, we can help them by getting them medical attention and counseling to assist them in their troubles. Many victims think that there is no hope for them, or anyone else they know, so they take drastic measures. No situation needs to ever be escalated to the point of violence, and if these victims can be helped soon enough, we could prevent shootings everywhere. After a school shooting occurs, there is often a common feeling of sorrow, a tense atmosphere, and a sense of confusion, and rightfully so, considering that people have been hurt or killed. The way that the school and teachers cope with the aftermath is a crucial step in healing. Beyond just dealing with the physical injuries and/or deaths, there will be students who are emotionally or mentally traumatized by the entire incident† (Orr 150). These students have just seen things that no one should ever have see, and people that they knew on a daily basis were either involved or affected. At this stage, teachers have a right to take action, and there is more that can be done. Counseling is a very good solution for these stud ents. Talking about how they are feeling is proven to help the healing process, and it can help spot students who may be having the same thoughts as the shooter, but have hidden them. Schools may decide to have prepared crisis teams on hand to help students with their various reactions, which may include anything from suicide to paralyzing grief to insomnia to paranoia† (Orr 150). This is just another way that future violent events can be prevented, and a difference can be made in schools across America. School shootings have been a problem in our country for too long. As we continue to grow as a nation, we must remember all of those victims of shootings- not just those people who have passed away, but the families of those people as well. The easy thing to do is to condescendingly look at all of the hurt and pain, destruction and havoc caused by school shootings, but instead of turning into pessimists. We should be optimistic about the good things going on to defend against these attacks. A wise man once pointed out, â€Å"Rome wasn’t built in a day†. While we learn in our knowledge of techniques for ending this problem, we need to be patient and realize that when tragedies do occur, we can turn them into valuable learning experiences. By putting a stop to bullying, being more careful with gun laws, and helping those who suffer from depression, we can prevent school shootings. Let’s band together, take a stand, and act to save lives across the country. Works Cited â€Å"Key Findings from the ‘Threat Assessment’ Guide for Schools. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 11 May 2007. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. Orr, Tamra. â€Å"Violence In Our Schools: Halls of Hope, Halls of Fear. † Danbury: Scholastic, 2003. Print. â€Å"School Safety. Issues Controversies On File: Issues Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 15 Feb. 2005. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. â€Å"School Safety: Statistical Update. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 2 Nov. 2006. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Student ID Cards. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services. 17 Dec. 2004. W eb. 15 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Update: Gun Control. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 1998. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. How to cite Ending School Shootings, Essay examples Ending School Shootings Free Essays Justin Bizarro Mrs. Nye English 1301 14 November 2012 Stopping the Tragedy of School Shootings Every single day, millions of kids across the country wake up, get ready for the day, and head to school. The parents of these children trust the school with many things; a safe bus ride, a productive environment, and most importantly, keeping their kids safe throughout the day. We will write a custom essay sample on Ending School Shootings or any similar topic only for you Order Now School districts take pride in this, and on a normal basis, things will go smoothly. Despite all of their efforts, though, one of the most serious and saddening problems that affects schools today is the occurrence of school shootings. Since 1980, there have been over 50 deadly shootings in the United States that occurred on school campuses. There have been many actions taken to prevent these terrible acts, but because they are so unpredictable, shootings still occur. There are many more things we can do to prevent school shootings, horrible events that do not need to occur, and to help those who suffer from thoughts of violence. Shootings have been a problem for hundreds of years. Beginning in 1927, individuals have been driven to intense measures and have taken it out on classmates, teachers, or even random victims. Unfortunately, almost every single incident involving school shootings could have been avoided if people would have taken precautions and said something. Dr. Fred Bemak, a professor at George Mason University, feels that situations can be dodged if we just talk to one another. â€Å"This is a very individualistic society, and we need to work more toward becoming a collective one. We need to work in groups to help foster tolerance and acceptance for others† (Orr 92). One of the most saddening things is the fact that often times, the attacker is a victim driven to these extremes. There are many different things that can be pointed to as the cause of school shootings, including mental disorders and family trouble, but perhaps the largest contributor is bullying. â€Å"One-third of U. S. students have experienced bullying, either as a target or the perpetrator, and 8 percent of those reported bullying or being bullied at least once a week† (Orr 25). We constantly hear the media telling us about how serious of a problem bullying in schools is, but even the news underestimates how bad it is. According to a study produced by Secret Service after the Columbine shooting, one of the most famous deadly school shootings ever, bullying is a leading cause in driving someone to a breaking point. â€Å"Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted, or injured by others prior to the attack† (Threat Assessment). Bullying is something that will never entirely go away, but there is not nearly enough being done to put an end to it. If this problem were taken out of the equation, hundreds of lives could have been saved. More programs need to be put into place that make people aware of this impending problem, and schools need to be more firm about putting their foot down against bullying when it occurs. In turn, the chances of a victim lashing out will be hugely diminished. In this day and age, firearms are much too easy to acquire. There are laws that say you must be a certain age to purchase a gun, and laws that make the punishments clear for supplying a minor with a weapon, but kids across the country find ways to get them illegally with ease. In the eyes of gun-control advocates, the correlation between violence and a growing supply of guns is clear: the greater availability of guns leads to more gun-related deaths† (Gun Control). Guns are a great thing for many reasons, and in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, every American has the right to possess a gun, but in the wrong hands they can have deadly consequences. They also become all the more dangerous when someone driven to the break ing point owns one, and lashes out. Shootings can be entirely spontaneous and throwing a deadly weapon into the picture makes them all the scarier. Gun-control advocates add that the mere existence of a gun in a home raises a family’s risk of harm significantly. A 1993 study by criminologist Arthur Kellerman, for example, concluded that the presence of a gun in the home actually triples the risk that someone in the home will be killed† (Gun Control). By reducing the access to firearms, the school shootings will be directly effected in a positive way. Students aren’t the only people who start school shootings. There are countless stories of former students and adults coming onto school campuses and shooting them up. One of the leading questions is how did they get on to the campuses so easily? â€Å"Backers stress that the chief reason for imposing mandatory-ID policies is to improve the safety of students in school buildings and around campus. By requiring students to carry IDs, trespassers can be detected more easily, they say† (Student ID Cards). Generally, when someone wants to enter a school campus during the school day, they have a specific purpose for going there. Assuming someone wanting to access a school is up to no good would be wrong, but it goes back to the old saying, â€Å"better safe than sorry†. ID’ing people coming and going from schools would definitely not be a hindrance to anyone, and if it could prevent deadly attacks from happening, what would the harm be? â€Å"More than three-quarters of school shooters had a history of suicidal thoughts, threats, gestures, or attempts. Most of these students were known to have been severely depressed or desperate at some point before their attacks† (Threat Assessment). Approximately 1 in 4 people in the United States suffer or have suffered from depression at some point in their lives. To really comprehend this, an understanding of the meaning depression is crucial. Dictionary. com defines depression as â€Å"a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate†. Depression is a serious mental-health issue, and it takes a strong toll on its victims. Thankfully, modern medicine is advanced enough that we can now treat people with this truly awful condition, helping their personal lives along with preventing possible dangerous situations stemming from this disorder. By beginning to identify these individuals, we can help them by getting them medical attention and counseling to assist them in their troubles. Many victims think that there is no hope for them, or anyone else they know, so they take drastic measures. No situation needs to ever be escalated to the point of violence, and if these victims can be helped soon enough, we could prevent shootings everywhere. After a school shooting occurs, there is often a common feeling of sorrow, a tense atmosphere, and a sense of confusion, and rightfully so, considering that people have been hurt or killed. The way that the school and teachers cope with the aftermath is a crucial step in healing. Beyond just dealing with the physical injuries and/or deaths, there will be students who are emotionally or mentally traumatized by the entire incident† (Orr 150). These students have just seen things that no one should ever have see, and people that they knew on a daily basis were either involved or affected. At this stage, teachers have a right to take action, and there is more that can be done. Counseling is a very good solution for these stud ents. Talking about how they are feeling is proven to help the healing process, and it can help spot students who may be having the same thoughts as the shooter, but have hidden them. Schools may decide to have prepared crisis teams on hand to help students with their various reactions, which may include anything from suicide to paralyzing grief to insomnia to paranoia† (Orr 150). This is just another way that future violent events can be prevented, and a difference can be made in schools across America. School shootings have been a problem in our country for too long. As we continue to grow as a nation, we must remember all of those victims of shootings- not just those people who have passed away, but the families of those people as well. The easy thing to do is to condescendingly look at all of the hurt and pain, destruction and havoc caused by school shootings, but instead of turning into pessimists. We should be optimistic about the good things going on to defend against these attacks. A wise man once pointed out, â€Å"Rome wasn’t built in a day†. While we learn in our knowledge of techniques for ending this problem, we need to be patient and realize that when tragedies do occur, we can turn them into valuable learning experiences. By putting a stop to bullying, being more careful with gun laws, and helping those who suffer from depression, we can prevent school shootings. Let’s band together, take a stand, and act to save lives across the country. Works Cited â€Å"Key Findings from the ‘Threat Assessment’ Guide for Schools. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 11 May 2007. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. Orr, Tamra. â€Å"Violence In Our Schools: Halls of Hope, Halls of Fear. † Danbury: Scholastic, 2003. Print. â€Å"School Safety. Issues Controversies On File: Issues Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 15 Feb. 2005. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. â€Å"School Safety: Statistical Update. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 2 Nov. 2006. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Student ID Cards. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services. 17 Dec. 2004. W eb. 15 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Update: Gun Control. † Issues ; Controversies On File: Issues ; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 1998. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. How to cite Ending School Shootings, Papers

Green market and its impact on supply chain - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Green market and its impact on supply chain. Answer: Opportunity analysis and customer problem and solution The consumer market is extremely competitive. With the growing needs and demands of the customers, new offerings need to be made to the consumers in order to delight them. As more expats are entering the country , Oman, it was observed that this working population tends to have good financial background but are unable to spend their time in buying adequate supplements for them (Anantadjaya 2013). As lives have become fast paced, event the family segment finds it difficult to shop offline. For this reason and to solve this particular problem of the customers, the companies came up with the idea of a grocery store, which is available on the online platform and can be accessed just from the mobile phone or the internet browser. This application and website would be able to solve the problem of a variety of people and cater to the growing needs of the consumers. Business Description and Company Overview RationApp is an online grocery retail based business. It plans to cater to the needs of all the customers in the city and provide them shopping assistance. The online portal is available all round the clock. It is a virtual market place which facilitates easy buying and selling of groceries to tap the growing Oman consumer goods market (Pozzi 2012). The main plan of Ration App is to operate in Oman and later on spread throughout the neighbouring countries as well. Vision RationApp is a web based start up with limited number of resources but it has aligned its strategies with the given visions: To make RationApp available all over the continent To become the largest e-portal in Oman. Mission The mission of RationApp is to provide an online platform to the customers where the consumers can shop for their supplies and provide them with home delivery. RationApp is for those who find traditional shopping inconvenient (Warschun et al. 2012). Their primary motive is to provide convenience to the consumers and back the solution by quality. Objectives The main objectives of RationApp are: To serve the customers at the oddest of the hours To build a stable networks To provide customers best value for their money. To provide 24*7 customer service. Products and Services Offered RationApp is an online grocery store, which tends to link all the consumers and local suppliers present in Oman. It lists down all the products, which are offered by the suppliers. It enables both the sides of the supply chain by offering customers the service of ordering goods from various suppliers at the convenience of their homes and it gives a chance to the suppliers to serve the customers. The business also enables the customers to log in and book in bulk to get competitive rates. The subheads for the products offered can be given below: Packaged Salads Bakery Fresh Food Frozen Food Dairy Eggs Drinks Sweeteners Biscuits Confectionery Canned Food Cereals Oats Cooking Ingredients For Baby Cleaners Disposables Personal Care Batteries Mobile credit Pet Food Ownership Plan The store is headed by a Chief Executive Officer who is reported by a Chef operating Officers, a chief technical officer and a chief financial officer. These officers have various departments under them ranging from inventory, to marketing to finance and the technical web based aspect. (Refer to Appendix 2) Marketing Plan Marketing Objectives To raise brand awareness among the consumers and increase the sales. To increase the popularity of the store and raise the store revenue Target Markets The target market for Ration App can be broken down to three groups: The working class, the family and the big restaurants and cafes (Higgins 2012). The working class are the ones who have no time to shop in stores, the cafe owners are the ones who would like to take the advantage of the discounts and the family ones are the targets who would like to save time and gain discounts. Positioning The online store wants to position itself in the eyes of the customer as a reasonable priced store who tends to offer a high variety of good quality goods (Boons and Ldeke-Freund 2013). This positioning will help the company to gain competitive advantage: The system is advantageous as due to the fast-paced lives people want to save their time and invest it in better things rather than wasting their time. The business model tends to connect both the parties to a trade and provides perishable goods in their fresh state. Strategies The primary objective of Ration App to establish itself as a one-stop solution for all the problems relating to the grocery and other related supplies. It aims to build the image of the store and attract a large pool of customers. The marketing strategy of the store primarily seeks to raise customer awareness regarding the particular service that is offered by them. The main aim of the strategy is to gain customer loyalty and referrals. The company message is that it is a store that saves time and energy involved in shopping. Since it is a web-based application, advertisements will be made in television, applications, and social media and newspapers. A grass route level of marketing will also be applied where the consumers will be given put coupons in order to try the application or the online store for the first time and buy goods for free. This way they will be able to experience the service and gain knowledge (Baden-Fuller and Haefliger 2013). Marketing Mix Marketing Mix of the company involves, the 4p strategies used by the store to reach out to its consumers, the marketing mix of RationApp comprises of the following: Pricing:the pricing scheme is based on standard industry practices. In fat great discounts will be offered to the consumers. Distribution:The distribution network is extremely strong and all goods will be delivered before time. Advertising and promotion:As stated previously, the advertisement mediums will be the internet, social Medias, newspapers and television advertisement. Various campaigning facilities will also be held around the company in order to gain the attraction of a wide number of people. Customer service:Customer service is considered to be the key to the success. The employees and staff are trained adequately so that they can maintain the quality of the service being provided by them (Chwolka and Raith 2012). Marketing Research Before setting out the marketing plan, several focus groups were set out in order to understand the basic needs and demands of the target market and who should actually be identified as a target market. These research sessions helped adversely in the decision making process of the stores initial operations. The marketing research was also done by competitor analysis, which was done by visiting the competitors and analyzing their offerings. Strategic and Competitive Plans The business environment is extremely competitive today; therefore, it is extremely important for any business to have a soundproof strategy for the way ahead. Hence, to stay ahead in the competitive world, RationApp has three plans (Chan, He and Wang 2012). The plans are given as follows: Engaging in Marketing Research and Planning The company engages in extensive marketing research and planning whereby it constantly needs to look out for the needs of the consumers and come up with new plans and ideas that shall favour the needs of the target market. Whether it is a new product or a new idea, research is the key to success. This research is then incorporated into the planning of the store. Strategic planning helps the company to build a good image in the eyes of the consumers. Knowing customers better than competitors Ration App faces competition from big brands but it has to take out strategies to overpower them in the given country. For this purpose, the company needs to know and recognize its consumers better than the competitors and this task is quite easy to achieve in the world of data analytics (Brigham and Houston 2012). The purchasing history of the companies can be tracked and suggestions and re0stocking of the products can be done accordingly. Ration App follows this method to make sure that it does not lose its customers to the competitors. The following are tracked by the online store: Regular online and offline habits The size of the family and their preferences Their interests, passions , hobbies and assorted worries Avoiding reactiveness The reactiveness of the company must be avoided at all costs, as the company needs to create its own pat rather than getting into the path of the other companies (Arnold 2013). Operational Plan The business model RationApp is a common platform for wholesalers, suppliers and retailers as well as customers. The business promotes greater market reach and provides convenience to the consumers. Categories of Business The main model of the business can be divided into two categories: Business to Customers- This is meant for the customers in the household. This model is to cater the needs of the customers (Shi and Zhang 2014). This model is built to provide the best services to the consumers and providing hem the best quality products. The customer can browse the products through the various catalogs and order the selected items, which the firm then delivers to the customers at their doorsteps. The business primarily plans to spend all its resources in this. Business to Business This particular model is meant for the wholesalers and the retailers. The application also provides supplies to them. However, this is not their primary motive, it is a future idea. Business Process The business process is extremely simple. The whole process can be divided into the buying process and the selling process. In the buying process, the program permits the user to search the items and select the items that he needs the most. Registration This is an integral part as the seller needs to be registered year. The registration process is fast and easy (Laudon and Laudon 2013). Browse Through browsing, the buyer can have a look at the variety of products and select the ones that suit him the best. Select Before ordering for the product, the customer can pay attention to the Details, quantity, listing information, payment details and seller information Payment- The customer has a wide variety of options available to pay from. The customer can pay by cash, debit card, net banking, credit card, tickets or RationApp wallet. The company is trying to bring back the option of paying by PayPal accounts. Feedback Feedback plays an important role in the business. After the delivery has been done, the application asks for the feedback of the various customers (Jiang Yang and Jun 2013). The customers then give the company the required number of stars and advise the company to improve on certain parameters. This feedback is extremely important as it informs the suppliers about their performance. The selling process The selling process of the given application allows the retailers, wholesalers and the distributers to enlist with them and allow their products to reach the specific consumers. (Refer to Appendix 1) The supplier has to first register the company at a fixed cost, which involves steps like uploading the contact information, the user id and password creation, email confirmation and also enlisting the products offered. The supplier can manage the products that have been registered and also intake the feedback process as it helps to improve the process. The Revenue Model The primary revenue model for RationApp is extremely simple. The online application does not charge the customer for browsing the products (Beardwell and Thompson 2014). The application earns the browsing from a variety of sources like: The registration fee- Paid by the manufacturers and distributors. Listing fees- Paid by the manufacturer and distributor Service charges-Paid by the same customers in the form of the shipping charges, maintenance charges for its business Discounts- available to the parties depending upon the deals (Nilsson, et al. 2015). Advertisements- the Company allows various companies to advertise their product and thereby charges nominal fees from them. Operations Model Rations App works on two models, which are: Stock it yourself model In the given model, the business maintains its integrated warehousing system that helps to cater the needs of the different customers (Al-Nawayseh 2012). In this method, the firm has the ultimate control over the fulfilment process. As the business is comparatively new, they have kept a limited number of warehouses in the city. The second model is the Outsourcing warehouse model In the given model, the company collaborates with different logistics specialist companies who handle the task of shopping the different orders and piling of stock. As the order is received by the company, the information about the order is transmitted to the logistic company and they ship the product to the customer. Time slots for delivery Ration App offers different time slot offerings for the customers, which depend on the demands placed on the wants of the consumers. The different time slots offered are: 2 hour This is the best and the fastest time slot provided by the company. The products are delivered to the consumer within 2 hours of the order placed (Gatewood, Feildand Barrick 2015). No discounts are offered in the given category as the costs are extremely high. This is the most suitable for the working population who do not have any and order last moment. 6 hour The customers receive a limited amount of discount in the given category. This slot targets the family segments that require the product in a few hours. 1 day Customers using this slot receive high discounts as they help the company to reduce the transportation costs, which is from the warehouse to the consumers. 2 day The customers choosing this kind of delivery receive the maximum discount as they help the company to incur the minimum amount of transportation and the time to deliver is large which helps the store to pick up several orders in the area. Inventory Management Inventory is considered to be one of the most important segments and helps the company to a great extent in cost effectiveness (Best 2012). The main purpose of managing an inventory is to get the right goods at the right time to the right consumers and at the right cost. Lot size inventory The online store purchases the items in quantities, which are greater so that they can utilize the benefits of reduced shipping and other costs (Kotler 2012). The inventory of the store depletes gradually as the store fulfils the orders received from the customers and is replenished as and when new orders are received. Refreshed Inventory The online store replenishes the inventory as and when a particular set minimum level of stock is reached. The store constantly refreshes its inventories and it receives a huge quantity of products in the warehouses and delivers accordingly. Transportation Costs These are the costs, which are incurred on moving the goods from one place to another. These include moving the goods from customers to warehouses and between the various suppliers and warehouses. Logistics Network It can be stated that the logistics network of the store is interrelated to the activities of the company by: Mirroring the mission of the company Improving the efficiency of the information and material flow (Mullins, Walker and Boyd Jr 2012). Bringing the different sub-systems together. Management and Human Resource Plan Human Resource forms an important aspect of the organization and the following section provides a description of the major staff that is involved in the business. Roles and Responsibilities Each warehouse has its own managers who have various subordinates working under them. These subordinates tend to work under the supervision the manager who gives them the orders. Each warehouse has 10-12 subordinates along with delivery personnel who are involved in the delivery. Recruitment The recruitment of the given staff is done through newspapers and online websites advertisement. The staffs that are selected after the recruitment process is then trained (Hutt and Speh 2012). They are trained in various fields like customer service, delivery and quality services. Schedules The staffs works in two shifts. There is always an extra executive present to deal with urgent deliveries. Performance Reviews Performance reviews tend to help when the staffs is being promoted. The feedback as provided by the consumers is utilized and served as a backup for the reviews and based on these reviews, the staff is praised and paid accordingly (Armstrong et al. 2015). Recognition and Rewards The best performers of the task are given monetary awards and certificates to praise their efforts Every month a social gathering is held, where these best performers are praised. Team members who perform well are included in the annual newsletter of the company. The best performers of each project are provided with tickets to movies and shows Compensation and Packages The compensation and packages as offered by the company are based on industry standards and the company follows an incentive scheme to encourage the employees Financial Plans The financial plans will state down the various assets required by the company and also state down the initial costs required by the store to set up their business and also the sale estimations The financial plans have been attached in the excel file and also can be referred below: Start up Costs: Warehousing costs Rent Staff expenses Legal fees Inventory and transportation costs Web applications set up costs START-UP REQUIREMENTS Start-up Expenses Legal OMR 5,000.00 Stationery etc. OMR 2,000.00 Brochures OMR 1,500.00 Consultants OMR 1,000.00 Insurance Rent OMR 60,000.00 Research and Development OMR 1,200.00 Expensed Equipment OMR 5,200.00 Other TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES OMR 75,900.00 Start-up Assets OMR 10,000.00 Cash Required OMR 5,000.00 Other Current Assets Long-term Assets OMR 3,215.00 TOTAL ASSETS OMR 18,215.00 Total Requirements OMR 94,115.00 START-UP FUNDING Start-up Expenses to Fund OMR 75,900.00 Start-up Assets to Fund OMR 18,215.00 TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED OMR 94,115.00 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up OMR 10,000.00 Cash Requirements from Start-up OMR 5,000.00 Additional Cash Raised OMR 3,215.00 Cash Balance on Starting Date OMR 10,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS OMR 18,215.00 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing Long-term Liabilities Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) TOTAL LIABILITIES Capital Planned Investment Investor 1 OMR 94,115.00 Investor 2 Other Additional Investment Requirement TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT OMR 94,115.00 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) OMR 75,900.00 TOTAL CAPITAL OMR 18,215.00 TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES OMR 18,215.00 Total Funding OMR 94,115.00 Year 1 Year 2 year 3 Units 20506 35000 90000 Unit prices OMR 100.00 OMR 100.00 OMR 100.00 Sales B 2 c sales OMR 20,50,600.00 OMR 35,00,000.00 OMR 90,00,000.00 Direct Units Costs B to C sales OMR 80.00 OMR 80.00 OMR 80.00 Direct costs of sales B to c sales OMR 2,56,450.00 OMR 5,00,000.00 OMR 6,00,000.00 Performa p and l Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Sales OMR 20,50,600.00 OMR 35,00,000.00 OMR 90,00,000.00 Direct Costs of sales OMR 2,56,450.00 OMR 5,00,000.00 OMR 6,00,000.00 Gross Margin OMR 17,94,150.00 OMR 30,00,000.00 OMR 84,00,000.00 Gross Margin percentage 87.49390422 85.71428571 93.33333333 Expenses Payroll OMR 1,20,000.00 OMR 1,50,000.00 OMR 1,60,000.00 Marketing OMR 20,000.00 OMR 15,000.00 OMR 14,260.00 Rent OMR 10,000.00 OMR 10,000.00 OMR 10,000.00 Taxes Depreciation Others OMR 12,534.00 OMR 16,666.00 OMR 1,75,280.00 Total OMR 1,62,534.00 OMR 1,91,666.00 OMR 3,59,540.00 EBIDTA OMR 16,31,616.00 OMR 28,08,334.00 OMR 80,40,460.00 Net profit OMR 16,31,616.00 OMR 28,08,334.00 OMR 80,40,460.00 % 79.56773627 80.23811429 89.33844444 References Al-Nawayseh, M., 2012.Electronic commerce logistics in developing countries: The case of online grocery shopping in Jordan(Doctoral dissertation, Brunel University School of Engineering and Design PhD Theses). 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