Definition and Examples of Verbless Clauses in English

In English grammar, a verbless clause is a clause-like construction in which a verb element is implied but not present. Such clauses are usually adverbial, and the omitted verb is a form of be. Also known as a  free adjunct (or a free adjunct without a verbal form) and a nominal sentence. Examples and Observations Verbless clauses are clauses which contain no verb element, and often also no subject. They are regarded as clauses because they function in ways which make them equivalent to finite and non-finite clauses and because they can be analyzed in terms of one or more clause elements. (Geoffroy Leech and Jan Svartvik, A Communicative Grammar of English, 1975)A verbless clause . . . is considered a clause because it is dealing with a separate piece of information in relation to the main clause. For example, in the sentence, In the interests of the local children, the council should reconsider its decision, there are two separate pieces of information: the main clause--the council should reconsider its decision; and a dependent clause that deals with issues that interest local children. In this clause, however, the verb has been nominalized resulting in a verbless clause. Verbless clauses are different from adverbial phrases. The latter provide some information to do with the time, place, or manner in which something happens within an existing clause. Verbless clauses, on the other hand, provide a separate piece of information outside of an existing clause. (Peter Knapp and Megan Watkins, Genre, Text, Grammar: Technologies for Teaching and Assessing Writing. UNSW Press, 2005)

Pica - 1443 Words

PICA Life Span Psych Sitting at the park on a marvelous day watching the kids play in the park, then it happens one kid starts eating dirt. Wondering why he’s doing it, and what’s his motive? Intrigued, I go home and research the symptoms and I come up with one word: Pica. But what exactly is Pica? Pica is a very rare disorders with an interesting history, where signs and symptoms help diagnosis the treatments for it. Pica is a disorder in which you have an appetite or weird craving for things that have no nutritional value. There is no age limit for the disease; anyone can have Pica at any point in time. Pica can be associated with mental and stress related disorders. Stress factors such as family issues, pregnancy,†¦show more content†¦Eating paint is most common among children who live in poverty. It is often related with those who have very little to no parental supervision. Hunger also may result in pica. Which of an inability to tell the difference between food and nonfood items has linked people with mental handicap to Pica. This answer, however, is not supported by the examples of nonfood items that were consciously eaten by people with limited mental gifts. Pica can go unnoticed, and is usually only discovered when a health problem strikes. It can remain undetected for months or even years. Very often pica is detected when an individual suffers from an intestinal blockage, intestinal tear, dental injury, or a poisoning infection linked with eating non-food substances. Blood tests will usually be carried out during, to determine if a mineral shortage could be the cause. Pica is diagnosed in individuals who have routinely eaten non-food substances for at least a month, for whom this behavior is inappropriate to their developmental stage. Those who do not consume these substances as part of a recognized cultural or religious practice will fit into the category. Only a qualified doctor should make a diagnosis of Pica. Laboratory studies may be used to access these answers. The choice of imaging or laboratory studies depends on the characteristics of the ingested materials and the resulting medical problems. In addition to people having pica some animals evenShow MoreRelatedWhat is Pica?1163 Words   |  5 PagesThe definition of Pica is a term that is refers to ingesting, cravings or argues of substances that are not foods items. Some of the most common items indigested by patients with pica are dirt, sand, clay, glue, ice, chalk, beeswax, hair, and laundry starch. The reason for patients having this cravings is because the patient is diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency state, such as iron-deficiency like anemia and a number of many other physiological disturbances in humans brains it have been associatedRead MoreResearch Paper- Pica Disorder1922 Words   |  8 PagesPica Disorder: â€Å"Eating disorders are a serious mental illness, not a lifestyle choice.† Millions of people have to deal with inner demons on a daily basis, some more serious than others but one that is severe, is Pica disorder. Pica disorder is an eating disorder where people have an appetite for non-nutritive, inedible materials and become addicted to eating items such as clay, nail polish, drywall, light bulbs and much more. This disorder causes victims to eat unimaginable things and causesRead MorePica: A Look Into A Little-Known Eating Disorder1522 Words   |  7 Pageschildren, there is much that is still unknown about pica. There has been little advancement in finding out what causes this disorder and because of that, treating and even diagnosing pica can be difficult. In addition to that, pica can have health consequences that range from mild to severe so, when coupled with the difficulty in treatment and lack of breakthrough research, pica has the potential to be an extremely dangerous disorder. Pica is, for the most part, defined as the desire to consumeRead MoreWhat Does The Word Pica Originates?996 Words   |  4 Pages For those of us without the urge to eat inedible items, it may be unfathomable to understand what could possibly drive someone to consume such things. The term that defines this unusual activity is known as Pica. The word Pica originates in the Latin word for magpie – a bird that is famed for its unusual eating behaviors, where it is known to eat almost anything. However, it is typically defined as an eating disorder which involves the persistent ingestion of nonnutritive substances. Causes mayRead MoreWhat Does The Word Pica Originates?996 Words   |  4 Pages For those of us without the urge to eat inedible items, it may be unfathomable to understand what could possibly drive someone to consume such things. The term that defines this unusual activity is known as Pica. The word Pica originates in the Latin word for magpie – a bird that is famed for its unusual eating behaviors, where it is known to eat almost anything. However, it is typically defined as an eating disorder which involves the persistent ingestion of nonnutritive substances. CausesRead MoreThe Tension Between The Pages And Real Life1458 Words   |  6 Pagesto combat her disease.† (O’regean, 2009). White is for Witching is a prime example of her transferring her life experiences into her writing with Miranda’s eating disorder, her families’ reaction, and racism. The book mainly follows a girl who has pica, an eating disorder that gives you an appetite for non-food items such as chalk and plastic spoons which happen to be Miranda’s favorite. Like many in her situation (including Helen Oyeyemi) she doesn’t believe she has a problem, she just likes toRead MoreBehavioral Effect On Nutrition1583 Words   |  7 PagesHaving a background in psychology led me to choose a topic that involved a behavioral effect on nutrition. When considering pica as my topic I looked at its relationship to nutrition, as pica is described as the ingestion of â€Å"non-food substances.† (Young et al 2010) With continued research into pica and nutrition, the association of iron deficiency and this disorder became pronounced.. While factors interact to cause iron deficiency, there is incidence of iron deficiency in the vulnerable populationsRead MoreEating Disorders : Eating Behavior And Weight Regulation1034 Words   |  5 Pagesanorexia nervosa are male. Pica is an eating disorder less known to people. Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials. People who suffer from pica may crave a certain texture in their mouth that does not come from food. One might eat paint, sand, dirt, hairballs, clay and even animal feces. For pica to be diagnosed the pattern of eating non-food material must last for one month or longer. Pica is difficult to test for and may not be apparent to people surrounding the pica victim. It is difficultRead MoreEffects Of Autism On Children With Autism Spectrum Diseases1073 Words   |  5 Pageswhich will effect children getting birth. One of the common autism disorder pregnant women get is â€Å"Pica†. According to Khoushabi, F. , Ahmadi, P. , Shadan, M. , Heydari, A. , Miri, A. , et al. (2014) pica is rare and weird eating disorder where human feels like eating non-nutritional food. This disorder is more common in children and pregnant women. A researcher here studied the association of pica as biochemical profiles of pregnant women and how it is related to pregnancy outcomes. They collectedRead More The Path into Madness in The Yellow Wallpaper1094 Words   |  5 Pagesthe delusion, very similar to what occurred to Jane in the story. In Janes case, the symptoms ended up flying way out of proportion simply because she had nothing else on which to focus.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another disorder alluded to in the story is pica. Pica is generally defined as a pathological craving for normal food constituents or for substances not commonly regarded as food (Danford 303). It is said to be the most frequently observed eating dysfunction of mentally handicapped persons, particularly

Bridge Sustainability Science And Politics -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Bridge Sustainability Science And Politics? Answer: Introducation Sustainability, for long, has been considered to be the concept that enables the biological systems to endure and to remain productive and diverse (Taylor, 2012). However, over the ages, the definition of sustainability has undergone many reformations. In the 21st century, sustainability has been referred to the necessity for the development of sustainable models required for the survival of both the planet and the human race. However, it is inevitable to say that politics has an influence over everything that science hopes to execute. The change and revolution that sustainability hopes to bring is pushed against the vested interests of many that are more than eager to corrupt the best efforts directed at global sustainability (Dryzek, 2013). Hence, sustainability cannot just remain within the confines of science. In fact, to achieve it, sustainability has to be a political form. It is for this reason that sustainability today, is more about politics rather than science. Over the ages, it has been realized that our Earth has dived into the Anthropocene Era which is the geological age that considers humans to be a significant and dominating force working in the environment (Taylor, 2012). Records show that in the ancient geological era or the Holocene Era, the Earth has never experienced such extreme changes as the present. This can be understood from the various changes that are evident in the environment of the present era, such as drastic climate changes and extreme temperatures. Political interference and environmental science go hand in hand mostly because there is much to be considered at stake for politics when the imminent future of an inhabitable planet is considered. To state the obvious, environmental science does not exist outside the framework of a social and political structure, they are co-produced (Dryzek, 2013). In fact, there is no discussion on sustainability that does not enter the dimensions of large-scale politics. To speak out the truth, the tripping block against sustainability is not the science related to sustainability but the politics involved in the science of sustainability. For instance, the foundations of anti-climate change programs are not based on science but on political resonance. In fact, for most people who are politically involved and scientifically hollow, it is all about the government and not about climate change or about science. Denial is not involved within the prospects of science but within the political dynamics. Many organizations develop strategies towards environment sustainability but fail to implement them effectively for gaining economic and competitive advantage (Raco, 2014). In fact, there has not been any evidence for a socially responsible corporation that has successfully reached their environment sustainability goals. For instance, the UK Energy White Paper claims that within the year of 2020, the gas fields of the North Sea would be so depleted that it wo uld fail to meet the growing energy needs of UK (Kraft, 2017). Such a claim can be backed up by the official records that demonstrate the need for imported gas from Russia. However, Russia is more likely to take this situation as an advantage of economic uplift. Sustainability governance wraps up within the existing order of military hegemony, economic power, and local elitism (Raco, 2014). However, there could be likely increase in the greater cooperation among governing organizations over sustainability and security. This is evident from the gradually growing bridge between the degradation of the environment and poverty, chronic disease and the persisting underdevelopment. There is the chance that environmental and sustainability crisis could trigger more radical organizations to form reforming partnerships involving international governance associating environment with development and health (Klauer et al., 2013). Though there is the high chance of opposition from rival national organizations, it must be realized that such prominent shifts in the international opinion for the mitigation of sustainability crisis is capable of taking over the adverse political grounds. There is ample evidence that relate sustainability to politics. However, the role of science in sustainable development cannot be ignored. Science has developed important and advanced technologies for sustainable development which involves exploring renewable energy sources and developing technologies that can help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climatic changes (Miller, 2013). Moreover, science has contributed towards the development of recent control technologies and microsystems that are enabled to design environment friendly processes of production. Developed scientific technologies have optimized the usage of energy and materials. Emergence of telematics have increased the traffic efficiency. Biotechnology has also made certain advances regarding the mitigation of problems related to food and in the development of environment friendly agricultural and industrial production. Science has also worked towards the development strategies that involve enha ncement of soil, air, water and land quality and in the development of nitrogen-efficient technologies. In spite of significant contribution of science towards sustainability, it must be remembered that the optimized utilization of natural, social and economic sources can be achieved with the collaboration of scientists and political leaders in addressing the challenges involved in the inter-relationships between the natural, social, economic and ecological factors (Klauer et al., 2013). This is the point where is required a policy of legal and political cosmopolitanism. This requires communities to act together in addressing the global problems on a global scale for the common good of all (Van, 2014). It must be realized that a sustainable society can be achieved only when communities understand the global impact of their existence instead of the formal presence of a nation-state. To this end, is required the formation of legal policies and opportunities to deal with global crisis in sustainability (Maak, 2009). This can be achieved by the realization that every person belongs to a co mmon humanity and are interrelated and therefore must work equally towards obtaining global justice in the society and in the environment. The above discussion concludes that though science is inevitably related to the concept of sustainability, the domain of sustainability is dominated by the political dynamics. This is because, even though science has made its significant contribution in advancing technology and discovering remedies for the existing sustainability crisis, it depends on the political framework to utilize them. Hence, it is a much needed concern to develop new polices in the corporate, industrial, economic and political field that can bridge the gap between environmental politics and science. References Dryzek, J. S. (2013).The politics of the earth: Environmental discourses. Oxford University Press. Klauer, B., Manstetten, R., Petersen, T., Schiller, J. (2013). The art of long-term thinking: A bridge between sustainability science and politics.Ecological Economics,93, 79-84. Kraft, M. E. (2017).Environmental policy and politics. Taylor Francis. Maak, T. (2009). The cosmopolitical corporation.Journal of Business Ethics,84(3), 361. Miller, T. R. (2013). Constructing sustainability science: emerging perspectives and research trajectories.Sustainability science,8(2), 279-293. Raco, M. (2014).The post-politics of sustainability planning: Privatisation and the demise of democratic government(pp. 25-47). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Taylor, R. W. (Ed.). (2012).Taking sides: Clashing views in sustainability. McGraw-Hill. Van Hooft, S. (2014).Cosmopolitanism: A philosophy for global ethics. Routledge.

Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP

Executive Summary The report is based on the analysis of the consumer product industry where Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP are used. It is also based on Dettol and Vaseline which are products of the two companies respectively. It has been evident that Reckitt Benckiser is among the leading companies in the consumer industry with operations in more than 60 countries and sells its products in more than 180 nations. On the other hand, Unilever HCP sells its products in more than 90 countries.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The companies have wider market coverage as its products are found in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and the U.S. to remain relevant in the market; the companies have put into consideration the macro environment and micro environment forces. They have also used differentiated segmentation to locate their various clients who are found all over the world. Other findings from the report analysis are that competition from other manufacturers has been the major threat in their operations. However, they both have strong brands that have gained a large market share compared to other goods that can be used as substitutes. Open market in the European Union has ensured that the companies enjoy some tax lifts in its operations. Tax regulations and unstable regulatory policies have also been a threat to the company’s operations over the last years. Recommendations have been provided based on the whole report analysis. Introduction The report seeks to explore the consumer product industry by carrying out a case analysis of Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP companies. The report looks at one from each company, for instance, Dettol and Vaseline respectively. The purpose of the report is to address the various marketing concepts and their understanding based on practical work. Reckitt Benckiser is one of the leading companies in the consumer products in different countries. The company has its headquarters in Slough UK. Its major brands are Strepsils, Dettol, Veet, Air week, Vanish, and durex. Unilever UK HPC operates in the consumer and household industry. The company has its headquarters in Kingston-Upon-Thames, UK. It specialises in hair care, skin care, and hygiene markets. It has operations all over the world and its major products are Dove, Impulse, Lux, Lynx, and Vaseline among others. Industry background Reckitt Benckiser and the Unilever UK and HPC belong to the consumer goods industry. The industry has markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and U.S.A among others. The companies manufacture, distribute and retail their commodities to the different markets in the world. Both based in the UK, they have diversified distribution channels that ensure that their goods reach the targeted market. The consumer goods industry market trends have shifted at a more rapid speed because o f competition, globalisation, and technology advancement.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The challenges facing the consumer industry has been the changing regulations, intense competition and markets that have become lean because of many players. This has forced the manufactures keep a close relationship with the supply chains so as to be successful in the demanding environment. However, because of the products manufactured by the industry like Cleaning products, condiments, healthcare, antiseptics, detergents, air fresheners, among other house hold products the industry has increased at a steady rate. Some of the power brands of Reckitt Benckiser are Dettol, Mortein, Durex, dip-it, Strepsils, Harpic, and Vanish among many more. Unilever UK and HPC products include Dove, Impulse, Lux, Lynx, Sun silk, Sure, Timotei, and Vaseline (Datamonitor 2007, p.7). These products defin e the segmentation of their markets basically based on their wide market shares. Company background Reckitt Benckiser is the leading and the largest consumer goods company that has its headquarters located in Slough, UK. It was founded in 1814 with operations in more than 60. Reckitt Benckiser sells its products in more180 countries and a workforce of more than 2300 employees and annual net revenue of more than  £3.5 billion (ProClarity Corporations, 2005 p.1). Over the years the company has undergone mergers and acquisition so as to increase its efficiency and effectiveness along the supply chain. For instance the company formed a merger with Reckitt Colman and the Benckiser to form the current Reckitt Benckiser (ProClarity Corporations, 2005, p.1). Its management strategy has been ‘innovation marketing’ which combines product innovation and increased marketing spending. The management strategy focuses on the needs of consumers. This has made the company become succ essful in its operations and the increased market share. Reckitt Benckiser is the largest and fast growing consumer goods manufacturer in the U.K. it is known for its major brands such as Strepsils, Dettol, Durex, Cilit Bang, harpic, and Air wicks. The market of the Reckitt Benckiser products has been segmented along different clustering aspects like age, sex, gender, and different geographical regions. This has made the company penetrate the market largely increasing its market share. It is estimated that Reckitt Benckiser sells more than 9 million products on a daily basis (ProClarity Corporations, 2005, p.2). Dettol antiseptic is one of the leading brands of Reckitt Benckiser. The product comes in both solid and liquid forms. The liquid product has a light yellow colouration but it usually changes to milky white when added to water.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Dettol comes in glass plastic containers that have different packaging sizes. When the product is swallowed it could kill because of its poisonous nature. It is used by different people in different geographical representation because of its effectiveness. Being a household commodity, the product is used as an antiseptic to treat wounds, cuts, acnes, skin disorders and cleaning abrasions and cuts. Unilever UK and HPC The company was founded in 1930 after several UK based soap manufacturers merged (Datamonitor 2007, p.6). Since then the company has concentrated in the manufacture of personal care products. The company specialises in the hygiene markets, skin care and healthcare products. The company has its headquarters in Kingston-Upon-Thames, the UK (Datamonitor 2007, p.4). Most of the company’s products are sold in the UK, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and USA. The financial record indicates that it had recorded net revenues is  £25bn (Steiner 2010). The global retail consumer products manufacturer is a leader in its unique productions although it faces a huge competition in its manufacturing. The home care and personal division of Unilever UK and HPC are responsible for the production of several consumer products (Datamonitor 2007, p.5). The company is a global has found its market share by specializing in home care and personal care products. To ensure market segmentation, the company two manufacturing divisions have been operating to make sure it increases its market share. For instance, it produces products that cater for all generations, sex, gender, and geographical representation. Vaseline is one of the major brands of Unilever UK and HPC. It is sold all over the world by all people regardless of their age, colour or sex. Vaseline products are found in almost more than 90 countries. The petroleum jelly has been segmented to fit different markets in the world. The product comes in different forms with Vaseline Lip therapy being the largest brands used on lips. Vaseline has been ranked as the number one body and hand lotion in the world. The product has many uses such as protecting the skin from rays, heat, dryness and moisture restoration. Because of its medicinal and healing properties, Vaseline is used on cuts, skin abrasions and burns. Like Detoll, Vaseline has no age limit and is used all over the world. Strategic marketing and planning Strategic planning is a marketing concept that deals with the direction of the company while strategic marketing involves the management of the business and the market it operates from by linking the two. The two companies have strategic levels as part of their strategic marketing and planning.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The two companies have incorporated functional, business and corporate strategies in their operations. The three levels of strategic hierarchy are witnessed in the company marketing management. For example, Reckitt Benckiser as applied the porters model differentiation as part of its target strategy to maintain a competitive edge. The company’s operations are also diversified with new marketing strategies being put into place. The same has been done in Unilever HCP Company. Macro environmental forces They are the external forces that originate from the outside. They affect a company directly as well as the whole industry. Examples are economics, politics, legal frameworks, technology, social cultural factors and the natural environment (Groucutt, Forsyth Leadley 2004, p.34). Politics The marketing place is by shaped the political forces which influence the regulatory environment (Young Pagoso 2009, p.56). These factors influence marketers on how the distribute and sell the ir products. Political forces affect the industry and organisations in a negative or positive way. According to Kotler, Kotler Kotler (2008, p. 50) some of other aspects include regulatory processes, employment laws and international rules. For instance, in Europe the European Union formation opened the market industry for most of the companies in the region. Marketers can now distribute and sell products without fear of high taxation and international regulations. Taxes have been lifted on members’ states and can operate well. For example, the consumer product industry from which the Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP operates from is located in the UK, the centre of the European Union. Opening the market, lifting some of the taxes and operating with same currency has made it possible for two companies to fair well in the consumer product industry. Technology The 21st century is characterised by the advancement in technology which affects the whole industry. The developmen t in technology offers both threats and opportunities to the marketers. Companies are often faced with challenges brought by technological change in the industry (Young Pagoso 2009, p. 55). Although, some products have some technological aspects incorporated, technological changes mean that the company has to have technical solutions in the product so as to address the changes and remain relevant in industry. The consumer product industry has not been left behind technological advancement and changes. To remain relevant the two companies in the consumer products industry have to adopt new technology while manufacturing and marketing their products. For any company to remain competitive in the market, it has keep up with increased technological advancements. This is because technology has the accelerating products obsolescence in the industry. During product development, a company has to consider the way the product needs to be developed so as to be competitive. Social cultural fact ors The tastes and opinions of the people are determined by the culture. The consumer products industry is a wide industry where the products are sold in different markets. The populations that make societies are note homogenous and marketers need to address all the needs of the customers. There are subcultures found in these populations which have values and beliefs that people follow. Some of these subcultures include religion, social activity or race. Some beliefs and values are strong and cannot be broken by marketers in that industry so they are faced with the challenge of addressing all the people. The consumer goods industry manufactures products which are more into the people than any other industry and Adverts made should not jeopardize the market share of the product. Marketers should consider these sub-cultures for people are known to have consumption habits that are different from the general population. There are also secondary values that influence the opinions of peop le like changing tastes, role of models and the media. The two companies have considered all these social-cultural factors as they have products in different geographical representation. Micro environmental forces They are the internal forces that surface from the company and the company can control them. For example, suppliers, employees, customers, competitors, regulators, trade unions among others (Groucutt, Forsyth Leadley 2004, p.29). Reckitt Benckiser Customers The company has survived in the consumer product market because they have met the demands of the people. For instance, Dettol has been successful in the market for it meets the demands and the needs of the people. Employees The company has employed the correct staff and kept them over the years. As part of strategic planning, the company ensures all the employees are motivated. The employees have also undergone training to develop their skills so as to gain competitive edge. Competitors The company has been able to rem ain relevant in the consumer product industry through the manufacturer of brands that has been competitive in the market. For example, Dettol has been one of the leading brands in the market making the company have its position in the industry. Unilever HCP Media The company has able to remain relevant through the media coverage. The adverts of Unilever are common making a positive impact to the consumers and the company. This has made the company gain compete with other competitors like Procter gamble. Competitors Differentiation has been the marketing concept that Unilever has been using in its country. The company has been able to offer products that are more competitive for a long period of time. For its brands, the company has done competitor analysis thus remaining relevant to the market. Employees The company has employed a staff and kept them over the years. As part of strategic planning, the company ensures all the employees are motivated. So as to gain competitive edge t he company has been training and developing its employees. SWOT analysis It is an analysis framework that gives the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats that an organisation faces in the market industry. According to Bohm ( 2009, p.1) SWOT analysis uses an integrated approach to confront internal strengths and weakness of a company as well as the external opportunities to the company and the threats it faces so as to come up with strategic options. Unilever SWOT Analysis Strengths They are global leaders in skin cleansing, antiperspirants and deodorants products. Have range of products that meet different diversity of people Have increased their sales in Africa, Middle East and Asia Have in-depth understanding of various markets Have been innovative in their products Have wider range of consumer products which are a must to be consumed Unique bottle shape which makes the brand distinctive. Have the capacity of tailoring their products according to the demands of the c ustomers Weaknesses Fall in profits because of the increased corporate taxes in UK Decrease in revenues and profit margins because of the increased competition Decline in research and development The company has inadequate ability to maximize on acquisitions Company is faced with dual leadership Although it has wide range of brands it has inefficient in managing the brands. Opportunities Because of increased brand loyalty, the company has the opportunity of introducing new products in the market that can increase its market share. Increased market share in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East Increased market share in Latin America through market development and penetration Unilever can change the market segments by making more of health related products Through the application of technology it has the capacity of integrating its market The firm can increase brand awareness by using digital communication channels. Increase market share through merger and acquisition Threat s High levels of competition from other companies in the consumer industry like Procter Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser Workers protest on equal pay, better working conditions and formation of labour unions. Development of substitute products which are cheaper Increased corporate taxes in UK that may see the company close or make losses Changing tax rates in UK and other countries where Unilever UK has branches Loss making by some of its products SWOT Analysis of Reckitt Benckiser Strengths The company has a strong brand equity making it the largest consumer product company It has invested more in innovation thus devising new products The market has developed a strong market share through product segmentation Have increased their sales in Africa, Middle East and Asia Have in-depth understanding of various markets Being a leading company, it operates under a cost advantage It has a variety of brands that increases its market share The company has one of the strongest management teams into place Weaknesses The company has a poor chain of supply The companies is faced with diseconomies of scale Dependency on some brands more than others There has been a decline in research and development Although it has wide range of brands it has inefficient in managing the brands. The company has not been able to diversify some of its brands Opportunities Because of increased brand loyalty, the company has the opportunity of introducing new products in the market that can increase its market share. It has opportunity of forming mergers and acquisition in the future The company has the chance of product expansion in the future Company has the chance and opportunity for takeovers Reckitt Benckiser can change the market segments by making more of health related products Through research and development it has the capacity of integrating its market Threats High levels of competition from other companies in the consumer industry like Procter Gamble The economic slowdown and recession has effect of the company It faces product substitution from other consumer product companies The company faces external changes like high taxes in UK, politics and change in government policies The exchange rates have been fluctuating over the years. Imports and emergence of low cost competitors in the consumer product economy Market segmentation The marketing concept entails the division of the targeted market into segments that have similar characteristics. Botha, Strydom and brink (2004, p.61) note that market segmentation involves the practice of clustering different people who share similar needs based on aspects like age, sex, and gender among others. The common segmentation variables are geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioural segments (Morgan Summers 2005, P.97). The geographic segmentation is deals with the location. The two companies have used this approach to segments its market because they have customers from UK, USA, Middle East, Asia, and Africa among others. Demographic segmentation this concentrates on the social economical aspects of a given population. Example of these is age, gender, the size of the household, education, sex, and income level segments (Morgan Summers 2005, P.97). Psychographic segmentation is concerned with aspects like lifestyle of the customers, social class of the targeted group, the opinion of the people towards the brand of that particular company, interests and activities the customers such as games they are involved in the beliefs and the attitudes of the people toward the products since they determine the opinions of the people toward a particular product segments (Morgan Summers 2005, P.97). Behavioural segmentation addresses the customers’ behaviours towards the products being launched or already existing in the market. Some of the characteristics of behavioural segmentation considered are the degree of the product usage; customers brand loyalty, and the type o f the users the company is targeting segments (Morgan Summers 2005, P.98). The two companies being in the consumer product industry with markets all over the world and even with covering demographic aspects use all the four variables in segmenting their different markets. With their products being used by all people covers all the four segmentation variables Target markets They are the chosen groups of people that a marketing department targets for sell of its goods. The Vaseline targeted group is the whole population because its policy is no matter your age or your skin Vaseline care for you. The target market for Dettol is all the households who need family protection from germs and bacteria. Figure 1Characteristics of the target market in relation to different segmentation variables Segmentation variable Characteristics of the target market Geographic The region of the targeted market It could be rural or urban International or local market Behavioural The customers produ ct usage The lifestyle type The personality of the targeted population Psychographic The social class .i.e. poor, middle or rich The type of the lifestyle People personality Opinions and the attitude of the people Interests and activities Behavioural The type of the users Brand loyalty The product usage Demographic Age, family size, nationality, religion, income, sex, level of education, occupations of the users, religion, size of the household and nationality Targeting strategy There are three common targeting strategies are they are undifferentiated, concentrated and differentiated. Undifferentiated This is applied by a company that decides to relay product benefits by using similar promotional message to the targeted population (Sandhusen 2008, p.298). This works well for products that are affordable and available to all consumers. The customers should be able to derive the same benefits from the product. Differentiated A company uses this type of strategy while the prod uct targets a particular specific segment (Sandhusen 2008, p.298). The promotional messages are designed in such a way that they target a single specified segment. Concentrated A company using this strategy chooses to concentrate on a particular segment chosen from a cluster of several segments but leaves the others to close competitors (Sandhusen 2008, p.298). The designed promotions message has the capacity to communicate different benefits. Based on the explanations on the different targets, Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP operate using the differentiated strategy. This is because the companies tailor the products based on the needs of the customer targeting one of the segments in the market through differentiation. Choosing targeting strategy After specifying the several segments that fit the product, the marketing department positions itself in the industry using either of the strategy. However, the marketers can use either the cost leadership approach or the differentiatio n. In the cost leadership, the companies aim at high sales with the aim of attaining market leadership through competitors undercut. On the other hand, a company differentiates itself from other companies by offering a product that is unique. The products offered have strong benefits and are different from competitors. After locating the different tastes, preferences, attitudes and behaviours of a segment group, the company can decide to choose one of the approaches to get the strategy. Positioning strategy They are used to project a favourable image of the brands to the minds of the customers and they are, Product characteristics/ attribute This approach uses the characteristic of the product to give an illustration of what a consumer would expect from it. Some products have single of more characteristics being used to position the product. For example, Vaseline offers a healthy skin all day while Dettol protects the family from germs. Pricing The positioning strategy use price and quality approach to reach the customers. The combination of this depends on the people mindset that if a product is expensive then it is of good or high quality, and vice versa. A good example is Dettol which is referred to as a premium brand. Mothers are always willing to pay more to protect their children from bacteria and germs and use Vaseline to keep the family healthy. Application or Use Position strategy that relies on application or use is used to expand the market of the particular brand. For instance, modifying the product to increase its application expands its brand market. For example the Dettol Antiseptic uses have been increased over the years thus creating an application positioning strategy this has also been the case with Positioning strategy based on competitors (Saxena, R., 2009, p.281) The company focuses more on the competitors substitute products in the market. In some extreme cases a company can use the positioning strategies applied by competitors so as to take over on the competitors’ base. For instance, Dettol is displayed as a premium brand that provides 100% protection form bacteria and germs that all mother need to protect their family as a whole. Mother is used as a focal point for Dettol soap users positioning which when compared to Lux which has focus on men. The Unilever Company uses the product characteristics and the application positioning strategy. For example, Vaseline is marketed using its characteristics and the application or the usage mode. On the other hand, Reckitt Benckiser uses are the application, positioning based on competitors, pricing and the product attribute as explained above. Recommendations Based on the findings no company has operations in more 190 countries, it is recommendable the companies make their products available in all countries. This would increase its market share and reach many people thus having competitive edge over its competitors. Benckiser should design products that target gra duates and students. For example, the new acquired brand Durex can be a power brand dedicated to students, undergraduates and people in their first careers. This would encourage entrepreneurial and attitude spirits. Although, it may not increase its sales it promotes the company and its brand name. Most of the Unilever products target the family or the household. It could make some brands that focus on the career professionals; this would encourage more people to by buy goods so as to be associated with that particular product. Reference List Bohm, A., 2009, The SWOT Analysis. München: GRIN Verlag. Bothat, J., Strydom, J., Brink, A., 2004, Introduction to marketing. Cape Town: Juta. Datamonitor., 2007. Unilever UK Home and Personal Care Web. Groucutt, J., Forsyth, P., Leadley, P, 2004, marketing: essential principles, new  Realities. London: Kogan Page. Kotler, N. G., Kotler, P., Kotler, W. I., 2008, Museum marketing and strategy: designing missions, building audiences, gen erating revenue and resources. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Morgan, M. J. J., Summers, J., 2005, Sports marketing. Southbank: Thomson. ProClarity Corporations., 2005. Reckitt Benckiser. pp, 1-3. Sandhusen, R., 2008, Marketing. Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s Educational Series. Saxena, R., 2009, Marketing management. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill. Steiner, R., 2010. Unilever threat to quit UK over rising taxes. [Online ]. Stead, W. E., Stead, J. G., 2004. Sustainable strategic management. Armonk, New York: Sharpe. Young, F.C., Pagoso, C. M., 2009, Principles of Marketing’ 2008. Manila, Philippines: Rex Bookstore, Inc. This report on Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever HCP was written and submitted by user S1lverSable to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.