Jane Addams And Her Fight For Social Reform - 1027 Words

Jane Addams and her Fight for Social Reform For years, Jane Addams has been known as a social activist who created the first settlement home in the United States. However, many people often disregard the fact that she has accomplished a significant amount of other things throughout her life that will always make her a significant icon in history. Were it not for Jane Addams leadership and contribution towards the creation of the first U.S. Hull House, social changes such as child-labor, women’s suffrage, and peace may not have occurred in the United States. Growing up in Cedarville, Illinois where both educated and non-educated women struggled to be seen and heard in the public’s eye, encouraged social activist, Jane Addams, to strive to make great changes in her society. Her many achievements such as graduating as valedictorian, being the first student to receive a bachelor’s degree at the Rockford Female Seminary in 1881, and co-founding the first U.S. Hull House, has helped show that she was very determ ined to make a change. After a few years of trying to improve her community, her drive to make it better soon made for greater social changes throughout the entire country. As a woman that underwent not being able to obtain a decent job involving any public role besides school teaching and missionary work, Addams wanted to do something that would make it possible for women to have more work options. In 1888, after taking a trip to visit the Toynbee Hall in London,Show MoreRelatedJane Addams and the Successful Hull House Essay816 Words   |  4 PagesJane Addams and her colleague, Ellen Gates Starr, founded the most successful settlement house in the United States otherwise known as the Hull-House (â€Å"Settlement† 1). It was located in a city overrun by poverty, filth and gangsters, and it could not have come at a better time (Lundblad 663). The main purpose of settlement houses was to ease the transition into the American culture and labor force, and The Hull-House offered its residents an opportunity to help the community, was a safe haven forRead MoreFighting For Social Reform : Jane Addams1218 Words   |  5 PagesFighting for Social Refo rm Though not widely known, Jane Addams’ influence and ideals can be seen throughout society. Born many years ago in 1860, the solutions for which she strived for are ageless. Women were considered the weaker sex, and forced to conform to traditional feminine roles such as staying at home and being primarily a nurturer. The issues that Jane Addams fought for, such as social justice and equality, are issues still prevalent in today’s society. Jane Addams aspired to create aRead MoreThe Women s Rights Movement865 Words   |  4 Pagesthese words that reflect the actions of Jane Addams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton during the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States. Jane Addams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton lived at the turn of the century where women were discriminated on based on gender and their inexistent role in society. These women refused to be taken for granted and in doing so they fought vehemently for a cause that they believed in. These pioneers of feminism paved the road for reform, changing the very fabric of societyRead MoreEssay on Fighting for Equal Rights1724 Words   |  7 PagesJane Addams, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Rachel Carson were four American women who advocated for social change. Their courage, intelligence, strength and leadership made a positive difference in the lives of many people. These women were pioneers in their times. They either helped to found, or lent their voices to, various social movements, policies, and causes that evolved during their lifetimes and proved successful in helping many oppressed people. Jane Addams is most famousRead More Jane Addams and Hull House Essay1548 Words   |  7 PagesJane Addams and Hull House   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born in Cederville, Illinois, on September 6, 1860, Jane Addams founded the world famous social settlement of Hull House. From Hull House, where she lived and worked from it’s start in 1889 to her death in 1935, Jane Addams built her reputation as the country’s most prominent women through her writings, settlement work and international efforts for world peace. In 1931, she became the first women to win the Nobel Peace Prize.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Addams, whose father was anRead MoreFeminism And The Feminist Movement Essay1292 Words   |  6 Pagesfurther enhanced by leaders like Alice Paul and Jane Addams. The idea of equal rights for all was further scrutinized and contested after civil rights were granted to former slaves. Women began to push for similar equality as illustrated through the feminist movement. The feminist movement became very large and sprouted subsections, one being a subsection of feminism known as social feminism. This branch of feminism was more interested in social rights and used suffrage as a tool to obtain theseRead MoreThe Progressive Era Of Women s Rights Essay1402 Words   |  6 PagesLooking back on the Progressive Era, we see many women activists and their roles in the fight for women’s rights. With the arrival of a new century also came many changes. Society was adjusting to industrialization, urbanization, a growing and powerful economy, and, of course, immigration. As a result of these changes, many people became fearful that traditional values would change as well. Progressive Reform in America began in the late nineteenth century, and an expanding job market as well asRead MoreThe Progressive Era1112 Words   |  5 PagesThe Progressive Era began as a social movement and transpired into a political movement in the United States. Gender roles c hanged and in the 18th and 19th century, men and women developed into different spheres, the private and public spheres. In these spheres men where stereotypically linked to the public sphere which related to the political relationships and surroundings as well as paid employment. Whereas, women were commonly expected to pertain to the private sphere and follow the expectationsRead MoreJane Addams And Gloria Steinem1903 Words   |  8 Pagesachievements are still recognized and remembered today. Jane Addams is a historical feminist who changed the lives for the women of her time, and is still talked about to this day. While feminism was huge in the earlier years of America, there are contemporary feminists who fight for the rights and equality of women that are still not met. In recent years, Gloria Steinem has spoken up for the equality of women and pushed for social reform. Jane Addams and Gloria Steinem are more than feminists, they areRead MoreThe Womens Movement1533 Words    |  7 Pagesless than those of men. Women were not allowed to vote; yet they had to pay taxes. Women were subjects of their husbands, and expected to do all of the housework. Many women helped in the fight for womens suffrage. When looking at the womans movement, one must look at what rights were denied, who helped fight for these rights, and what we can learn from the movement. The first thing to look at is the aspect of which rights were denied to women. The most important civil right that women were

What Thoughts Run Through Your Mind Essay - 948 Words

Introduction Midterm, professor has just posted your grades online, you know you got either and A, B, C, D or F. You studied hard for an exam. You go online to see what grade you have received. Say you got an F. What thoughts run through our mind? Say you got an A. What thoughts run through your mind? System in America is a societal norm; however, important to analyze the system. Experienced the letter grading system since early elementary school, it is important not just to accept the system but to take a closer look at the system. I accepted the reality of the system ; time to inform myself about the system. After researching, I understand the three perspectives of the advantages, disadvantages, and a potential modification of the system. Therefore, I would like to assess multiple perspectives on the traditional A to F grading system by exploring the advantages, disadvantages, and a modification of the system to provide more insight and provoke thoughts. Sharing this information today and then hearing your opinions; better understanding of the grading system employed in America. End of our discussion, think more about the system in place as opposed to being a participant in the system. Signpost: First, we will explore the perspective of the system being advantageous. Body Advantageous due to four factors: precedent, source of recognition, promotion of academics rigor, and ease of comparison. First, according Thomas Guskey author of â€Å"Making the Grade: What BenefitsShow MoreRelatedSoftball Isn’T An Easy Game And Many People Make It Sound1254 Words   |  6 PagesSoftball isn’t an easy game and many people make it sound very informal. But what most people don’t understand is that this sport isn’t just a game where players run from base to base. The sports requires mental thoughts and training through the athletes’ minds when doing so. Many people know that physical training for sports such as softball exist, but what most do not recognize is the mental condition required to comprehend the game and how the training makes athletes beyond equipped. Mental conditioningRead MoreWho s Really Control - Is Your Mind A Runaway Train? Essay1237 Words   |  5 PagesWho s Really in Control - Is Your Mind a Runaway Train? By Joy Brugh | Submitted On May 16, 2012 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook 1 Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Joy Brugh Who s REALLY in CONTROL? Do you feel likeRead More Sports medicine Essay example1620 Words   |  7 Pagesathletes ask is, why cant they play in big games as well as they anticipate themselves doing? Sports psychologists feel that spending all their time on body conditioning and athletic skills will not ensure that athletes reach their peak performance. Through various studies, psychologists conclude that the psyche aspect must also be in shape to maximize the performance potential in sports as well as education or running a business corporation. Psychologists conclude that by fine-tuning athletic skillsRead MoreDepression Is A Disease, Not A Disgrace932 Words   |  4 PagesDisgrace There is a hell. It is hell on earth. It is called depression. Depression is a disease that does not play fair. It is the only disease that exists where your own mind tries to kill you. With other diseases, your body sickens you while your mind stays strong and tells you to fight. With depression, your body sickens you while your mind tells you to give up. At times it may even tell you to die. Depression is a monster. Not only is depression very painful, it is also highly stigmatized. DepressionRead MoreAthletes Always Want To Better Their Game And Have A Competitive1166 Words   |  5 Pagesathlete learn a skill quicker.  Furthermore, guided imagery is also a brain training mechanism. Visualizing is a simple tool for athletes to use for greater athletic success, it takes only a few minutes, and it helps the mind think positive. First, before athletes even knew what visualization was they simply trained by repeated exposure to a part of their sport; it is monotonous and methodical. For an example, a basketball player would go to the gym and shot consistently until muscle memory cameRead MoreSynopsis Of A Minute School Projects Essay1215 Words   |  5 Pagesat it. Attacks. Numbing of the body that starts with the tingling of your toes and moves up into the chest tightening your ribcage and enclosing on your heart; it pounds as hard as the waves of the ocean hit the shore during a tsunami . The tsunami then moves into the pit of your stomach , twisting and turning your insides until you begin hyperventilating. You look around as your mind panics and you try to think happy thoughts. Cope. You think of all things you have to be thankful for: family,Read MoreThe Mysteries Behind Out Unconscious Mind Essay1355 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mysteries Behind Our Unconscious Mind The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. ― Plutarch Our mind is the most powerful weapon in this universe, it has the ability to control mostly everything in life but only if we know how to program it and control it correctly. There are so many mysteries about our minds that we dont acknowledge, and for some reason It is hidden from us. So have you ever wondered if there was a secret behind its hidden mysteriesRead MoreHow Your Positive Thinking May Bring You More Luck Essay724 Words   |  3 PagesHow Your Positive Thinking May Bring You More Luck By Pete Zafra | Submitted On January 20, 2011 Recommend Article Article Comments 3 Print Article Share this article on Facebook 3 Share this article on Twitter 8 Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon 2 Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Pete Zafra Positive thinking is a state of mind whereinRead MoreDreams And Dreams : Dreams1425 Words   |  6 PagesAvery Alexander English III Mr. Tarr 26 April 2015 Dreams Throughout our dreaming experience, we feel different sensations, emotions, and thoughts interpreted through images in a person’s mind. During our unconscious process, the meanings of our inner thoughts are experienced through dreams. Some psychologists believe dreams are connected to our real emotions and others may see dreams as a specific meaning related to one’s life (Young). Dreams can put us in touch with our real motives in lifeRead MoreAnxiety- Making it Live around You, Not the Other Way Around1375 Words   |  6 Pagesdead†¦ having to live with him whispering in you ear that the world would be better off with you not in it. Well this is what living with anxiety disorder is like. Now obviously this is an extreme end of the symptoms, but sadly it happens to often, and we are forced to cope with it. My symptoms, yes mine, range anything from racing thoughts, to a racing heart, to left-field thoughts of suicide. I feel like anxiety is such a touchy subject that very little people want to openly talk about it. I mean

Rice Bran free essay sample

Usually contain 24-28 carbon atoms with long chain primary alcohol containing 16-36 carbon atoms or with alcohol of the steroid group. Waxes are non crystalline. Example: Bees wax, Carnauba wax, opal wax. Etc. Properties of oil: 1. At room temperature oils liquid. 2. Oils contains large proportion of unsaturated fatty acid. 3. Oils are insoluble in water but readily soluble in Hexane, ether, benzene, Carbon tetra chloride, etc. 4. Oils are easily hydrogenated like alkenes. 5. Oils react with Iodine, chlorine in aqueous alcoholic solution to form iodo-chloro derivatives. Terms related Definitions: Iodine value: Iodine value may be defined as the number of gm of Iodine that will add across the Carboncarbon double bond in hundred (100) gm of the fats or oils. Or simply the amount of iodine (in gm) absorbed by 100gm of fat. Significance: Iodine value is a measure of the extent of un saturation in fats or oils. The greater the number of double bond more iodine is required to break this bonds. We will write a custom essay sample on Rice Bran or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ie. Iodine value is more. For example Oleic acid has one (C=C) double bond and it iodine value is 85whereas Linoleic acid contain two (C=C) double bond has iodine value is 181. Iodine value of Rica bran oil is 99-108. If Iodine value is below 90 then it is called non drying oil, If iodine value is above 90 and below 140 then it is called semi drying oil and if iodine value is above 140 then it is called drying oil. According to data Rice bran oil is a semi drying oil. Acid Value: In chemistry, acid value (or neutralization number or acid number or acidity) is the mass of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in milligrams that is required to neutralize one gram of Oil or fat. The acid number is a measure of the amount of carboxylic acid groups n a Oil or fat, such as a fatty acid, or in a mixture of compounds. In a typical procedure, a known amount of sample dissolved in organic solvent is titrated with a solution of potassium hydroxide with known concentration and with phenolphthalein as a color indicator. The acid number is used to quantify the amount of acid present, for example in a sample of biodiesel. It is the quantity of base, expressed in milligrams of potassi um hydroxide, that is required to neutralize the acidic constituents in 1 g of sample. Acid value indicates the proportion of free fatty acid in the oil or fat. The normal Acid value for most samples lies within 0. 5. The acid number is used to quantify the amount of acid present, for example in a sample of biodiesel. It is the quantity of base, expressed in milligrams of potassium hydroxide that is required to neutralize the acidic constituents in 1 g of sample. Classification of oil: Depending on sources, Oils are classified as – a) Animal fats and oil: These are obtained from animal sources. Example: Cod-liver oil, butter. b) Vegetable fats and oil: These are obtained from vegetable sources. Example: Rice bran oil, Coconut oil, Soybean oil, palm oil. etc. Depending upon the nature of carbon chain and iodine value vegetable oils are classified asa) Non drying oil: These oils contain least proportion of unsaturated acid containing two or three double bond. Non drying oil don’t absorb oxygen from air and don’t dry up to form a hard skin. Range of Iodine value is below 90-95. Example: Olive oil (85), Castor oil (85), Coconut oil (8. 2-9. 6), Palm oil (52). b) Semi drying oil: These oils contain intermediate proportion of unsaturated acid containing one or two double bond. Semi drying oil absorbs oxygen from air slowly and thickens after keeping exposed to air for some time, But don’t dry up. Various edible oils are Rice bran oil, Soybean oil, palm oil. Etc. are employed for salad, dressings other table uses and for cooking purposes. b) Inedible oil: this oil is used for soap manufacturing. The drying oil industries, including paints and varnishes. Example: Tallow, Coconut oil, Palm oil etc. Oils are classified on the presence of nature: a) Petroleum oil: A naturally occurring oil that consists chiefly of hydrocarbons with some other elements such as sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen. In its unrefined form petroleum is known as crude oil. Sometimes also called rock oil. These oils are obtained from crude petroleum by distillation. The number of carbon atom ranging from C1 to C40. The main functions are Refinery gas(Methane), Gasoline(C5 to C8) BP: 40 to180oC, Kerosene( C11 to C12) BP: 160 to250oC, Diesel oil (C13 to C25) BP: 220 to350oC, [BP= Boiling point] b) Essential oil: Essential oils are volatile oils with pleasant odour and are obtained from various plants excudes and flowers by stem distillation. It must contain isoprene unit. Linalool contain alcoholic group Citral contain aldehyde group Eucalyptus contain ester group Example: Citrus oil, flower oil (e. g. Rose, jasmine) and cloves. etc Uses of Essential oil: Making perfumes, toilet soaps, tooth pastes, and manufacturing inks, varnishes, greases etc. c) Fatty oil: Fatty oils are obtained from vegetable and animal sources. Chemically they belong the fats and fatty oils are the glycerides of fatty acids have low melting point. Example: Rice bran oil, Coconut oil, Soybean oil, palm oil, etc. Differentiate between Oils Fats and waxes Fat Oil Waxes Tri glycerol ester of fatty acid Tri glycerol ester of fatty acid Ester of mono hydric alcohol with higher fatty acid Solid at Room temp Liquid at Room temp Crystalline Solid at Room temp Saturated fatty acid Un saturated fatty acid Saturated or Un saturated fatty acid Non insulator Non insulator Insulator Contain a small amount of alcohol Contain a small amount of alcohol Contain a large amount of alcohol Rice bran oil: Rice bran oil is extracted from the bran layers of rice. Rice bran oil inherently contains a high level of gamma oryzanol, a natural mixture of ferulic acid esters. Oryzan is processed by a non-conventional vegetable oil refining technique to provide several unique properties. It retains much of the oryzanol that is naturally present in the crude oil. Due to its strong antioxidant properties, oryzanol retards oil degradation at elevated temperatures. This results in oil with an extended fry-life and fried foods with improved storage stability. While Oryzan rice bran oil can be used alone, it can also be blended with other oils to improve their frying performance. Information of Rice bran oil: Rice bran oil contains the highest amount of all natural vitamin E in liquid form. It is also rich in phytic and ferulic acids, which promote microfoliation (a gentle form of exfoliation) while helping balance melanin production. It also contains proanthrocyanidins, which protect collagen and elastin to ensure suppleness of the skin. Rice bran oil is particularly high in fatty acids. It is excellent for mature, delicate or sensitive skin. Rice Bran Oil is recommended for skin care and massage products. Its shelf life is six months to one year. An emollient oil similar to other nonvolatile plant oils. Rich in vitamin E. It has a smaller molecule than wheat germ oil making it much easier to penetrate the skin.

Netflix Strategic Analysis Essay Example

Netflix Strategic Analysis Paper Netflix | Strategic Analysis (Nov 2007)| | Netflix, the online subscription-based DVD rental service aimed to better satisfy customer in a way competitors didn’t, customized and personalized service with unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of film offerings. Now they want to leverage their strengths to enter into the Video on Demand market| | | 9/18/2009| | 1 1 3 3 6 7 Table of Contents 1. Netflix Strategic Analysis 2. Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Comparative assessment of strategic differences 3. Netflix Competitive Advantage 3. 1 Home video industry Positioning Perspective 3. VRIO Perspective 4. Video On Demand (VOD) – Strategic Advantage i 1. Netflix Strategic Analysis Netflix, an online subscription-based DVD rental service aimed to better satisfy customer in a way competitors didn’t, with unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of DVD offerings and personalized service. Netflix created a distinctive value proposition by understanding customer needs and competition offerings; Netflix found the sweet spot to align the firm’s capabilities with the customer needs in a way that competitors could not match them, creating unique activities to deliver to that gap(1). To take the movie rental to the next level, Netflix used the internet instead of rental stores and offered service only to DVD users while rental stores were still renting VHS. The combination of internet and DVD technology made competition irrelevant, by reaching in an untapped market, Netflix expanded existing industry boundaries and reached for the blue ocean(1). Netflix started building their offering from customer’s frustration such as narrow diversity of films and stressful return due dates which implied late fees. Netflix was able to hold large amounts of inventory in their warehouses without having the physical space constringency of a rental store, added convenience of delivery and the unlimited monthly rentals of a subscription model, and using technology for customization and personalization of their service. Leveraging best practices from internet retailers (ebay, Amazon) helped Netflix to identify characteristics that were most appealing to internet customers (2). Understanding what customer valued allow Netflix to strengthen their critical success factors. . Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Comparative assessment of strategic differences. 1 Blockbuster focused their strategy on impulse rental customers, while Netflix focused on customers that desired selection and for which watching movies was a way of entertainment. While Blockbuster business relied on newest release (70% of revenue came from hit movies) (2) they kept a narrow variety of movies and their financial success depended highly in ma ximizing the rental of those hit movies in inventory. We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To be able to increase utilization, the movies had a return due date and late fees would be applied if returned after. Netflix business model promoted lower profile films, while working in new relationships with studios to lower cost and quicker access of new releases (only 30% of revenue came from new releases)(2). Netflix continued making deals with movie producers and acquiring movies to enlarge the diversity and size of their DVD library; simultaneously applied the subscription model which allowed customers to reach an unlimited amount of movies per month (keeping three at a time). Blockbuster scope was to expand geographical coverage nationwide, owning most of their stores (80%) and franchising the rest (2). Netflix had a similar geographical goal, creating more distribution centers (inexpensive warehouses) improving upon its national wide coverage and reducing delivery time. Using technology to develop a recommendation system and personalized their service, Netflix had established a strong market position with a large and solid base of subscribers by the time Blockbuster entered the online movie rental business. Blockbuster had the power of high retaliation and leverage from their already established brand and existing products, so they integrated its online model with its traditional store business, eliminating late fees, copying Netflix business model and under-cutting price to gain market share, but still it did not offset their loss of revenue by 2005. 2 Blockbuster was too confident in their brand and their reach that failed to see the threat from the online rental business, meanwhile Netflix took advantage of their slow entrance to build a market and leverage on growing technology (DVD) that took off really quickly. The strategy canvas shown in Figure 1 captures how Netflix’s strategy differs from Blockbuster’s and their areas of differentiation. Netflix shifted their focus to alternative new offerings, building on critical success factors that could not be matched by Blockbuster, even when they entered the online video rental. Figure 1. Strategic canvas of home movie rental 3. Netflix Competitive Advantage 3. 1 Home video industry Positioning Perspective 3 To understand Netflix’s positioning in the home video industry offering of movies in the comfort of the home it is useful to employ Porter’s 5 forces framework to identify the gap they are filling and their strengths and weaknesses. Threat of Entry: To be able to start up a home video business would require a significant investment capital. Although the required capital for infrastructure could be medium to low (open a store and do minimum amount of marketing), it could be expensive for new entrants to invest in movies to create the necessary inventory, especially without relationships with movie studios and producers. Also retaliation could be expected from larger players if the new business poses a threat. For a possible entrant, high differentiation (for example convenience or diversity) would be necessary to be able to succeed. The threat of entry would be considered medium to low, but Netflix saw the opportunity to get into the industry by highly differentiating themselves to be able to compete. Threat of Substitution: Alternatives to the home video industry would be: first, movie theaters, expensive and lack the convenience of watching the movie in the comfort of the house. Second, to watch a movie through commercial television, it takes longer time to be available and is interrupted by commercials. Third, to watch movies through the internet, on the computer; it may be convenient, but not comfortable. Also, a customer always has as an option not to spend their free time watching movies. The substitutes are weak until technology allows for easy, quick and cheap movies to be downloaded through the internet and transfer to the TV. The threat of substitution is low. 4 The power of buyers: The source of dissatisfaction of customers comes from the narrow selection of movies and the rental due dates resulting in late fees. It becomes expensive for those who are volume customers and have to pay large amounts of money. But buyers have low switching cost as there are several options for renting movies, despite this fact, individual customers do not hold bargaining power over the price of products in this market since one customer’s decision to buy the service or not will not affect the overall market at all; similarly one customer’s dissatisfaction will not influence other customers significantly. The level of dissatisfaction with the service would promote a widespread response in the presence of a differentiated product that is more convenient and satisfactory for customers. Netflix â€Å"invested in things that were strategically relevant to customer satisfaction potential† (2) taking advantage of discontent of the underserved customers which increased buyers’ switching cost and decreased the buyer power. The power of supplier: High up-front investment is necessary to be able to acquire films. Without direct relationships with major studios, the industry depended on a small number of movie distributors to acquire the movies with little or no discount increasing the supplier power. Netflix built relationships with major film producers to decrease the up-front cost of new releases by splitting additional revenue; they were able to acquire more movies in a timely manner to satisfy demand. â€Å"As Netflix built its film library, it grew in importance as a distribution channel for many small and independent film studios† †¦ â€Å" Netflix acquired the distribution rights to certain independent films through its Red Envelope Subsidiary†(2). All the actions taken helped Netflix to both decrease the supplier power while increase their movie selection. The mail delivery system had also a major role as Netflix’s supplier. They highly depended on USPS for the success of their model (delivery and return of movies in a timely manner). Netflix took advantage of the declining first class mail industry and strengthen their relationship with USPS, receiving discounts while working on an efficient plan to expedite deliveries and returns and improve customer satisfaction. 5 Rivalry: The home video industry had been highly populated by small and large players with little differentiation offering, basically commodity service in a larger and smaller scale. Blockbuster had been the leader for a long time and smaller â€Å"mom and pops shops† did not present strong competition. The rivalry could be considered medium. As industry grew in a constant pace, more people demanded a wider selection with more convenience; this allowed Netflix to get into the industry with a differentiated product that allowed them to succeed. 3. 2 VRIO Perspective Netflix initial strategic advantage was based on differentiation from using the internet to select the movies, their unlimited monthly movies from the subscription based system with no late fees, the wider inventory of movies and the use of mail for delivery, very different from Blockbuster’s offering. It was a good strategy over the short term, but it only gave Netflix a temporal competitive advantage as anybody could copy what they were doing. To build a sustainable competitive advantage Netflix dedicated a lot of resources to make their offering unique; this helped them to further differentiate themselves. This strategy leveraged the value proposition of convenience and selection by personalizing their offering and building strong relationships between their system and their customers, their intent was to increase customer retention, offering features that customers could not find at any competitor, and that would be too difficult for a competitor to copy. Netflix invested in technology that allowed them to get to know customers using surveys, movie reviews and monitoring rental trends. All this permitted Netflix to give customers accurate recommendation of movies based on customer likes while having a queue of movies that would be shipped to them on priority basis. Using their core strengths and building rarity and difficulty of imitability, as observed in the VRIO analysis in Table 1, Netflix customer data base and personalized offering allowed them to have a sustainable competitive advantage in delivering home video entertainment. 6 Table 1: Netflix critical success factors – VRIO break down | Resources| V| R| I| O| | Physical| | | | | | | Technology| * | * | | * | TCA| Logistics| * | * | | * | TCA| | Geographical reach| * | | | * | | | Wide selection| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Brand| * | * | | * | TCA| | Convenience Easy access| * | * | | * | TCA| | Customer database| * | * | * | * | SCA| Organization| | | | | | | Knowing customer| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Recommendation| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Subscription| * | * | | * | TCA| | No late fees| * | * | | * | TC A| | Relationship with studios| * | * | | * | TCA| Human| | | | | | Team commitment| * | * | * | * | SCA| TCA – Temporary Competitive Advantage (Strength and distinctive competence) SCA – Sustainable competitive Advantage (Strength and sustainable distinctive competence) 4. Video On Demand (VOD) – Strategic Advantage While Netflix â€Å"believed that the DVD rental market would remain healthy for years in the future†(2), they also recognized, just as they did when entering the DVD market, the need to take advantage of the fast pace growing technology and enter the VOD market in its early stages in order to maintain ts superior â€Å"position as a giant in the media industry†(2). Unlike Blockbusters’ response when Netflix first appeared with a product so different from theirs, rather than seeing the new offering as an option that would appeal only to a niche market(2), Netflix acknowledged the VOD offering as a service that would benefit the mass market needs(2). 7 VOD presents two main challenges, the first is the hardware requirements to allow connectivity between the computer and television, adopting streaming offering would allow Netflix to establish in the VOD market while waiting for the technology to develop. The second is â€Å"the current limitations in available content† (2). Adopting the VOD business as a separate service could hurt Netflix’s â€Å"wide selection† image making it difficult to satisfy its wide range of customers. While Netflix must continue pressuring the studios to let them have more available films in VOD, choosing the option of integrating a streaming online video feature in their core offering, would allow them to build on their current differentiation strengths: unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of movies and personalized service. New customers interested in the VOD offering would also enter in the data base helping further growth of Netflix’s customized and personalized system while taking advantage of their variety of DVD movies still not available through VOD. In the initial stages, both DVD online rental and VOD would complement each other. It would be expected for the streaming online video feature to increase popularity while overcoming the technical challenges of VOD. At the same time, the DVD rental business would be expected to decline. This strategy would help them transition effectively in the market. It will be easier to convert its customer from DVD’s delivered movies to VOD rather than acquiring new customers from scratch. Finally, integrating the current offering with the streaming online video while leveraging from their distinctive competencies, ultimately will give Netflix a sustainable competitive advantage â€Å"to allow for the best home video viewing for its customers† (2). References (1) W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, â€Å"Blue Ocean Strategy: From Theory to Practice† California Review Management, 2005. (2) 8 8 7 7 Willy Shih, Stephen Kaufman and David Spinola, â€Å"Netflix†, Harvard Business School, November 19, 2007. Netflix Strategic Analysis Essay Example Netflix Strategic Analysis Essay Netflix | Strategic Analysis (Nov 2007)| | Netflix, the online subscription-based DVD rental service aimed to better satisfy customer in a way competitors didn’t, customized and personalized service with unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of film offerings. Now they want to leverage their strengths to enter into the Video on Demand market| | | 9/18/2009| | 1 1 3 3 6 7 Table of Contents 1. Netflix Strategic Analysis 2. Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Comparative assessment of strategic differences 3. Netflix Competitive Advantage 3. 1 Home video industry Positioning Perspective 3. VRIO Perspective 4. Video On Demand (VOD) – Strategic Advantage i 1. Netflix Strategic Analysis Netflix, an online subscription-based DVD rental service aimed to better satisfy customer in a way competitors didn’t, with unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of DVD offerings and personalized service. Netflix created a distinctive value proposition by understanding customer needs and competition offerings; Netflix found the sweet spot to align the firm’s capabilities with the customer needs in a way that competitors could not match them, creating unique activities to deliver to that gap(1). To take the movie rental to the next level, Netflix used the internet instead of rental stores and offered service only to DVD users while rental stores were still renting VHS. The combination of internet and DVD technology made competition irrelevant, by reaching in an untapped market, Netflix expanded existing industry boundaries and reached for the blue ocean(1). Netflix started building their offering from customer’s frustration such as narrow diversity of films and stressful return due dates which implied late fees. Netflix was able to hold large amounts of inventory in their warehouses without having the physical space constringency of a rental store, added convenience of delivery and the unlimited monthly rentals of a subscription model, and using technology for customization and personalization of their service. Leveraging best practices from internet retailers (ebay, Amazon) helped Netflix to identify characteristics that were most appealing to internet customers (2). Understanding what customer valued allow Netflix to strengthen their critical success factors. . Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Comparative assessment of strategic differences. 1 Blockbuster focused their strategy on impulse rental customers, while Netflix focused on customers that desired selection and for which watching movies was a way of entertainment. While Blockbuster business relied on newest release (70% of revenue came from hit movies) (2) they kept a narrow variety of movies and their financial success depended highly in ma ximizing the rental of those hit movies in inventory. We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Netflix Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To be able to increase utilization, the movies had a return due date and late fees would be applied if returned after. Netflix business model promoted lower profile films, while working in new relationships with studios to lower cost and quicker access of new releases (only 30% of revenue came from new releases)(2). Netflix continued making deals with movie producers and acquiring movies to enlarge the diversity and size of their DVD library; simultaneously applied the subscription model which allowed customers to reach an unlimited amount of movies per month (keeping three at a time). Blockbuster scope was to expand geographical coverage nationwide, owning most of their stores (80%) and franchising the rest (2). Netflix had a similar geographical goal, creating more distribution centers (inexpensive warehouses) improving upon its national wide coverage and reducing delivery time. Using technology to develop a recommendation system and personalized their service, Netflix had established a strong market position with a large and solid base of subscribers by the time Blockbuster entered the online movie rental business. Blockbuster had the power of high retaliation and leverage from their already established brand and existing products, so they integrated its online model with its traditional store business, eliminating late fees, copying Netflix business model and under-cutting price to gain market share, but still it did not offset their loss of revenue by 2005. 2 Blockbuster was too confident in their brand and their reach that failed to see the threat from the online rental business, meanwhile Netflix took advantage of their slow entrance to build a market and leverage on growing technology (DVD) that took off really quickly. The strategy canvas shown in Figure 1 captures how Netflix’s strategy differs from Blockbuster’s and their areas of differentiation. Netflix shifted their focus to alternative new offerings, building on critical success factors that could not be matched by Blockbuster, even when they entered the online video rental. Figure 1. Strategic canvas of home movie rental 3. Netflix Competitive Advantage 3. 1 Home video industry Positioning Perspective 3 To understand Netflix’s positioning in the home video industry offering of movies in the comfort of the home it is useful to employ Porter’s 5 forces framework to identify the gap they are filling and their strengths and weaknesses. Threat of Entry: To be able to start up a home video business would require a significant investment capital. Although the required capital for infrastructure could be medium to low (open a store and do minimum amount of marketing), it could be expensive for new entrants to invest in movies to create the necessary inventory, especially without relationships with movie studios and producers. Also retaliation could be expected from larger players if the new business poses a threat. For a possible entrant, high differentiation (for example convenience or diversity) would be necessary to be able to succeed. The threat of entry would be considered medium to low, but Netflix saw the opportunity to get into the industry by highly differentiating themselves to be able to compete. Threat of Substitution: Alternatives to the home video industry would be: first, movie theaters, expensive and lack the convenience of watching the movie in the comfort of the house. Second, to watch a movie through commercial television, it takes longer time to be available and is interrupted by commercials. Third, to watch movies through the internet, on the computer; it may be convenient, but not comfortable. Also, a customer always has as an option not to spend their free time watching movies. The substitutes are weak until technology allows for easy, quick and cheap movies to be downloaded through the internet and transfer to the TV. The threat of substitution is low. 4 The power of buyers: The source of dissatisfaction of customers comes from the narrow selection of movies and the rental due dates resulting in late fees. It becomes expensive for those who are volume customers and have to pay large amounts of money. But buyers have low switching cost as there are several options for renting movies, despite this fact, individual customers do not hold bargaining power over the price of products in this market since one customer’s decision to buy the service or not will not affect the overall market at all; similarly one customer’s dissatisfaction will not influence other customers significantly. The level of dissatisfaction with the service would promote a widespread response in the presence of a differentiated product that is more convenient and satisfactory for customers. Netflix â€Å"invested in things that were strategically relevant to customer satisfaction potential† (2) taking advantage of discontent of the underserved customers which increased buyers’ switching cost and decreased the buyer power. The power of supplier: High up-front investment is necessary to be able to acquire films. Without direct relationships with major studios, the industry depended on a small number of movie distributors to acquire the movies with little or no discount increasing the supplier power. Netflix built relationships with major film producers to decrease the up-front cost of new releases by splitting additional revenue; they were able to acquire more movies in a timely manner to satisfy demand. â€Å"As Netflix built its film library, it grew in importance as a distribution channel for many small and independent film studios† †¦ â€Å" Netflix acquired the distribution rights to certain independent films through its Red Envelope Subsidiary†(2). All the actions taken helped Netflix to both decrease the supplier power while increase their movie selection. The mail delivery system had also a major role as Netflix’s supplier. They highly depended on USPS for the success of their model (delivery and return of movies in a timely manner). Netflix took advantage of the declining first class mail industry and strengthen their relationship with USPS, receiving discounts while working on an efficient plan to expedite deliveries and returns and improve customer satisfaction. 5 Rivalry: The home video industry had been highly populated by small and large players with little differentiation offering, basically commodity service in a larger and smaller scale. Blockbuster had been the leader for a long time and smaller â€Å"mom and pops shops† did not present strong competition. The rivalry could be considered medium. As industry grew in a constant pace, more people demanded a wider selection with more convenience; this allowed Netflix to get into the industry with a differentiated product that allowed them to succeed. 3. 2 VRIO Perspective Netflix initial strategic advantage was based on differentiation from using the internet to select the movies, their unlimited monthly movies from the subscription based system with no late fees, the wider inventory of movies and the use of mail for delivery, very different from Blockbuster’s offering. It was a good strategy over the short term, but it only gave Netflix a temporal competitive advantage as anybody could copy what they were doing. To build a sustainable competitive advantage Netflix dedicated a lot of resources to make their offering unique; this helped them to further differentiate themselves. This strategy leveraged the value proposition of convenience and selection by personalizing their offering and building strong relationships between their system and their customers, their intent was to increase customer retention, offering features that customers could not find at any competitor, and that would be too difficult for a competitor to copy. Netflix invested in technology that allowed them to get to know customers using surveys, movie reviews and monitoring rental trends. All this permitted Netflix to give customers accurate recommendation of movies based on customer likes while having a queue of movies that would be shipped to them on priority basis. Using their core strengths and building rarity and difficulty of imitability, as observed in the VRIO analysis in Table 1, Netflix customer data base and personalized offering allowed them to have a sustainable competitive advantage in delivering home video entertainment. 6 Table 1: Netflix critical success factors – VRIO break down | Resources| V| R| I| O| | Physical| | | | | | | Technology| * | * | | * | TCA| Logistics| * | * | | * | TCA| | Geographical reach| * | | | * | | | Wide selection| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Brand| * | * | | * | TCA| | Convenience Easy access| * | * | | * | TCA| | Customer database| * | * | * | * | SCA| Organization| | | | | | | Knowing customer| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Recommendation| * | * | * | * | SCA| | Subscription| * | * | | * | TCA| | No late fees| * | * | | * | TC A| | Relationship with studios| * | * | | * | TCA| Human| | | | | | Team commitment| * | * | * | * | SCA| TCA – Temporary Competitive Advantage (Strength and distinctive competence) SCA – Sustainable competitive Advantage (Strength and sustainable distinctive competence) 4. Video On Demand (VOD) – Strategic Advantage While Netflix â€Å"believed that the DVD rental market would remain healthy for years in the future†(2), they also recognized, just as they did when entering the DVD market, the need to take advantage of the fast pace growing technology and enter the VOD market in its early stages in order to maintain ts superior â€Å"position as a giant in the media industry†(2). Unlike Blockbusters’ response when Netflix first appeared with a product so different from theirs, rather than seeing the new offering as an option that would appeal only to a niche market(2), Netflix acknowledged the VOD offering as a service that would benefit the mass market needs(2). 7 VOD presents two main challenges, the first is the hardware requirements to allow connectivity between the computer and television, adopting streaming offering would allow Netflix to establish in the VOD market while waiting for the technology to develop. The second is â€Å"the current limitations in available content† (2). Adopting the VOD business as a separate service could hurt Netflix’s â€Å"wide selection† image making it difficult to satisfy its wide range of customers. While Netflix must continue pressuring the studios to let them have more available films in VOD, choosing the option of integrating a streaming online video feature in their core offering, would allow them to build on their current differentiation strengths: unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of movies and personalized service. New customers interested in the VOD offering would also enter in the data base helping further growth of Netflix’s customized and personalized system while taking advantage of their variety of DVD movies still not available through VOD. In the initial stages, both DVD online rental and VOD would complement each other. It would be expected for the streaming online video feature to increase popularity while overcoming the technical challenges of VOD. At the same time, the DVD rental business would be expected to decline. This strategy would help them transition effectively in the market. It will be easier to convert its customer from DVD’s delivered movies to VOD rather than acquiring new customers from scratch. Finally, integrating the current offering with the streaming online video while leveraging from their distinctive competencies, ultimately will give Netflix a sustainable competitive advantage â€Å"to allow for the best home video viewing for its customers† (2). References (1) W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, â€Å"Blue Ocean Strategy: From Theory to Practice† California Review Management, 2005. (2) 8 8 7 7 Willy Shih, Stephen Kaufman and David Spinola, â€Å"Netflix†, Harvard Business School, November 19, 2007.