A Biography of Richard the Lionheart

Richard the Lionheart was born on September 8, 1157, in Oxford, England. He was generally considered to be his mothers favorite son, and has been described as spoiled and vain because of it. Richard was also known to let his temper get the better of him. Nevertheless, he could be shrewd in matters of politics and was famously skilled on the battlefield. He was also highly cultured and well-educated, and wrote poems and songs. Through most of his life he enjoyed the support and affection of his people, and for centuries after his death, Richard the Lionheart was one of the most popular kings in English history. Early Years Richard the Lionheart was the third son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and although his eldest brother died young, the next in line, Henry, was named heir. Thus, Richard grew up with little realistic expectations of achieving the English throne. In any case, he was more interested in the familys French holdings than he was in England; he spoke little English, and he was made duke of the lands his mother had brought to her marriage when he was quite young: Aquitaine in 1168, and Poitiers three years later. In 1169, King Henry and King Louis VII of France agreed that Richard should be wed to Louiss daughter Alice. This engagement was to last for some time, although Richard never showed any interest in her; Alice was sent from her home to live with the court in England, while Richard stayed with his holdings in France. Brought up among the people he was to govern, Richard soon learned how to deal with the aristocracy. But his relationship with his father had some serious problems. In 1173, encouraged by his mother, Richard joined his brothers Henry and Geoffrey in rebelling against the king. The rebellion ultimately failied, Eleanor was imprisoned, and Richard found it necessary to submit to his father and receive a pardon for his transgressions. From Duke to King Richard In the early 1180s, Richard faced baronial revolts in his own lands. He displayed considerable military skill and earned a reputation for courage (the quality that led to his nickname of Richard the Lionheart), but he dealt so harshly with the rebels that they called on his brothers to help drive him from Aquitaine. Now his father interceded on his behalf, fearing the fragmentation of the empire he had built (the Angevin Empire, after Henrys lands of Anjou). However, no sooner had King Henry gathered his continental armies together than the younger Henry unexpectedly died, and the rebellion crumpled. As the oldest surviving son, Richard the Lionheart was now heir to England, Normandy, and Anjou. In light of his extensive holdings, his father wanted him to cede Aquitaine to his brother John, who had never had any territory to govern and was known as Lackland. But Richard had a deep attachment to the duchy. Rather than give it up, he turned to the king of France, Louiss son Philip II, with whom Richard had developed a firm political and personal friendship. In November of 1188 Richard paid homage to Philip for all his holdings in France, then joined forces with him to drive his father into submission. They forced Henry—who had indicated a willingness to name John his heir—to acknowledge Richard as heir to the English throne before he died in July 1189. The Crusader King Richard the Lionheart had become King of England; but his heart wasnt in the sceptred isle. Ever since Saladin had captured Jerusalem in 1187, Richards greatest ambition was to go to the Holy Land and take it back. His father had agreed to engage in the Crusades along with Philip, and a Saladin Tithe had been levied in England and France to raise funds for the endeavor. Now Richard took full advantage of the Saladin Tithe and the military apparatus that had been formed; he drew heavily from the royal treasury and sold anything that might bring him funds—offices, castles, lands, towns, lordships. In less than a year after his accession to the throne, Richard the Lionheart raised a substantial fleet and an impressive army to take on Crusade. Philip and Richard agreed to go to the Holy Land together, but not all was well between them. The French king wanted some of the lands that Henry had held, and that were now in Richards hands, which he believed rightfully belonged to France. Richard was not about to relinquish any of his holdings; in fact, he shored up the defenses of these lands and prepared for conflict. But neither king really wanted war with each other, especially with a Crusade awaiting their attention. In fact, the crusading spirit was strong in Europe at this time. Although there were always nobles who wouldnt put up a farthing for the effort, the vast majority of the European nobility were devout believers of the virtue and necessity of Crusade. Most of those who didnt take up arms themselves still supported the Crusading movement any way that they could. And right now, both Richard and Philip were being shown up by the septuagenarian German emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, who had already pulled together an army and set off for the Holy Land. In the face of public opinion, continuing their quarrel was not really feasible for either of the kings, but especially not for Philip, since Richard the Lionheart had worked so hard to fund his part in the Crusade. The French king chose to accept the promises that Richard made, probably against his better judgment. Among these pledges was Richards agreement to marry Philips sister Alice, who still languished in England, even though it appeared he had been negotiating for the hand of Berengaria of Navarre. Alliance with the King of Sicily In July of 1190 the Crusaders set off. They stopped at Messina, Sicily, in part because it served as an excellent point of departure from Europe to the Holy Land, but also because Richard had business with King Tancred. The new monarch had refused to hand over the bequest the late king had left to Richards father, and was witholding the dower owed to his predecessors widow and keeping her in close confinement. This was of special concern to Richard the Lionheart, because the widow was his favorite sister, Joan. To complicate matters, the Crusaders were clashing with the citizens of Messina. Richard resolved these problems in a matter of days. He demanded (and got) Joans release, but when her dower was not forthcoming he began taking control of strategic fortifications. When the unrest between the Crusaders and the townfolk flared into a riot, he personally quelled it with his own troops. Before Tancred knew it, Richard had taken hostages to secure the peace and begun constructing a wooden castle overlooking the city. Tancred was forced to make concessions to Richard the Lionheart or risk losing his throne. The agreement between Richard the Lionheart and Tancred ultimately benefited the king of Sicily, for it included an alliance against Tancreds rival, the new German emperor, Henry VI. Philip, on the other hand, was unwilling to jeopardize his friendship with Henry and was irritated at Richards virtual takeover of the island. He was mollified somewhat when Richard agreed to share the monies Tancred paid, but he soon had cause for further irritation. Richards mother Eleanor arrived in Sicily with her sons bride, and it was not Philips sister. Alice had been passed over in favor of Berengaria of Navarre, and Philip wasnt in either a financial or military position to address the insult. His relationship with Richard the Lionheart further deteriorated, and they would never recover their original affability. Richard couldnt marry Berengaria quite yet, because it was Lent; but now that shed arrived in Sicily he was ready to leave the island where he had tarried for several months. In April of 1191 he set sail for the Holy Land with his sister and fiancà © in a massive fleet of over 200 vessels. Invasion of Cyprus and Marriage Three days out of Messina, Richard the Lionheart and his fleet ran into a terrible storm. When it was over, about 25 ships were missing, including the one carrying Berengaria and Joan. In fact the missing ships had been blown further on, and three of them (though not the one Richards family were on) had been driven aground in Cyprus. Some of the crews and passengers had drowned; the ships had been plundered and the survivors were imprisoned. All of this had occurred under the governance of Isaac Ducas Comnenus, the Greek tyrant of Cyprus, who had at one point entered into an agreement with Saladin to protect the government hed set up in opposition to the ruling Angelus family of Constantinople. After having rendezvoused with Berengaria and secured her and Joans safety, Richard demanded restoration of the plundered goods and the release of those prisoners who hadnt already escaped. Isaac refused, rudely it was said, apparently confident in Richards disadvantage. To Isaacs chagrin, Richard the Lionheart successfully invaded the island, then attacked against the odds, and won. The Cypriots surrendered, Isaac submitted, and Richard took possession of Cyprus for England. This was of great strategic value, since Cyprus would prove to be an important part of the supply line of goods and troops from Europe to the Holy Land. Before Richard the Lionheart left Cyprus, he married Berengaria of Navarre on May 12, 1191. A Truce  in the Holy Land Richards first success in the Holy Land, after having sunk an enormous supply ship encountered on the way, was the capture of Acre. The city had been under siege by Crusaders for two years, and the work Philip had done upon his arrival to mine and sap the walls contributed to its fall. However, Richard not only brought an overwhelming force, he spent considerable time examining the situation and planning his attack before he even got there. It was almost inevitable that Acre should fall to Richard the Lionheart, and indeed, the city surrendered mere weeks after the king arrived. Shortly afterward, Philip returned to France. His departure was not without rancor, and Richard was probably glad to see him go. Although Richard the Lionheart scored a surprising and masterful victory at Arsuf, he was unable to press his advantage. Saladin had decided to destroy Ascalon, a logical fortification for Richard to capture. Taking and rebuilding Ascalon in order to more securely establish a supply line made good strategic sense, but few of his followers were interested in anything but moving on to Jerusalem. And fewer still were willing to stay on once, theroretically, Jerusalem was captured. Matters were complicated by quarrels among the various contingents and Richards own high-handed style of diplomacy. After considerable political wrangling, Richard came to the unavoidable conclusion that the conquest of Jerusalem would be far too difficult with the lack of military strategy hed encountered from his allies; furthermore, it would be virtually impossible to keep the Holy City should by some miracle he manage to take it. He negotiated a truce with  Saladin  that allowed the Crusaders to keep Acre and a strip of coast that gave Christian pilgrims access to sites of sacred significance, then headed back to Europe. Captive in Vienna The tension had grown so bad between the kings of England and France that Richard chose to go home by way of the Adriatic Sea in order to avoid Philips territory. Once again the weather played a part: a storm swept Richards ship ashore near Venice. Although he disguised himself to avoid the notice of Duke Leopold of Austria, with whom he had clashed after his victory at Acre, he was discovered in Vienna and imprisoned in the Dukes castle at Dà ¼rnstein, on the Danube. Leopold handed Richard the Lionheart over to the German emperor, Henry VI, who was no more fond of him than Leopold, thanks to Richards actions in Sicily. Henry kept Richard at various imperial castles as events unfolded and he gauged his next step. Legend has it that a minstrel called Blondel went from castle to castle in Germany seeking Richard, singing a song he had composed with the king. When Richard heard the song from within his prison walls, he sang a verse known only to himself and Blondel, and the minstrel knew he had found the Lionheart. However, the story is just a story. Henry had no reason to hide Richards whereabouts; in fact, it suited his purposes to let everyone know that he had captured one of the most powerful men in Christendom. The story cannot be traced back any earlier than the 13th century, and Blondel probably never even existed, although it made for good press for minstrels of the day. Henry threatened to turn Richard the Lionheart over to Philip unless he paid 150,000 marks and surrendered his kingdom, which he would receive back from the emperor as a fief. Richard agreed, and one of the most remarkable fund-raising efforts began.  John  was not eager to help his brother come home, but  Eleanor  did everything in her power to see her favorite son return safely. The people of England were heavily taxed, Churches were forced to give up valuables, monasteries were made to turn over a seasons wool harvest. In less than a year nearly all of the exhorbitant ransom had been raised. Richard was released in February, 1194, and hurried back to England, where he was crowned again to demonstrate that he was still in charge of an independent kingdom. The Death of Richard the Lionheart Almost immediately after his coronation, Richard the Lionheart left England for what would be the last time. He headed directly to France to engage in warfare with Philip, who had captured some of Richards lands. These skirmishes, which were occasionally interrupted by truces, lasted for the next five years. By March of 1199, Richard was involved in a siege of the castle at Chalus-Chabrol, which belonged to the Viscount of Limoges. There was some rumor of a treasure having been found on his lands, and Richard was reputed to have demanded the treasure be turned over to him; when it was not, he supposedly attacked. However, this is little more than a rumor; it was enough that the viscount had allied with Philip for Richard to move against him. On the evening of March 26, Richard was shot in the arm by a crossbow bolt while observing the progress of the siege. Although the bolt was removed and the wound was treated, infection set in, and Richard fell ill. He kept to his tent and limited visitors to keep the news from getting out, but he knew what was happening. Richard the Lionheart died on April 6, 1199. Richard was buried according to his instructions. Crowned and clothed in royal regalia, his body was entombed at Fontevraud, at the feet of his father; his heart was buried at Rouen, with his brother Henry; and his brain and entrails went to an abbey at Charroux, on the border of Poitous and Limousin. Even before he was laid to rest, rumors and legends sprang up that would follow Richard the Lionheart into history. Understanding the Real Richard Over the centuries, the view of Richard the Lionheart held by historians has undergone some notable changes. Once considered one of Englands greatest kings by virtue of his deeds in the Holy Land and his chivalrous reputation, in recent years Richard has been criticized for his absence from his kingdom and his incessant engagement in warfare. This change is more a reflection of modern sensibilities than it is of any new evidence uncovered about the man. Richard spent little time in England, it is true; but his English subjects admired his efforts in the east and his warrior ethic. He didnt speak much, if any, English; but then, neither had any monarch of England since the Norman Conquest. Its also important to remember that Richard was more than the king of England; he had lands in France and political interests elsewhere in Europe. His actions reflected these diverse interests, and, though he didnt always succeed, he usually attempted to do what was best for all his concerns, not just England. He did what he could to leave the country in good hands, and while things sometimes went awry, for the most part, England flourished during his reign. There remain some things we dont know about Richard the Lionheart, beginning with what he really looked like. The popular description of him as elegantly built, with long, supple, straight limbs and hair a color between red and gold, was first written nearly twenty years after Richards death, when the late king had already been lionized. The only contemporary description that exists indicates that he was taller than average. Because he displayed such prowess with the sword, he could have been muscular, but by the time of his death he may have put on weight, since the removal of the crossbow bolt was reportedly complicated by fat. Then theres the question of Richards sexuality. This complex issue boils down to one salient point: there is no  irrefutable  proof to support or contradict the assertion that Richard was a homosexual. Each piece of evidence can be, and has been, interpreted in more than one way, so every scholar can feel free to draw whatever conclusion suits him. Whichever Richards preference was, it apparently had no bearing on his ability as a military leader or a king. There are some things we  do  know about Richard. He was very fond of music, though he never played an instrument himself, and he wrote songs as well as poems. He reportedly displayed a quick wit and a playful sense of humor. He saw the value of tournaments as preparation for war, and although he rarely participated himself, he designated five sites in England as official tournament locations, and appointed a director of tournaments and a collector of fees. This was in opposition to numerous decrees of the Church; but Richard was a devout Christian, and diligently attended mass, evidently enjoying it. Richard made many enemies, especially through his actions in the Holy Land, where he insulted and quarreled with his allies even more than his foes. Yet he apparently had a great deal of personal charisma, and could inspire intense loyalty. Though renowned for his chivalry, as a man of his times he did not extend that chivalry to the lower classes; but he was at ease with his servants and followers. Although he was talented at acquiring funds and valuables, in keeping with the tenets of chivalry he was also notably generous. He could be hot-tempered, arrogant, self-centered and impatient, but there are many stories of his kindness, insight and goodheartedness. In the final analysis, Richards reputation as an extraordinary general endures, and his stature as an international figure stands tall. While he cannot measure up to the heroic character early admirers depicted him as, few people could. Once we view Richard as a real person, with real foibles and quirks, real strengths and weaknesses, he may be less admirable, but he is more complex, more human, and much more interesting.

Essay about The Voice of the Chimney Sweepers - 1180 Words

William Blake (1757-1827) led a relatively happy life. At an early age, he claimed that he could see God, Angels, and other important Italian figures. Blake’s parents encouraged him to keep a record of all the masters he claimed to keep in contact with. Blake’s father, James Blake, gave him casts and engravings to keep this record. At the age of ten, Blake started at a drawing school named Henry Pars’ Drawing School. Three years later, he was apprenticed to a Master Engraver, James Basire. Blake worked with Basire for seven years, and then attended the Royal Academy School to further his study in drawing, painting, and printmaking. After his studies, he started out engraving and producing illustrations for magazines. In 1783, he happily†¦show more content†¦Children were sent off the squeeze into small places day after day. Limbs could break. Soot was inhaled. The poisonous chemicals in the chimneys caused hazardous situations, and thus medically, the ch ildren were hindered. Children worked anywhere from six to eight hours a day, and were expected to get up bright and early the next day to show up for work. On the occasions that they were allowed off from work, they went home to abusive families or foster homes. Business owners claimed that putting them to work, the children were able to care for themselves, and their poor families. Still, many thought that the hours and dangers heavily outweighed the value of a few coins. Blake was not the only Poet of the time who fought for the rights of the children, but he was one of the few who publically showed his detest for such labors, through his poems, â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper-Songs of Innocence 1789,† and â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper-Songs of Experience 1794.† Blake was able to shed light on the cruelty of society of the work ethic of children, while also promoting what he hoped would help children realize that there is hope in the cruel world. Innocence could be defined in many different ways. Blake defined it as a genuine love, and a trust toward all human kind. Children are particularly susceptible to this definition of â€Å"innocence.† They do not know any better than to trust. This is why theyShow MoreRelatedAn Unfolding of William Blakes quot; the Chimney Sweeperquot;691 Words   |  3 PagesAn Unfolding of William Blakes The Chimney Sweeper. William Blakes poem The Chimney Sweeper gives us a look into the unfortunate lives of 18th century London boys whose primary job was to clear chimneys of the soot that accumulated on its interior; boys that were named climbing boys or chimney sweepers. Blake, a professional engraver, wrote this poem (aabb rhyme), in the voice of a young boy, an uneducated chimney sweeper. 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These children were exploited and lived a meager existence that was socially acceptable at the time. Blake voices the evils of this acceptance through point of view, symbolism, and his startling irony.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  BlakeRead MoreThe Chimney Sweeper : A Little Black Thing Among The Snow1659 Words   |  7 Pagesthe times, and often give a voice to the marginalised and oppressed. As well as this Poets would also made arresting comparisons to children in there poems, they believed children where exceptional due to the poets beliefs that they were innocent and uncorrupted, but also had an affinity with nature. A poet which did so was William Blake, whose poem ‘The chimney sweeper: A little black thing among the snow’ I will be comparing and contrasting to ‘The chimneys sweepers complaint’ by Mary Alock inRead MoreSolemn Soot and Social Despair In the Transformative World of William Blakes The Chimney Sweeper and London817 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Transformative World of William Blake England was changing. The rolling green shires and inspiring scenery that was fixed in the earliest memories of the Romantic poets was quickly vanishing. There was a trade off happening. Rivets for rocks, chimney stacks for trees, locomotives for carriages and steal tracks for cobblestone. Piece by piece England’s quaint agricultural backdrop was being replaced by a stern industrial one. Progress! Some shouted. The greater good! Others exclaimed. 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The poems reveal particular states of being and ways of seeing which the author is not saying are the whole truth. The poems have a joyful quality but they contain a subtle awareness of sorrow. â€Å"SongsRead MoreInnocence and Experience Essay1422 Words   |  6 Pagesthe two versions of â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† and political and social matters raised in the two versions of â€Å"Nurse’s Song† during the Romantic period. First, the two versions of â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† discuss serious problems about religious beliefs in 1800. Back in 1800, there have been misuses of church spiritual power to gain profits out of people’s misery. On the surface, the innocence version of â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† tells of a young boy, who works as a chimney sweeper, get a visit in his dreamRead More Explorations of Childhood and Duty in â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† and â€Å"Casabianca†1786 Words   |  8 Pages Although Blake wrote â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† featured in Songs of Innocence before Felicia Hemans was ever born, issues relevant to first-generation Romantic authors still pervaded the literary scene when second-generation authors like Hemans finally took the stage. â€Å"Casabianca,† published in 1826, and â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper,† published in 1789, both address a central question: What does it mean to be a child? Both poems examine the dut ies that children have to society as a whole. While there isRead MoreEssay on Explication of William Blakes Poem London1706 Words   |  7 Pagesuse as in sadness or weeping (cry). The word â€Å"every† (5-7) is repeated throughout the second stanza. â€Å"Every† (5-7) is used to place an emphasis on the occurrence of the happenings in this stanza. The speaker sees in â€Å"every† â€Å"man,† â€Å"voice,† and â€Å"ban† â€Å"mind-forged manacles† (5-8). Manacles by definition are handcuffs, Blake uses the handcuffs to symbolize a restraint (Manacle). In the â€Å"cry of every man† (5) and in â€Å"every Infant’s cry of fear† (6) the speaker see restraints. He also

Me myself and I Essay Thesis Example For Students

Me myself and I Essay Thesis JUST-IN-TIME INVENTORYIntro/Background: The management of inventory is a problem common to all business organizations. Basically, inventory is a resource idle for the present but useful for the future. If it is for the future, then why store it now physically and incur costs? Why not procure it only when needed? These questions lie behind the philosophy of Just-in-Time (JIT). JIT is a process for achieving excellence in a manufacturing company based on the continuing elimination of waste, and waste is considered to be anything that does not add value to the product. The principle of JIT is to eliminate sources of manufacturing waste by getting the right quantity of raw materials and producing the right quantity of products in the right place at the right time. In an effort to control costs during fiscally challenging economic times, the JIT system was developed in Japan after WWII. Many Japanese companies in the post-war era were challenged to find a way to meet the needs of customer s and businesses while utilizing as few resources and as little capital as possible. The Japanese developed these set of techniques in order to control production, limit unnecessary products and reinvest the valuable capital left from the savings back into the business structure. Taiichi Ohno first adopted JIT for Toyota manufacturing plants, and he was named the Father of JIT because of its success. By the mid 1970s, JIT gained extended support and became widely used by many companies. JIT is a management philosophy that strives to eliminate sources of manufacturing waste by producing the right part in the right place at the right time. Waste results from any activity that adds cost without adding value, such as moving and storing. JIT, also known as lean production or stockless production, should improve profits and return on investment by reducing inventory levels or increasing the inventory turnover rate, improving product quality, reducing production and delivery lead times, an d reducing other costs such as those associated with machine setup and equipment breakdown. In a JIT system, underutilized or excess capacity is used instead of buffer inventories to hedge against problems that may arise. JIT applies primarily to repetitive manufacturing processes in which the same products and components are produced over and over again. The general idea is to establish flow processes by linking work centers so that there is an even, balanced flow of materials throughout the entire production process. To accomplish this, an attempt is made to reach the goals of driving all queues toward zero and achieving the ideal lot size of one unit. JIT is not about automation. Instead, JIT eliminates waste by providing the environment to perfect and simplify processes. JIT is a collection of techniques used to improve operations, and it can be a new production system used to produce goods or services. The American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) has the follow ing definition of JIT: a philosophy of manufacturing based on planned elimination of all waste and continuous improvement of productivity. It encompasses the successful execution of all manufacturing activities required to produce a final product, from design engineering to delivery and including all stages of conversion from raw material onward. The primary elements include having only the required inventory when needed; to improve quality to zero defects; to reduce lead time by reducing setup times, queue lengths and lot sizes; to incrementally revise the operations themselves; and to accomplish these things at minimum cost. JIT is best suited for repetitive production environments. However, JIT principles can be applied to all parts of an organization including order-taking, purchasing, operations, distribution, sales, accounting, design, etc. The goal of JIT is to eliminate any function in the manufacturing system that causes overhead, slows productivity, or adds unnecessary exp ense. JIT allows for the elimination of inventory stockpiles and inefficiency and waste; raw materials arrive just in time for production and finished goods just in time for sale. When JIT principles are implemented successfully, significant competitive advantages are realized. The Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory system was developed in Japan after WWII, in an effort to control costs during fiscally challenging economic times. The challenge that faced many Japanese companies in the post-war era to find a way to meet the needs of customers and businesses while utilizing as few resources and as little capital as possible. The Japanese developed these set of techniques in order to control production, limit unnecessary products and reinvest the valuable capital left from the savings back into the business structure. Much of the success of many Japanese corporations over the past four or five decades has been was linked to the principles of JIT. Cultural Diversity in Business EssayCompanys like Bose Corporation of Framingham, MA, have recognized the significance of developing JIT systems within their company, and have also been central to the development of JIT II, a concept that hopes to reduce costs and save time in transactions with suppliers. JIT II is based on the reduction of lead times by increasing designs and responding more quickly to the needs of customers through a customer supplier partnership. This theory is an extension of the JIT I systems, though the difference between the two systems is significant. While JIT I systems are based on the supplier meeting the immediate needs of the customer, JIT II requires participation by the customer in order to promote faster returns. When this system was first developed by Bose, it was expected to dramatically change the cost structure and time involved in the day to day transactions between customers and suppliers. JIT II calls for presence of a full-time sales represe ntative within the customers company structure. The partnership comes because the representative is paid by the supplier, but works within the customer company in order to reduce the delays inherent to order systems and inventory retrieval. The development of JIT I and JIT II have changed the face of supplier/customer relationships since their introduction in the U.S. in the early 1980s. Japanese companies that have opened plants within the United States continue to utilize the principles of JIT systems in their business structures. At the same time, American companies are recognizing the benefits and transitioning their common practices of mass-production in order to reduce overhead, decrease costs, and allow for the utilization of capital that is available because of lower inventory expenditures. JIT II has come as a natural extension of processes that save time and money for many companies. The utilization of an in-house sales-representative available to promote and distribute product lines while also decreasing lead times has had a monumental impact on business structures. The trend appears to moving towards the minimization of inventory procedures rather then remaining steadfast in mass production. JIT systems have led the way in creating a more streamlined inventory processes across the globe. References:Anonymous (1996, May). The New Supplier Partnership: An Inside Story. Nations Business, vol. 84(5), pp. 21. Chhikara, J. Weiss, E. (1995, May June). JIT Savings Myth or Reality? Business Horizons, vol.38(3), pp. 73-78Manoochehri, G. (1988, October). JIT for Small Manufacturers. Journal of Small Business Management, vol. 26(4), pp. 22-30. Pragman, Claudia (1996, July August). JIT II: A Purchasing Concept for Reducing Lead Times in Time-Based Competition. Business Horizons, vol. 39(4), pp. 54-58. Waguespack, K. Cantor, B. (1996, July). Oil Inventories Should be Based on Margins, Supply Reliability. Oil Gas Journal, vol. 94(28), pp. 39-41. References: www.inventorysolutions.org http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ncwsa/pg3a.htm http://www.freequality.org/Training%20Slides/JITmanufacturing.ppt http://sunny.crk.umn.edu/courses/mktg/1100/ppfolder/CHAPTR17.PPT http://www.freequality.org/Training%20Slides/Just-In-Time%20by%20Steve%20Spangler.ppt Words/ Pages : 1,900 / 24

Product Launch in German Market

Introduction Launching a product into a new market is often challenged with a mixed reaction from potential customers. Often, early adopters form only the narrow apex of market segment triangle consisting of competition, divergent preference, and different lifestyle controlled by a customer’s purchasing power.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Product Launch in German Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, before an entry bid into a new market, several preset conditions must be fulfilled from recommendations of a researched sales projections and market behavior. As a matter of fact, success of a product launched in a new market will be determined by the management decision rationale, market segmentation, pricing, existence of competitors, buying motives, magnitude of risk, and uniqueness of the said product. Beauty industry has been experiencing constant metamorphosis. Reflectively, new products and modifications on old products are the order of the day as businesses across the globe attempt to cut and maintain a niche in the crowded market. Management Summery Management science is critical in modeling and transforming a blue print of ideas into a reality. Management involves research, design, production, sales, and efficiency as means of maximizing profits. As a matter of fact, a successful management team should be put in place especially in marketing, logistics, and follow up to determine success and sustainability in the volatile fragrance market characterized by pop culture and celebrity endorsement. Therefore, the management team for Tunner spar spray will consist of the marketing manager, logistics personnel. The marketing manager has the responsibility of monitoring progress, managing risk, and studying consumer behavior. Periodic finding will be important in product modification and packaging to meet demands of customers in the highly volatile Germany. Target Group In product market, our life style defines the activities we are involved in, beliefs, opinion, health aspect, and interests. As defined in the â€Å"Activities, Interest, and Opinion†, life style directly dictates purchasing behavior and preference. Germany population consists of many literate women who have continued to be more conscious of health matters and beauty.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Specifically, the cosmopolitan Deutschland city has a comfortable percentage of high market women who have fully embraced beauty and natural attractiveness. Besides, they tend to associate with sophistication and have money to spend. The middle and high social classes women are the key target this product. This groups are heavy spenders in beauty products especially those that promise unique aspects and have unique features. As the issue of need for safety and prevention of cancerous infection penetrate beauty industry, German women have increasingly grown shy from synthetic cosmetics and prefer natural products. The target group has a peculiar buying motive for beauty product. The main reason for purchase of beauty products is to try the best possible (Longenecker, Petty, Palich and Moore, 2009, p.34). Besides, a good percentage of sales are generated by referrals from satisfied customers. Beauty products are bought for use in skin care and protection form harsh climatic conditions. Product Development Success of a product launched in a new market will be determined by the management decision rationale, market segmentation, pricing, existence of competitors, buying motives, magnitude of risk, and uniqueness of the said product. Beauty industry has been experiencing constant metamorphosis across the globe. Sweet Tuner spray is a beauty product that gives clients a glowing natural skin texture. This product is developed from assorted rich Ecocert DHA elements and fragrances with active tanning ingredients. At 8.45%, this product is the best among others for that rich olive tone and golden glowing skin. Through selective research about the potential customers that can access other beauty products in this class, and by eavesdropping on the celebrity preference talks, the resultant product is tailored and encrypted with a personal tag of quality and affordability (Butterworth-Heinemann Byrnes, 2009, p.13). The fragrance is quite resilient and can withstand harsh sunny environment. Besides, it also has a portable stylish container bottle and some variants offer multiple customized properties thus making it easier to apply, doing away with the need for constant application as common with other products with limited adjustments flexibility.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Product Launch in German Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This product has minimal ef fect on nearly all types of skin and has received approval from the pharmaceutical organization of Germany as having a clean bill of health. All different variety of this product emits a unique identifier fragrance regardless of the type. Most of potential clients seem to suggest that this product is the best invention in the beauty industry (Laudon and Laudon, 2007, p.45). Besides its unique package and affordable price tag, this 200ml bottle of skin turner offers quality against money considering the fact that it retails at $5 while most of other products in the same class trade for a higher value. Also, the product comes in different fragrance to fit different occasions and customer preference. Market Launch Risk Beauty industry majorly functions on product identity and class affiliation. As a matter of fact, some beauty products have penetrated the market and have worn several customers who often identify themselves with these products (Zahra and George, 2002, p.23). Women in Ge rmany observe strong cultural practices that at times contrast modern perception of beauty and pharmaceutical usage. They believe in traditional beauty products that have been tried and approved by many users. In Munich, there are many natural and herbal therapeutic beauty agents who discretely offer the alternative beauty skin care. In a hybrid between the traditional and modern beauty, German women try several alternatives. Adoption of a beauty product mainly depends on a recommendation by a relative or friend. Potential customers often source for traditional or household beauty products in this class from neighborhood stores. Then, they turn to the traditional beauty experts and market for further recommendations. If the find a positive response, their trust is worn otherwise they proceed to mainstream pharmacy to buy over-the-counter skin care medication as suggested to by friends (Erricos and Cristian, 2007, p.46). This trend present a real challenge in the launch of this produ ct since the first impression and convincing traditional beauticians may prove difficult. Besides, existing products have cult like following and change might be resisted. In addition, the opportunity cost of balancing the target and actual accomplishment is directly associated with success of the launch. Cultural competency is necessary to for success of this skin product. In many cases, acceptability depends on perception of the targeted consumers. While well intentioned, this scenario erects more barriers to communication. Firstly, due to generational gap, an adult does not readily share all their intimate discomforts with a product like young generation does ( Maness and Zietlow, 2005,p.67).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, distortion of context can occur for concepts are culture-specific. Culturally, German communities are very social sharing household with multigenerational variance (Baskerville, 2004,p.17). Therefore, a mere approval might not necessarily translate into sales and success. Rereference List Baskerville, R 2004, International e-business marketing, Alabama: Cengage Learning EMEA. Butterworth-Heinemann Byrnes 2009, Management and the Arts, 4th edn, Focal Press. Erricos, J. and Cristian, G 2007, Optimisation, econometric and financial analysis, London: Springer-Verlag. Laudon, K., Laudon, J. P 2007, â€Å"Using internet tools to increase efficiency and productivity†, Essentials of Management Information System, vol 8, pp. 300-410. Longenecker, G. J., Petty J W., Palich E. L. and Moore, W 2009, Small Business Management: Launching and Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures, USA: Cengage Learning. Maness, T., and Zietlow, J 2005, Short-term financial management, New York: Thomso n Learning. Zahra, S., and George, G (2002), International Entrepreneurship: The current status of the Field and Future Research Agenda in Strategic Entrepreneurship creating a new mindset, Oxford Uk: Blackwell Publishing. This essay on Product Launch in German Market was written and submitted by user Uriah R. 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. 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