Is Free Exposure Good or Bad For Shamrock Rovers F.C. - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2395 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Review Did you like this example? Introduction Shamrock Rovers F.C., self -described as the most successful football club in Ireland(Shamrock Rovers F.C. Membership 2015) had asked the television broadcaster RTE to refrain from showing the clubs remaining matches for the year on television on the opinion that each live broadcast resulted in approximately à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10,000 of lost revenue per event. It is understood that other clubs within the Premier League agree with the clubs position and were very sympathetic to their position. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Is Free Exposure Good or Bad For Shamrock Rovers F.C." essay for you Create order The Premier League clubs felt that it would be good practice for them to be financially compensated when their games were televised, providing hours of television entertainment. (McDonnell 2015). This paper will discuss the notion of free exposure including whether it was good or bad for a business as well as examine decision making within a company with the objective of attaining long term goals. The relevance and connection of these concepts to the aforementioned decision by Shamrock Rovers F.C. will also be discussed and analysed. The Irish football league, founded in 1921 is an important part of Irelands tradition and history. It consists of 20 clubs as well as the Football Association of Ireland, FAI which is the umbrella body responsible for the promotion, regulation and organisation of activities. The unique nature of the Irish sports environment means that the league faces robust competition for a comparatively small market in comparison to its European peers from the GAA Hurling and Football organisation and Rugby in addition to other growing sports (Conroy Consulting 2015). This is in addition to a good amount of television exposure for non-Irish football including the English Premiership. Revenue generation within the League has been described as challenging especially with the economic conditions of the past number of years (Conroy Consulting 2015). How does free exposure or long term planning impact this competitive landscape? Free Exposure Studies have shown that when people encounter something repeatedly, the likelihood of having a preference for it or a positive reaction in future is increased. This is known as the mere exposure effect, MEE (Kahneman 2012; Schacter 1987; Zajonc 1968, 2001). Kahneman (2012) explains that repetition results in cognitive ease and a comfortable feeling of familiarity linking this to eventually developing a degree of mild affection for the stimulus in question. The state of cognitive ease denotes relaxation, no threats or need to redirect attention. The main factors contributing to the concept of cognitive ease are illustrated in the figure below: Figure 1: Causes and Consequences of Cognitive Ease Source: Kahneman 2012, p.60 Zajonc (1968, 2001) goes further to argue that the mere exposure effect not only transcends conscious experience but that in fact the positive effect of repetition on liking is an extremely important biological fact supported by numerous experiments on humans and animals alike. The MEE effect is very important from marketing and advertising perspective since past experiences plays a significant role in ones future decisions including consumption and consumer purchases (Kahneman 2012). It could be inferred based on this that repeated exposure for the football clubs within the Irish league through the televising of matches by a major broadcaster would be very beneficial in increasing the profile of the league within the Irish market. Moreover, the leading clubs such as Shamrock Rovers F.C who were more frequently featured stood to gain more in the form of higher recognition of their specific brands in comparison to less featured clubs. This imparts a degree of competitive advantage as a result. The German Bundesliga, considered to be one of the most successful leagues in Europe (Albach and Frick 2013; Blitz 2012) prioritises maximum exposure of its matches to fans as part of its business model. One of the ways this is achieved i s by making sure ticket prices are very low and therefore accessible to a wide spectrum of the market across different age groups and social backgrounds. In addition, the Bundesliga restricts the quantity of season tickets in circulation to ensure that they have as many fans as possible able to actually attend their own team matches (Doyle 2014). Live coverage of matches is generally broadcast by German television companies including Pay TV. The Bundesliga and its clubs leverage the resulting popularity of exposure due to wide match attendances, television and media coverage to generate income by balancing match day ticket sales and media rights with sponsorship and merchandising in addition to transfer income. In actual fact, the clubs on the average generate 21% of their total revenue from ticket sales (Chadwick 2010). In examining the English Premier League, described as Europes largest football league by value it was found that while the number of live matches broadcast had incr eased from 60 in 1992/93 to 138 in 2005 accompanied by increase in viewership, attendance of live matches also increased (Ofcom 2005). The preceding examples lend credence to the assertions of the FAI that more exposure of the game through televised broadcasts was positive for the long term revenue increase for the league and its clubs. Furthermore, it should at the least cause Shamrock Rovers F.C. and the other clubs in the league to re-evaluate their business considerations in coming to the conclusion that free exposure was causing them lost income in match ticket sales and therefore too expensive for business. In the case of Shamrock Rovers F.C. specifically, the question would be whether the club might actually be ceding competitive advantage to others by rejecting the free advertising offered in the form of live match broadcasting. One difference between the Irish league and both Bundesliga and the English Premiership lies in the fact that while clubs in both leagues receive payment for television coverage (Chadwick 2010; Ofcom 2005), the nature of the competitive environment for the Irish league means that the clubs do not get paid for television coverage of matches. This then raises the dilemma of how to balance the tension between maintaining exposure to the market in line with long term goals of increasing league value and short term financial needs. Due to the fact that the clubs are not being paid for exposure, they view this from the perspective of a sunk cost which is about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10,000 per event for Shamrock Rovers F.C. and see no direct relation between this and their immediate profits. Evidence supports the fact however, that competitive advantages can be created through giving something away for free (Anderson 2009). Examples drawn from the history of companies behind household names like Jell-O, Gillette and Microsoft show that giving something away can be good for business and can be leveraged as a competitive tool. This is pa rticularly useful in a very competitive marketplace where margins are driven down relentlessly (Anderson 2009). In such a situation, it is inferred that an organisation will benefit from recognising the realities of the marketplace in which it operates, undertakes comprehensive analysis of its environment such as carrying out SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis based on Michael Porters strategic forces that affect competition (Porter 2013) to strategically create a business framework that will enable it to tap into creative channels for exploiting what it has in its possession including using the concept of free to gain competitive edge, differentiate itself in the eyes of the consumer and convert these advantages to economic benefits for long term sustainability. Long term decision making The value of an organisation is based on its long term ability to generate income necessary to support growth that adds to its value. In effect, a firms value is understood not only by looking at its present financial income but also weighing other factors like its competitive position, the growth potential for its industry, strength of competitors and the management of the organisation (Rappaport 2005). On this basis, the importance of making plans and setting objectives from a long term perspective is obvious. Sometimes the immediate financial reality or financial expectations of stakeholders can make focusing on long term goals difficult. The companys strategy based on long term objectives serves as a guide for defining the framework of how the organisation creates value for its stakeholders. This framework is the business model and it defines what choices, trade-offs, sacrifices or tactics are employed in competing within the marketplace (Porter 2013). Hamel and Prahalad (2005) maintain that defining strategic intent usually including a long term desired goal provides stability to a firms short term actions and allows for the flexibility to adapt correctly when new opportunities or threats are identified. Commitment to a strategic target requires discipline and effort, often forcing an organisation to be more creative and innovative in using limited resource to attain its goals rather than focusing only on current opportunities or threats and how existing resources match these (Hamel and Prahalad 2005). It can then be surmised that the organisation is challenged, stretched and fitter as a result. Relating this to the situation with Shamrock Rovers F.C., information on the positive effects of mere exposure and examples of economic advantages possible by giving something away for free; long term decision making could provide the structure and motivation that will guide how it could boost its value and long term sustainability by taking advantage of the b enefits of the exposure provided by RTEs television coverage of its matches which in itself can be viewed as advertisement that the club does not have to pay for. Given the size of the market, economic conditions and strong competition from GAA Hurling and Football organisation, Rugby and the English Premiership on Irish television (Conroy Consulting 2015), it is believed that the exposure for the Irish league and its club gained from televised matches provides a net positive. There are a number of creative ways discussed by Anderson (2009) through which the club might monetise its advantages against its competitors as a result of having more exposure as shown below: Figure 2: Four basic business models of Free Source: Anderson 2009, p.27 Looking at figure 2, the club could adopt options 1, 2 or 3 or a combination of all or some of the three. In allowing televised matches without being paid for it, Shamrock F.C. could seek to use its exposure advantage to increase incom e from merchandising and sponsorship. Increased exposure as shown in option 2 could be used to attract advertisers for placement in prominent places within their stadium since the stadium receives good television coverage as a result of match coverage. Option 3 opens up the possibility that increased exposure for Shamrock Rovers F.C. and associated clubs in the Irish league would make it easier for consumers to accept the prospect of paying to watch football on TV thus opening the door to future income from media rights for the clubs within the league. These three business models as illustrated above, contribute in some form or the other to the success of the German Bundesliga and English Premiership (Chadwick 2010; Ofcom 2005). The Bundesliga for example received 33% of its income in 2006/2007 from television, radio and other media, 21% for match day income, 25% from sponsorship while merchandising and transfer fees constitute the rest (Chadwick 2010). Conclusion The intent in this brief was to examine whether free exposure was good or bad for an organisation in its quest to compete in the marketplace. Also addressed is the question of whether or not companies should make decisions based on a long term goal. It was found that exposure whether free or paid for is a positive component of marketing to consumers and increasing awareness and likability based on what we know about the mere exposure effect. Football, because of its entertainment value receives what amounts to free advertisement and exposure in Ireland and other countries such as Germany and England as a result of television match coverage. Successful leagues like the Bundesliga and English Premiership have also capitalised on the entertainment value of the matches covered to broadcasters and receive payments some of which go to member clubs but in Ireland, it does not appear that the economic landscape have allowed the Irish league clubs to achieve this. The reaction to this si tuation does not point to reducing existing exposure even if it meant giving it away for free to television broadcasters as envisaged by Shamrock Rovers F.C. which in turn could lead to a reduction in brand awareness, brand equity and income (Aaker 1996). In order to counter short term financial impacts of not getting paid for this exposure and its perceived impact on the ticket sales, strategic planning would enable the organisation define objectives and steps it can employ to leverage the exposure it is getting to create value. Long term goal setting and decision making will be important and helpful for the firm to be able to adapt to short term financial short falls that might arise as a result. Reference List Aaker, D.A. (1996). Building Strong Brands. New York: The Free Press Albach, H., Frick, B. (2013). Sportokonomie. Berlin: Springer-Verlag Anderson, G. (2009). Free: The Future of a Radical Price. London: Random House Blitz, R. (2012). German soccer beats England on profits. Financial Times [Online] Available from: https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e31b65cc-aa64-11e1-899d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3ovgEEG7F Chadwick, S. (2010). Managing Football. London: Routledge Conroy Consulting, (2015). SSE Airtricity League Consultation Process Report Doyle, P. (2014). Bundesliga chief says Premier League prices not an option in Germany. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/13/bundesliga-premier-league-germany-ticket-prices Hamel, G., Prahalad, C.K. (2005). Strategic Intent. Boston, USA: Harvard Business Press Kahneman, D. (2012). Thinking, Fast and Slow. London: Penguin Books McDonnell, D. (2015). Shamrock Rovers ask RTÃÆ'†° t o stay away from Tallaght to boost crowds. Irish Independent [Online] Available from: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/shamrock-rovers-ask-rt-to-stay-away-from-tallaght-to-boost-crowds-31515540.html Ofcom, (2005). Premier League Football: Research into viewing trends, stadium attendance, fans preferences and behaviour, and the commercial market. Commission of the European Communities, in case COMP/C/38.173 FAPL Porter, M. (2013. On Competition. Boston, USA: Harvard Business Press Rappaport, A. (2005). The Economics of Short-Term Performance Obsession. Financial Analysts Journal, Volume61, No.3, pp 65-79 Shamrock Rovers F.C. Membership (2015). [Online] Available from: https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/images/2015/eventspromotions/pdfs/2015-members-brochure-a5.pdf Schacter, D.L. (1987). Implicit Memory: History and Current Status. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, Volume 13, No.3, pp. 501-518. Zajonc, R.B. (1968 ). Attitudinal Effects of Mere Exposure. American Psychological Association Inc., Volume 9, No.2, Part 2, pp. 1-27 Zajonc, R.B. (2001). Mere Exposure: A Gateway to the Subliminal. American Psychological Society, Volume 10, No.6, pp. 224-228 Bibliography Powell, T.C. (1992). Strategic Planning as Competitive Advantage. Strategic Management Journal, Volume 13, No.7, pp. 551-558. Szymanski, S. (2005). Handbook on the Economics of Sports. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar

A New Law Or Constitutional Amendment - 1794 Words

All states in this great nation have three basic branches of government known as the executive, legislative, and the judicial branch. California is no different. The Governor, Jerry Brown heads up the executive branch as a face for the people of California (California, 2013). Now we will look at the type of democracy that truly sets California aside from other states, direct democracy. With a general overview, a direct democracy is a broad term that encompasses an assortment decision processes, including town meeting, recall elections, initiatives, and referendums. The referendum is a process that allows the citizens to approve or reject laws of constitutional amendments proposed by the government. On the opposite side of a referendum, an initiative is the proposal of a new law or constitutional amendment by the ordinary citizens to the state government. 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The Cost Of Living Essay Example For Students

The Cost Of Living Essay Question #1With the 3600(A. Roy 16) hydroelectric dams either going up or already built in India, there will undoubtedly be over 33,000,000 people displaced by the big dams reservoirs (16), most of which are Adivasi or Dalits (18), natives of India. Without a proper resettlement program in place, many are left with no place to go. Much of the land thats needed for the reservoirs was confiscated, scammed away, or bullied into being sold by the government. And what land the government did buy, not everyone received the money they were supposed to. The resettlement programs that are in place, are best described by Roy ? I can warrant that the quality of their accommodation is worse than in any concentration of the Third Reich?(20). From what I gather from Roy, these resettlement sites sound pretty inhumane and Im really surprised actions like that of the Indian government arent under fire of the U.N. Granted this doesnt seem to be the most publicized nor well documented ongoing incident . As for the Nuclear weapon problem that faces India, Roy didnt seem to address it in great detail. And if she did, I read right through it. With lack of proper storage facilities and the threat of contaminating Indias extraordinarily expensive drinking water. It might be wise decision for the Indian government to either discontinue their nuclear weapons program or properly address these issues. Question #2I guess I really have no other choice but to agree with Roys opinions. Maybe if we were given some type of written response from the Indian government or anything from a different viewpoint. Anyone that has read this book, without any outside information, would have to have something against the Adivasi or seen something in the book that probably 99% percent of the people that have read it missed to disagree with Roy on the problems in India. The only people profiting from the dams are in the government, part of World Bank, Jai Prakash Associates, and anyone with enough money that needs the water. Moreover, it doesnt appear that any of the rural citizens of India will be sharing in any of the profits or even get water for quite some time. Question #3The ?cautious? equation Roy calculates on pg. 17 that estimates 33,000,000 people have been displaced by big dams is a huge strong point in Roys argument. To add insult to injury, the people that are even lucky enough to get resettled, are put in tin shacks on inhospitable land, a far cry from what there used to. Before the dams, the displaced were self-sufficient and doing all right for the lifestyle they led. All of the evidence Roy offers about the Indian government points to a total disregard for human life or a great degree of incompetence. Either way, something drastic must happen before anything is really going to change. To be honest, I failed to recognize any weaknesses in Roys arguments. Im not trying to say there arent any, but I didnt find any. Question #4I chose to label as coming Roy from a social conflict perspective. I basically did this through the process of elimination. She is definitely not a structural-functionalist. She was certainly not trying to be objective, in the loosest sense of the word, while writing this book. ?This is another of the states tested strategies. It kills you with committees.?, she sounds pretty involved in that sentence while describing one of the committees suppose to conduct an independent review. Her equations, monetary reports, and percentages give her a little symbolic interaction flavor, but she definitely is more into the way her people are being treatedBibliographyThe cost of living by andretti roy

Speak and the Breadwinner Coming of Age in Literature Essay Example

Speak and the Breadwinner: Coming of Age in Literature Paper There comes a time in everyone’s life when they reach the point where they are no longer children, but adults. The transition from a child into a young adult is referred to as â€Å"the coming of age,† or simply growing up. Certain children reach this stage through a tragic, painful event, which sometimes can potentially change them and the way they view the world. Other children reach this stage by simply growing up and understanding everything around them. This stage in life is one of the most important in literature. The coming of age theme is found in many pieces of literature, such as Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak and Deborah Ellis’ The Breadwinner. The main characters in both of these young adult novels experience growth and change in their own ways. In Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, readers are given a mental picture of who they think Melinda Sordino is. â€Å"The bus picks up students in groups of four or five†¦I close my eyes. This is what I’ve been dreading. As we leave the last stop, I am the only person sitting alone† (3). What the reader gets is this picture of Melinda Sordino predicting that she’s going to have the worst freshman year ever. We will write a custom essay sample on Speak and the Breadwinner: Coming of Age in Literature specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Speak and the Breadwinner: Coming of Age in Literature specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Speak and the Breadwinner: Coming of Age in Literature specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer What I think a lot of readers don’t pick up on right away is that this is the beginning of Melinda’s character developing. Speak is a story truly based on the coming of age theme, and unfortunately Melinda’s character grows as a result of a tragic event. The summer before freshman year, Melinda was living a normal, good life. She had tons of friends, good grades, and a loving family. Then the best night of her life turned into the worst. â€Å"We were on the ground. When did that happen? â€Å"No. No I do not like this. † â€Å"In my head, my voice is as clear as a bell: NO I DON’T WANT TO! (†¦And he hurts me hurts me hurts me and gets up and zips his jeans, and smiles† (135-136). This traumatic experience would forever change Melinda. â€Å"The novel’s title is Speak, but the silence of the main character predominates† (Smith). Melinda’s inability to speak out about what happened isn’t uncommon in girls her age. â€Å"The sadness, anger, and sense of betrayal that girls often feel entering this transitional period in their lives is increased by this shocking and demeaning experience† (Smith). She couldn’t find it in her to tell anyone about what had happened, not even her parents. She just allowed it to take over her. She didn’t care what she looked like when she went to school. She didn’t have any friends because she didn’t have much to say. She came off and depressed, and that’s just what she was. One girl befriended her, only to tell her a few weeks later that they couldn’t be friends anymore; she wasn’t giving her a good image. She was using her for her lack of friends herself. Melinda found herself in art. This was the one place she could express how she was feeling without anybody finding out the truth. Mr. Freeman, the art teacher at her high school, is the one person who helps her grow. He encourages her to express herself through her art theme: trees. This tree serves as a symbol in the book. All throughout the book Melinda struggles with life, just as she struggles with creating the perfect piece of art through trees. Mr. Freeman sees her pain through what she creates, and only encourages her more to keep going. The trees are symbolic of Melinda’s growth as a person. As she starts to realize that the rape was not her fault, her trees start becoming more real. Towards the end of the book Melinda asks her father to pick her up some flower seeds while he runs to the hardware store. This is one of the first steps towards communication. Through her whole isolated freshman year, Melinda finally finds the courage to speak out about what happened to her. It took the help of a classmate and an art teacher to help her realize that what happened was not her fault, and that she couldn’t live like that forever. When she shows Mr. Freeman her final tree, it is complete with wounds and a low dead branch. â€Å"He sits on the stool and hands back my tree. You get an A+. You worked hard on this. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? † â€Å"Let me tell you about it† (198). This is a major point in this book. Melinda is finally ready to speak. The low dead branch symbolizes who she was for that whole year; dead inside. After getting the truth out, Melinda begins to rekindle old friendships and communication with her par ents. Melinda has grown so much through this experience. She has learned that one must speak up for themselves. Our society needs to instill this is children at a young age. It seems to be something that we struggle with. She has matured so much since the beginning of the school year. In Deborah Ellis’ The Breadwinner, Parvana, the main character, experiences much of the coming of age theme through a traumatic and painful experience. Being a female in Afghanistan is not easy. Their freedom has been taken away from them. They are not allowed to attend school. They are not allowed to be outside, unless they are with their father or husband. Freedom has been stripped from their lives. Their lives were pretty bad, but at least their family was together. Little did they know it was about to get worse. The whole family was laughing when four Taliban soldiers burst through the door†¦Two soldiers grabbed her father†¦Parvana watched helplessly as two soldiers dragged him down the steps, his beautiful shalwar kameez ripping on the rough cement. Then they turned a corner, and she could see them no more† (30-31). Being a child was no longer an option for Parvana. She needed to grow up fast. Parvana was elected to do the unthinkable-she was about to become a boy. After all, she was the least developed. Her older sister Nooria was too developed to take on that role. This is definitely one example of the coming of age theme. Parvana has stepped up and has taken the role of â€Å"Kaseem. † This was the only way to provide for her family. Stepping out of her gender was the only option, the only way they wouldn’t get caught and punished, or even killed. Parvana found a job reading letters sent to the soldiers in the Taliban. She made enough to barely feed her family, but it was better than nothing. She soon ran into a girl from one of her classes when she was able to attend school, who had the same idea that Parvana’s family had for her. She was a â€Å"tea boy† now, trying to provide for her family also. She came up with an idea that she knew made more money than what they were making. They were going to dig up bones. Nooria, Parvana’s older sister, was never really nice to her, and was always bossing her around. This could just be their age, and not completely understanding how severe their situation really is. Nooria’s dream was to go to college, and that was taken away from her. This may have left Nooria bitter. When Parvana’s mother learns of her new way of making money, she is absolutely against it. â€Å"So this is what we’ve become in Afghanistan,† Mother said. We dig up the bones of our ancestors in order to feed our families† (115). Nooria then sticks up for Parvana. This is the first time Nooria has been positive about anything Parvana has done. Nooria has matured through this whole experience. She realizes how important family is, and that desperate times call for desperate measures. â€Å"These are unusual times. They call for ord inary people to do unusual things, just to get by† (116). Parvana and her friend did this long enough to earn a decent amount of money, and Parvana went back to her blanket in the market. Parvana really stepped up for her family. She took her siblings outside whenever they had the chance, she worked so she could go to the market and buy food for her family, and she was constantly getting water from the neighborhood tap. She realized that she could no longer be passive, and that she had to take control. And that is just what she did. Parvana finally got her father back, but now her mother and sister were on their way to Mazar, where they thought they would be safe. They soon found out that the Taliban was there, also. Though the ending isn’t exactly happy, it does offer hope that the family will be reunited The novel’s focus on how women’s lives are heavily restricted by laws rather than by personal choice is crucial in understanding the nature of external freedom† (Harper). Parvana and her family want to fight for freedom, and her mother demonstrates that nicely. Her and a friend create an underground magazine that would be sent to women all over the world. This family is truly rema rkable. So much maturing and growing existed in this family. Both Speak and The Breadwinner demonstrate the coming of age theme. The character’s growths in these stories are just phenomenal. Sometimes it takes a really bad situation to truly learn about one’s self. Both Melinda and Parvana had to experience something traumatic in order to find who they truly were. Parvana learned that she would do anything for her family, even her bossy sister. Melinda learned the importance of speaking up and standing up for herself. These books teach valuable life lessons. Not only is The Breadwinner a coming of age novel, it teaches about what life is like in Afghanistan. It reminds readers how lucky they are to be living in a country where they have so much freedom. Incorporating vocabulary used in Afghanistan allows readers to really feel like they are in the story. Coming of age in literature truly allows readers to relate to characters in the story, and aide them in growing. Works Cited Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. Bean, Thomas W. and Harper, Helen J. Exploring notions of freedom in and through young adult literature. Journal of Adolescent Adult Literacy, Oct2006, Vol. 50, Issue 2, p96-104, 9p (AN 22521106). Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner. USA: 2001. Smith, Sally. Journal of Adolescent Adult Literacy, 10813004, Mar2000, Vol. 43, Issue 6.