Bronze Age A Short Description

The Bronze Age is the period of human time between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, terms referring to the material with which tools and weapons were made. In Britain Begins (Oxford: 2013), Barry Cunliffe says the concept of the three ages, mentioned as early as the first century B.C., by Lucretius, was first systematized in A.D. 1819 by C. J. Thomsen, of the National Museum of Copenhagen and finally formalized only as late as 1836. In the three age system, the Bronze Age follows the Stone Age, which was further divided by Sir John Lubbock (author of Pre-historic Times as Illustrated by Ancient Remains; 1865) into Neolithic and Paleolithic periods.​ During these pre-bronze ages, people used stone or at least non-metal implements, like the archaeological artifacts one sees made of flint or obsidian. The Bronze Age was the beginning of the era when people also made tools and weapons of metal. The first part of the Bronze Age may be called the Calcolithic referring to the use of pure copper and stone tools. Copper was known in Anatolia by 6500 B.C. It wasnt until the second millennium B.C. that bronze (an alloy of copper and, commonly, tin) came into general use. In about 1000 B.C. the Bronze Age ended and the Iron Age began. Before the end of the Bronze Age, iron was rare. It was only used for decorative items and possibly coins. Determining when the Bronze Age ended and the Iron Age began, therefore, takes into account the relative preponderance of these metals. Classical Antiquity falls completely within the Iron Age, but the early writing systems were developed in the earlier period. The Stone Age is generally considered part of prehistory and the Bronze Age the first historical period. The Bronze Age, as stated, refers to a dominant tool material, but there are other pieces of archaeological evidence that connect a people with a period; specifically, ceramic/pottery remains and burial practices.

Essay about The Psychology of Robert Frost’s Nature Poetry

The Psychology of Robert Frost’s Nature Poetry Robert Frost’s nature poetry occupies a significant place in the poetic arts; however, it is likely Frost’s use of nature is the most misunderstood aspect of his poetry. While nature is always present in Frost’s writing, it is primarily used in a â€Å"pastoral sense† (Lynen 1). This makes sense as Frost did consider himself to be a shepherd. Frost uses nature as an image that he wants us to see or a metaphor that he wants us to relate to on a psychological level. To say that Frost is a nature poet is inaccurate. His poetry is in the main psychologically oriented with emphasis on specific recurring themes, which include, but are not limited to, loneliness, retreat, spirituality, darkness,†¦show more content†¦The contrast between the humans and nature enables Frost to deal with and illustrate significant issues affecting humans. A very interesting point regarding Frost’s relationship with nature is that he views it with ambiguity. Most assume that Frost is a nature lover; however, while this is true in part, Frost also views nature as having the capability of being destructive. Lynen speaks of this duality by saying, â€Å"You cannot have one without the other: love of natural beauty and horror at the remoteness and indifference of the physical world are not opposites but different aspects of the same view† (7). On speaking of Frost’s dualistic view of nature, Phillip L. Gerber states, â€Å"For nature is hard as she is soft, she can destroy and thwart, disappoint, frustrate, and batter† (132). Robert Frost views nature as an ‘alien force capable of destroying man’, but on the flip side, he also views â€Å"man’s struggle with nature as a heroic battle† (quoted in Thompson). In his poem â€Å"Our Hold on the Planet† Frost illustrates this point by saying, There is much in nature against us. But we forget: Take nature altogether since time began Including human nature, in peace and war, And it must be a little more in favor of man, Say a fraction of one percent at the very least, Or our number living wouldn’t be steadily more, Our hold on the planet wouldn’t have so increased. (Frost 317).Show MoreRelatedEssay on Symbols and Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost1463 Words   |  6 PagesPoems of Robert Frost    Nature has inspired countless poets from primitive times to the present. They have used it as a metaphor for virtually all human emotions-his stormy brow, her sky blue eyes, as wild as a summer storm. Very few, however, have so masterfully crafted their verse to fully express the range of nature’s power and influence, or suited the tone of a poem to encompass both human nature and ‘true’ nature. This is true in the poetic works of Robert Frost. The aspects of nature thatRead MoreEssay about Analysis of the Poems of Robert Frost1316 Words   |  6 Pagesother than Robert Frost. Robert Frost is a poet that is well known for his poetic contributions to nature, as well as his award winning poems. His poetic ability and knowledge make him an extraordinary author. His past; including schooling, family, and the era in which he wrote influenced nearly all of his poems in some way. This very famous poet contributed to the modernism era, had a family and an interesting lif e story, and a unique poetic style as well. The literary era in which Robert Frost wroteRead MoreEssay on An Assessment of the Poetry of Robert Frost2857 Words   |  12 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nature is beautiful in every aspect, but as nature changes with every season, beauty and innocence in human life is much the same as the years progress. Robert Lee Frost uses nature in such a profound approach; every aspect of nature can someway correlate with any characteristic of life. Whether it is the beauty in nature signifying the joy and happiness that every person experiences, or it be the traumatic losses and disappointments that may lead to ultimate failure or destruction, Robert FrostRead MoreAnalysis Of Robert Frost s Birches 3014 Words   |  13 Pageselement in Robert Frost poetry is his use of nature in a symbolic way. Frost is not describing the inner workings of nature as we see it all around us, but about exploring human psychology. For example, Frost uses Homely farmers, rural scenes, landscapes, and the natur al world to epitomize a psychological struggle with an everyday experience that is often met with courage, will, and purpose; contextually, using Frost’s own life and personal psychology. Frost’s attitude in his poetry is honest,Read More Mending Wall by Robert Frost Essay2093 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Mending Wall† by Robert Frost   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Mending Wall† by Robert Frost is a poem in which the characteristics of vocabulary, rhythm and other aspects of poetic technique combine in a fashion that articulates, in detail, the experience and the opposing convictions that the poem describes and discusses. The ordinariness of the rural activity is presented in specific description, and as so often is found in Frost’s poems, the unprepossessing undertaking has much larger implications. Yet his considerationRead MoreEssay on Mending Wall2143 Words   |  9 PagesMending Wall by Robert Frost is a poem in which the characteristics of vocabulary, rhythm and other aspects of poetic technique combine in a fashion that articulates, in detail, the experience and the opposing convictions that the poem describes and discusses. The ordinariness of the rural activity is presented in specific description, and as so often is found in Frosts poems, the unprepossessing undertaking has much larger implic ations. Yet his consideration of these does not disturb the qualities

Cynthia Ozick - 993 Words

Cynthia Ozick (1928 - †¦.) Cynthia Ozick was born in New York City on April 17, 1928. She was the second of two children. Her parents, Celia (Regelson) and Wiliam Ozick immigrated to the US from the northwest region of Russia. The family came from the Litvak (Lithuanian) Jewish tradition which was a tradition of skepticism, rationalism and antimysticism. Her parents owned a pharmacy in Pelham Bay section of Bronx. They worked very hard, usually fourteen hours a day. Cynthia delivered perscriptions sometimes. Her mother was a generous, lavish, exuberant woman full of laughter whereas her father was a discreet, quiet man. He was also a Jewish scholar, and knew Latin and German. When she was five and a half, her grandmother took her to†¦show more content†¦Three of her stories have won first prize in the O.Henry Prize Story competition, and five of her stories were chosen for republication in the yearly anthologies of Best American Short Stories. The editor of the 1984 volume called her one of the three greatest American writers of stories living today. Ozick has been nominated for the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award and the National Book Critics’ Circle Award. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. She also received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Mildred and Harold Strauss Living Award, Edward Lewis Wallant Memorial Award and The B’nai B’rt Jewish Heritage Award. Cythia Ozick has the unique honor of being the first writer to be given the Rea Award for the Short Story. In making this selection, the first Rea Award jurors, William Abrahams, Shannon Ravenel and Peter Schimdt said: A writer of great intelligence, moral energy, and imaginative power, Cynthia Ozick has appreciably widened the range of what the short story is able to be. Reading The Shawl we are moved past the truth of fact to a deeper, different understanding; we bear witness to the truth of art. Only rarely does this happen, and when it does, it must be celebrated. She has turned 80 earlier this year and has won not one but two lifetime achievement awards. In April 2008, she was receved the PEN/Malamud Award for short fiction and the PEN/Nabakov Award forShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis : Blue Tigers By Cynthia Ozick1718 Words   |  7 PagesCynthia Ozick exploits figurative language in The Shawl to create a grim and surrealistic atmosphere representative of The Holocaust’s brutality and impression of interminability. Though depicting The Holocaust– which is often recounted through biographical narratives–Ozick, uses abstract yet stirring metaphors when recounting her characters’ plight to attain emotional precision. From lines like â€Å"a walking cradle† when describing Rosa to â€Å"blue tigers† when describing Magda’s eyes, readers immediatelyRead MoreCynthia Ozick uses several symbolisms throughout the course of this compelling story of â€Å"The1300 Words   |  6 Pages Cynthia Ozick uses several symbolisms throughout the course of this compelling story of â€Å"The Shawl†. Ozick uses descriptive details to have interaction the reader. This use of symbolism is extremely vital to the story. Themes of survival, humanity, motherhood, tolerance, and prejudice course through the canvas of the vivid image the author tries to color for the readers. The author uses symbolism copiously to assist the reader envision the setting. Ozick uses several symbols and imaging as an exampleRead MoreThe Shawl, By Cynthia Ozick1319 Words   |  6 Pagesthought the Jews were the reason that Germany lost World War I (Jews in Nazi Germany- History Learning Site). Hitler blamed them for almost all of Germany’s problems and he wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish population. â€Å"The Shawl†, written by Cynthia Ozick, tells one of the many horrifying stories from the Holocaust. The story has three main characters: the young mother Rosa, her baby Magda, and her fo urteen-year-old niece Stella. They were victims of the Holocaust who had an awful experience inRead More Comparing the Use of Setting in The Shawl and The Portable Phonograph859 Words   |  4 PagesThe Shawl and The Portable Phonograph  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In literature, setting is often used to enhance or develop characters, provide realism, and create a mood or atmosphere for a story (Roberts 256). Two short stories, The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick and Walter Van Tillburg Clark’s The Portable Phonograph explore victims of war in the vivid settings that the authors have created. Although both works are vague as to geographic setting and place in time, the authors’ detailed descriptions ofRead MoreA Short Story Usually Forms A Conflict Or Multiple Conflicts894 Words   |  4 Pageshelp the readers to see the symbolism. When the readers pay attention, and analyze the stories can give them opinions while discussing to other people. In â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker, â€Å"A Rose for Emily† by William Faulkner, and â€Å"The Shawl† by Cynthia Ozick, show symbolism in each story. In the story â€Å"Everyday Use†, Momma is a strong-willed woman, with strong hands. Momma has two daughters; Dee is the oldest and Maggie is the youngest. The two daughters struggle with their identities and their heritageRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of The Shawl By Cynthia Ozick701 Words   |  3 PagesIt is human nature to strive for comfort, to seek ease in a burdensome situation. When deprived of this sense of comfort, as demonstrated by Cynthia Ozick in â€Å"The Shawl†, it is through the suffering that ensues in which humanity is lost. This is made evident in her sparse writing style, the duality of the setting, and the use of illusionary symbolism. Ozick exhibits a degree of sparsity in the style of which â€Å"The Shawl† is written that mirrors the dehumanizing effect of suffering. There is almostRead MoreTravelers: Fantasists, Conjurers, and Seers of the World Essay1137 Words   |  5 PagesWorld What makes traveling to foreign lands such a coveted and memorable experience? What does one get out of exploring new cultures and atmospheres? In â€Å"The Shock of Teapots,† by Cynthia Ozick, the quality and nature of traveling and travelers themselves is explored. Within this work of creative nonfiction, Ozick strategically uses genre, diction, and exemplification to effectively emphasize that travelers see ordinary things in a new light when visiting other places and countries. She startsRead MoreThe And Of The Red And Black Ink By Gloria Atwood1381 Words   |  6 Pagestheir message is by presenting their own language into their writing.The use of language in writing creates and identity in the act or experience of writing. As it is shown in the text How it feels to be forcibly fed by Djuna Barnes, The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick, and Tlilli, Tlapalli/ The path of the Red and Black Ink by Gloria Anzaldua. In the text how it How It Feels to be forcibly fed by Djuna Barnes, is about the way a woman goes through the experience of women being fed forcibly in order for herRead MoreAccording to Arp and Johnson, â€Å"Literary fiction plunges us, through the author’s imaginative vision1200 Words   |  5 Pagesyou because of how he looked being turned into this gross cockroach is done so well by Kafka so you can empathize with Gregor and understand the story much better by putting yourself in Gregors shoes. In addition to Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Cynthia Ozick wrote a brilliant short story The Shawl which also uses such great vision to feel like you’re in the story. As one reads the short story, it has such an effect on you the way that she brings you into this trance like if you’re in the HolocaustRead MoreJewish American Literatue2224 Words   |  9 Pages Jewish American Literature â€Å"Duty Matters† Throughout the course of the semester, the concept of duty has been a major theme in various novels, such as in Anzia Yezierska’s Bread Givers, Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl, and Saul Bellow’s Herzog. Although Yezierska, Ozick, and Bellow offer different circumstances, they all suggest a sense of responsibility from parent to child. I will show how the relationship between Sara and her father in Bread Givers differ from Rosa and the living incarnation of

Strategic Concepts An Assessment of ANZ Bank †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Concepts An Assessment of Strategies of ANZ Bank. Answer: Introduction and Company Brief Strategic concepts or business strategy assists a firm in carrying out its functions and achieving its goals and objectives. A sound business strategy helps a firm in attaining competitive advantage and creating customer value (Henry, 2011). Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group is one of the largest banks in Australia. It was establishes in 1951 when Bank of Australia merged with Union Bank of Australia (ANZ, 2017). The bank specialises in retail and corporate banking products. The bank has more than 50000 employees worldwide and is also one of the largest banks of New Zealand. ANZ bank has tried to expand globally via acquisition strategies and is one of the leading banks in Asia pacific region(ANZ, 2017). The following analysis will try to elaborate on certain strategic concepts used and applied by ANZ Bank. Methods This analysis tries to understand various strategic concepts pertaining to ANZ bank with the help of secondary information and data. The information has been collected from secondary sources like company websites, books, newspaper articles etc. The analysis also uses deductive techniques to arrive at conclusions relating to application of various concepts (Takhar-Lai, 2014). Deductive technique is used to derive conclusions from existing facts and secondary information is information which is already published in some book, magazine, journal or any other literature source(Takhar-Lai, 2014). Therefore, with the help of existing information conclusions have been made about use of strategic concepts by ANZ bank. Analysis of Business Strategies of ANZ Bank Using Strategic Concepts Analysis of business strategy provides various tools through which a firm can assess its internal and external environment(Stroh, 2014). An assessment of external and internal environment is important for the firm to assess its standing in the industry. A major way through which a firm can assess its environment and its standing in the industry is SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis(De Pablo, 2013). The strategies of ANZ bank will be discussed with regards to these two analyses. SWOT Analysis of ANZ Bank Banking sector is an expanding sector in Australia and globally(Collardi, 2012). A SWOT analysis will help in understanding the situation of ANZ bank with respect to the banking industry(Bamford West, 2012). It will help in assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by ANZ bank in the banking sector. SWOT Analysis of ANZ Bank Strengths It is one of the largest banks in Australian and New Zealand and has a respectable presence on the global stage. Diversified product portfolio helps in reducing operational risks. Large market share in Australia, New Zealand and countries in Asia pacific helps in generating more revenue Sound financial position leading to better marketing budget Good brand name Old and reputed company Weaknesses Limited global exposure as compared to many big global giants like HSBC High training cost of employees due to skill orientation of the industry. High cost and expenditure on digital network and IT servers High marketing cost due to heavy competition Opportunities Increasing banking potential all over the globe Increase in income levels and banking habits in emerging market. Governments in emerging markets promoting good and reputed banks Threats Functions in a tough industry which gets affected by global economic fluctuations Banking industry in emerging markets is highly regulated and trust of people in private banks is less Very high competition in both local and global markets Table 1: Source: Made by Author (2017) Adapted from ANZ (2017) Therefore, through a SWOT analysis ANZ can understand how it can proceed further in the industry and the market. It can assess its opportunities and strengths and use these strengths to counter weaknesses and threats. Porters five forces model for ANZ bank It is also important for business organisations to assess relevant specific factor affecting the organisation(Aaker McLoughlin, 2010). This can be done through Porters five forces analysis. This analysis assesses the firm based on five factors which are relevant to the firm(Alkhafaji, 2013). Following is an assessment of porters five force model for ANZ. Rivalry among existing firms- There is very tough competition in the banking industry both locally in Australia and also in global business scenario(Collardi, 2012). There are many big and reputed firms in the industry. Therefore, it is difficult to increase market share. Hence, rivalry among existing firms is high. Threat of new entry: ANZ exists in a heavily licensed industry and in emerging markets the sector is very highly regulated.(Berges Guill, 2014) Additionally, a lot of financial and technical cost and marketing goes into setting up a bank(Collardi, 2012). Therefore, threat of new entry is low. Threat of substitute products: people also like to invest their money in stock exchange and mutual funds; however, the trust of a bank is far greater(Collardi, 2012). Especially in emerging markets. Banks command greater trust than stock markets. Therefore, threat of substitutes is low. Bargaining power of buyers: As the industry is regulated, most banks offer similar services. However, brand name and trust are very important factors which differentiate between banks. Due to brand name the customer is pulled towards a bank and due to regulation he cannot bargain much(Collardi, 2012). Therefore, bargaining power of buyers is moderate to low Bargaining power of suppliers- Banks have suppliers like back end suppliers of logistic goods, infrastructure suppliers, employees who supply labour, IT support suppliers etc.(ANZ, 2017). As banks have trust of customers and ANZ has a good brand name, bargaining power of suppliers is moderate to low. Therefore, through Porters five force mode ANZ can understand its micro level dynamics and evaluate how to proceed considering the above mentioned factors. Other Relevant Information Pertain to ANZ Bank There are various other strategic concepts which affect a firm like ANZ(Eden, 2013). For example, segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies are considered of prime important in the strategic formulation of a firm(Ferrel, 2012). Generic strategies like cost leadership and differentiation also affect a firms market position(Forgang, 2015). Additionally, the type of leadership and financial performance also plays a vital role. Generic Strategies of ANZ Bank Porter has given three generic strategies which determine how a company generates competitive advantage for itself(Salavodu, 2015). These are low cost, differentiation and focus. A firm can perform better than its competitors either by having lower costs or by differentiating itself from the competitors in certain way(Walker, 2015). It can also choose between focus that is, offering its products to a selected segment or choosing an industry wide offering where it offers the products to a large customer base. ANZ bank exists in a service industry where service offered is homogenous(Bateson, 2010). However, the firm tries to create differentiation by offering a wide range of services like investments, deposits and loans(ANZ, 2017). The firm also uses market wide offering and tries to targets a wider market base so that it can increase its market share(ANZ, 2017). The firm has also expanded globally and focuses on efficiency and service quality. ANZ bank is a very old company and has a good brand name(ANZ, 2017). People recognise the firm which inculcates trust. Therefore, its brand equity is also a differentiation factor for the firm. Though differentiation of services based on quality of service delivery and brand name, ANZ bank has been trying to perform better than the competitors. Segmentation Targeting and Positioning Strategies of ANZ bank Segmentation, targeting and positioning are one of the most important concepts of strategicmanagement and marketing strategy(Baines, 2013). Segmentation is a concept of dividing a market into groups on the basis of certain identifiable similar attributes. Segmentation includes identifying groups in the market on certain basis and identifying the characteristics of each group (Armstrong, 2012). A firm can use various types of segmentation like demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioural segmentation to identify subgroups in the market. ANZ bank uses various types of segmentation strategies for its various products(ANZ, 2017). It uses demographic segmentation based on income while selling its loan and insurance products. The firm also differentiates rates between clients based on individual and corporate clients(ANZ, 2017). It uses geographical segmentation and divides its markets based on country where it is operational(ANZ, 2017). It uses different marketing strategies in each country like New Zealand and other Asian countries. Targeting is deciding on which customer bases or segments to target (Baker, 2012). It involves deeply assessing each segment and its commercial attractiveness. It involves selecting one or more segments after analysis (Ireland Hoskisson, 2011). During targeting a firm decides whether it wants to focus on a small customer groups or a larger customer group(Baines, 2013). It also decides on the resources to be used for the purpose of targeting. The major segments on which ANZ bank focuses are demographic and geographic segmentations.(ANZ, 2017). The firm uses various marketing strategies like advertising, branding and sales promotion to target these segments(ANZ, 2017). The firm targets small, medium and large corporate clients and individual consumers to sell its products. Positioning is the image that is created in the customers mind regarding the brand or a product (Kapferer, 2012). Brand is the name of a product or its design which creates an instant recall in the mind of the customers regarding the product with which the brand name is associated (Ferrell Hartine, 2012). Popular products and companies become brands in themselves because consumer has an instant recall of these brands if any attribute of these brands are mentioned (Boone, 2011). Branding is very crucial for adequate positioning as branding creates a positive image of the product in the customers mind(Aaker, 2012). ANZ is an old and established firm hence; it has become a brand(ANZ, 2017). People associate it with trust and service quality. Therefore, ANZ bank has a positive brand positioning. Firms can use various positioning strategies (Ferrell Hartine, 2012. These include positioning the product based on lower price, product features, better quality, better service delivery or product applications(Alkhafaji, 2013). In other words the firm can position the product in the mind of the customer based on its unique selling point. If the firm offers products at higher quality than the competitor, then that could be its positioning strategy. On the other hand, if the firm offers a product with unique features then it should position the product on this attributes(Kotler, 2012). ANZ bank has positioned itself based on quality of service delivery. It believes in providing quality and fast banking services to its customers(ANZ, 2017). Through its positioning as a renowned brand with quality focus, ANZ caters to its customers both in Australia and worldwide. Therefore, segmentation targeting and positioning are very important strategies which allow a firm to decide on which customer group it wants to cater and the manner in which it wants to cater to it(Armstrong, 2012). ANZ is successful in creating a sound segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy. Financial Performance of ANZ in 2016 Financial performance of a company shows its profit and loss, revenue, net sales and other financial indicators(Butler, 2012). Financial performance shows the superiorly or growth of a firm. Therefore, firms are very couscous of their financial performance(Butler, 2012). The profit of ANZ bank in 2016 was $ 5700 Billion(ANZ, 2016). It has come down by 24 % if compared to profits in 2015(ANZ, 2016). The reason for fall in profit was tough international competition. The firms life insurance product is not doing too well and it may exit from this products(ANZ, 2016). To improve its financial performance the firm needs to analyse the major causes for the fall in profit and formulate strategies to combat them. For example, undertaking a competitor analysis and trying to assess how it can outperform the competitor. Leadership of ANZ bank ANZ bank is a public concern and is listed on both the Australian and New Zealand stock exchange(ANZ, 2016). The company is responsible for its actions to its shareholders. It holds an annual general meeting of the shareholders periodically(ANZ, 2017). There is a board of directors to run the organisation on a daily basis. Board of directors are elected by the shareholders. David Gonski is the chairman of the bank while Shayne Cary Elliott is the CEO(ANZ, 2017). The vision of the leadership is to become a superregional bank and to provide quality service with mass reach to its customers worldwide(ANZ, 2017). For this purpose the bank believes in investing in infrastructure, endowment of employees skills and delivering services with efficiency(ANZ, 2017) .The leadership believes in integrity, accountability collaboration respect and excellence of service quality(ANZ, 2017). The leadership aims to continuously improve service quality so that the firm can win the trust of customers and embark on a growth path. Product Life Cycle of ANZ Banks product Product life cycle is a sequence of stages through which product of a firm passes(Armstrong, 2012). These stages include introduction, growth, maturity and decline. In the introduction stage the branding and the quality level of the product is established. In the growth stage product starts becoming popular and its features and support services get established(Armstrong, 2012). Pricing is maintained and distribution channels are added in this stage. The product sees a growth in sales in the growth stage. In maturity stage the growth rate of sales of the product starts to diminish(Ferrel, 2012). Competition becomes tougher as other firms come up with similar products. In the decline stage the product sales decline. During decline stage, product losses its popularity (Armstrong, 2012). Firm can choose to either divest or harvest the product depending on the further opportunities Most firms try to maintain the product on maturity stage for a longer time(Armstrong, 2012). This is done by lowering prices, adding other features, giving additional services or doing intensive distribution so that the decline stage can be avoided for a longer time. The products of ANZ involve financial services like providing loans and advisory services. Risk management, fund raising and investment along with deposits are some other products(Farquhar, 2010). Most of the products are on maturity stage as there are many competitors and the firm has to do aggressive marketing and offer additional services to maintain the products on the maturity stage(ANZ, 2017). However, the life insurance and wealthmanagement business is seeing loss in profit leading to decline of the product(ANZ, 2016). The firm has now decided to exit from these two product portfolio. Therefore, product life cycles help a firm in understanding the stage on which the product is and consequently it helps in taking adequate strategies pertaining to the stage. Recommendations for further strategies ANZ is an old and reputed firm however; its profits have fallen in the last year. There is always a scope for improvement in all organisations. There are certain things that the firm can do to improve its performance and standing in the market. Following are some recommendations to ANZ which might help in improving its performance. 1 The current era is an era of globalisation. Though ANZ bank is expending and is present in many countries across the globe, it is not really utilizing the opportunities offered by the emerging markets. The firm should be more aggressive in its marketing strategy in the emerging markets. The company is not present in many emerging market countries where it should make its mark. This can be done by using market entry strategies like mergers and acquisition. Merger with local banks will help the bank in winning the trust of the people in the host nation. 2 The firm should try to increase its market share in Australia as well. For this purpose the firm should have aggressive marketing campaign. It can also use engagement of people via social media as a tool. Social media is a very potent and cost effective medium to carry news and information to a large audience. Bank can generate ideas, reviews and feedback via social media to improve its brand recognition and market share in the country. 3 ANZ bank is into financial and banking services which work on trust. The financial services are high involvement products. If the firm wants to expand in global markets, it needs to win the trust of the people. This can be done by improving brand equity. Repeat ads can help in creating brand equity. Customers tend to remember a company if they see its advertisement frequently. Therefore, the firm has to be more visible. Using print, public relations and social media for promotion is also a good method of customer engagement which can help build brand equity and trust which can lead to better sales in the emerging markets. 4 As ANZs profits have declined lately, to stabilise itself it must reduce cost. Cost efficiency can be achieved by closing down non performing branches. ANZ should focus more on urban areas and should not move towards rural markets of the emerging markets as yet. Another way of reducing costs is by educating customers to use the virtual medium to conduct banking transactions. This will help in reducing footfalls into the branches and the bank can cut down on number of employees and other infrastructure with in a branch leading to cost efficiency. 5 Services industry is highly people and technology intensive. If employees are skilled they will be able to conduct the service better. Therefore, ANZ bank should enhance its talent development and training system. The firm trains its employees on work skills but it should also include transferability skills and knowledge endowment into its training schemes and plans. The firm should also give training about impact of global fluctuation on the banking sector. Additionally, it should promote lifelong learning. This will help in continuous supply of knowledge in organisation and help the staff in continuously giving good service. Therefore, above mentioned recommendations can help ANZ in improvement of its strategy and provide it a way to survive in tough competition. References Aaker, D. A., (2012) Building Strong Brands. New York: Simon and Schuste. Aaker, D. A. McLoughlin, D., (2010) Strategic Market Management: Global Perspectiv. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Alkhafaji, A., (2013) Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control in a Dynamic Environment. New York: Routledge. ANZ, (2016) Annual Report 2016. [Online] Available at: ttps://www.shareholder.anz.com/annual-report-and-shareholder-review[Accessed 20 May 2017]. ANZ, (2017) About Us. [Online] Available at: www.anz.com/[Accessed 20 May 2017]. Armstrong, G., (2012) Marketing: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Education. Baines, P., (2013) Essentials of Marketing. Oxford: Oxford University Press . Baker, M., (2012) The Marketing Book. New Jersy: Routledge. Bamford, C. E. West, P. G., (2012) Strategic Management : value creation, sustanability, and performance. New York: Cengage Learning. Bateson, J. E. G., (2010) Services Marketing. NewYork: South-Western Cengage Learning,. Berges, A. Guill, M. F., (2014) A New Era in Banking: The Landscape After the Battle. Abingdon: Bibliomotion, Incorporated. Boone, L., (2011) Contemporary Marketing. New York: Cengage Learning. Butler, D., (2012) Business Development: A Guide to Small Business Strategy. New York: Routledge. Collardi, B. F. J., (2012) Private Banking: Building a Culture of Excellence. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. de Pablo, O., (2013) International Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship: An Information Technology Perspective: An Information Technology Perspective. Hershey: IGI Global. Eden, C., (2013) Making Strategy: The Journey of Strategic Management. SAGE: London. Farquhar, J., (2010) Marketing Financial Services. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Ferrell, O. Hartine, N., (2012) Strategic Marketing. London: Cengage Learning. Ferrel, O., (2012) Marketing Strategy. New York: Cengage Learning. Forgang, W. G., (2015) Strategy-specific Decision Making: A Guide for Executing Competitive Strategy. New York: Routledge. Henry, A., (2011) Understanding Strategic Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ireland, D. R. Hoskisson, (2011) Understanding Business Strategy Concepts Plus. London: Cengage Learning. Kapferer, J.-N., (2012) The New Strategic Brand Management: Advanced Insights and Strategic Thinking. London: Kogan Page Publishers. Kotler, P., (2012) Marketing Management. Essex: Pearson Education. Salavodu, H., (2015) Competitive strategies and their shift to the future. European Business Review, 27(1), pp. 80-99. Stroh, P. J., (2014) Business Strategy: Plan, Execute, Win!. Melbourne: Wiley. Takhar-Lai, A., (2014) Market Research Methodologies: Multi-Method and Qualitative Approaches. Harshey: IGI. Walker, O., (2015) Marketing Strategy: A Decision-Based Approach. Sydney: McGraw-Hill Australia.