Current Ratio Essay

1) Current Ratio The ratio is mainly used to give an idea of the company’s ability to pay back its short-term liabilities (debt and payables) with its short-term assets (cash, inventory, receivables). The higher the current ratio, the more capable the company is of paying its obligations. 2) Quick Ratio An indicator of a company’s short-term liquidity. The quick ratio measures a company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations with its most liquid assets. For this reason, the ratio excludes inventories from current assets 3) Asset Turnover Ratio The amount of sales or revenues generated per dollar of assets. The Asset Turnover ratio is an indicator of the efficiency with which a company is deploying its assets. Asset Turnover = Sales or Revenues/Total Assets Generally speaking, the higher the ratio, the better it is, since it implies the company is generating more revenues per dollar of assets. But since this ratio varies widely from one industry to the next, comparisons are only meaningful when they are made for different companies in the same sector. 4) Fixed Turnover Ratio A financial ratio of net sales to fixed assets. The fixed-asset turnover ratio measures a company’s ability to generate net sales from fixed-asset investments – specifically property, plant and equipment (PP&E) – net of depreciation. A higher fixed-asset turnover ratio shows that the company has been more effective in using the investment in fixed assets to generate revenues. The fixed-asset turnover ratio is calculated as: 5) Inventory Turnover Ratio A ratio showing how many times a company’s inventory is sold and replaced over a period. The days in the period can then be divided by the inventory turnover formula to calculate the days it takes to sell the inventory on hand or â€Å"inventory turnover days.† This ratio should be compared against  industry averages. A low turnover implies poor sales and, therefore, excess inventory. A high ratio implies either strong sales or ineffective buying. High inventory levels are unhealthy because they represent an investment with a rate of return of zero. It also opens the company up to trouble should prices begin to fal 6) Debt Ratio A financial ratio that measures the extent of a company’s or consumer’s leverage. The debt ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt to total assets, expressed in percentage, and can be interpreted as the proportion of a company’s assets that are financed by debt. The higher this ratio, the more leveraged the company and the greater its financial risk. Debt ratios vary widely across industries, with capital-intensive businesses such as utilities and pipelines having much higher debt ratios than other industries like technology. In the consumer lending and mortgage businesses, debt ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt service obligations to gross annual income. 7) Debt Equity Ratio A measure of a company’s financial leverage calculated by dividing its total liabilities by stockholders’ equity. It indicates what proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its assets. A high debt/equity ratio generally means that a company has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. This can result in volatile earnings as a result of the additional interest expense. 8) Equity Multiplier The ratio of a company’s total assets to its stockholder’s equity. The equity multiplier is a measurement of a company’s financial leverage. Companies finance the purchase of assets either through equity or debt, so a high equity multiplier indicates that a larger portion of asset financing is being done through debt. The multiplier is a variation of the debt ratio. 9) Net Profit Ratio A ratio of profitability calculated as net income divided by revenues, or net profits divided by sales. It measures how much out of every dollar of sales  a company actually keeps in earnings. Increased earnings are good, but an increase does not mean that the profit margin of a company is improving. For instance, if a company has costs that have increased at a greater rate than sales, it leads to a lower profit margin. This is an indication that costs need to be under better control. 10) Days Inventory A financial measure of a company’s performance that gives investors an idea of how long it takes a company to turn its inventory (including goods that are work in progress, if applicable) into sales. Generally, the lower (shorter) the DSI the better, but it is important to note that the average DSI varies from one industry to another. Here is how the DSI is calculated: Also known as days inventory outstanding (DIO).  This measure is one part of the cash conversion cycle, which represents the process of turning raw materials into cash. The days sales of inventory is the first stage in that process. The other two stages are days sales outstanding and days payable outstanding. The first measures how long it takes a company to receive payment on accounts receivable, while the second measures how long it takes a company to pay off its accounts payable.

Camelina: a Market Forecast and Strategy Report

Camelina: a Market Forecast and Strategy Report 40 graphs and charts Camelina: a Market Forecast and Strategy Report 40 graphs and charts Published March 2010 From Biomass Advisors, a Biofuels Digest company Camelina has been much in the news of late, as a biofuels feedstock of strong promise, because of its position as one of the few â€Å"sustainable, affordable, reliable, available† feedstocks suitable for aviation biofuels. In November, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines made the first biofuels test flight with passengers on board, powering one engine with a mixture containing biofuel made from Camelina. Great Plains – The Camelina Company provided some of the Camelina used to make the fuel for this flight. Earlier, camelina was one of the feedstocks powering the Japan Airlines biofuels test, while the U. S. military has performed ground engine tests on camelina-based jet fuel in preparation for FA-18 Hornet fighter jet flights planned for this spring. Biofuels Digest has covered the camelina story in 71 different stories since 2007. But what’s the bottom line, for the grower, processor, end user, investor or policymaker? Biomass Advisors — a Biofuels Digest company focused on in-depth research — will release its definitive report on camelina in March 2010, including 40 charts and graphs. It’s based on unparalleled access to and cooperation with key stakeholders, on trends in processing, yields, geographies, and the end user markets opening up for high-value animal feed, and liquid transportation fuels (including aviation biofuels). In the report you’ll find the timeliness and perspective expected of the Digest — but with far more depth than a daily newsletter can provide. To reserve a copy or for more information, use this link to email us with â€Å"reserve† or â€Å"more information† in the subject line. Or to order your copy for $495, click on the button below: Table of Contents 1. Overview 1. 1. What is Camelina? 1. 2. Camelina’s development 1. 3. Camelina for the grower: a wheat rotation crop 1. 4. Camelina for the processor: omega-3 rich meal, high-yielding oilseed 1. 5. Camelina for the end user: animal feed, renewable jet fuel, biodiesel 2. Camelina’s Geography 2. 1. Opportunities within the wheat belt 2. 2. Additional opportunities in grazing or idle lands 2. 3. Trial locations and yield patterns 3. Camelina’s Economics 3. 1. Camelina oil: uses and values 3. 2. Camelina meal: uses and values 3. 3. Camelina economics 3. 3. 1. Inputs: fertilizers, herbicies, pesticides, labor 3. 3. 2. Outputs: yields and values 3. 4. Comparison of Camelina to other rotation crops: geography, yields, economics 3. 5. Camelina’s lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability 3. 6. Camelina Subsidies, Incentives, Grants, Mandates and Approvals for Use 3. 6. 1. National 3. 6. 2. State 3. 6. 3. Local 4. The competition: Petroleum Oil Economics 4. 1. Oil market trends and forecasts 4. 2. Camelina end markets size and potential 5. Camelina Production Forecast 5. 1. Oil parity analysis 5. 2. Available land analysis 5. 2. 1. Wheat fields available for rotation 5. 2. 2. Idle land available for Camelina production 5. 3. Agriculture adoption patterns 5. 4. Existing, planned and potential refineries 5. 5. Camelina production forecast 5. 5. 1. Biodiesel 5. 5. 2. Biojet fuel 5. 5. 3. Biolubricants and biomaterials 5. 5. 4. Animal feed 5. 6. Theoretical maximums 5. 7. Potential impact of market distortions 5. 8. Sensitivity analysis 6. Business and Investment Opportunities 6. 1. Transport and logistics 6. 2. Pressing 6. 3. Refining and blending 6. 4. Site selection considerations 6. 4. 1. Current and planned refineries 6. 4. 2. End-market locations and off-take partners 7. Case Studies, Profiles 8. Additional Resources and Information ?

Demonstrative Speech

Ever run out of crafts to do? Want to make a cool gift for someone? Want to get in touch with your creative side? Making a duct tape wallet is the answer. It’s a fun way to make a new project to keep busy while making something for someone else or yourself. For my presentation will be making a duct tape wallet. I will be starting with materials that will be needed, the steps to construct the wallet, and options to add to personalize it. For your reference the shell is referred to the main part of the wallet. The materials that is need 1.A pair scissors 2. Ruler 3. A piece of plastic or clear Scotch tape(optional) 4. Also, you will need 1 solid color and 1 printed duct tape. In this case I am using a solid pink and zebra printed tape. Now the steps 1. Cut 8 strips of the solid pink duct tape. The measurement is 8 ? inches long. 2. Once that’s done lay one strip sticky side up, then line up another strip( color side up) place it a little more than half way on top. There w ill be a little strip of sticky still showing. 3. Now place another strip on top of the sticky part that’s showing.Flip it over and continue to cover the sticky part on the bottom until you use all the strips of tape. You will be flipping it back and forth to complete the shell of the wallet. 4. When done the sticky parts that are left, fold them over. 5. Now clean up the edges. The length of your wallet should be 8 ? inches in length, and it should be 3 ? in width. When that is finished you will have the shell of the wallet. 6. Cut a strip of the printed tape measuring the length your wallet, and cut that piece into 2. 7.Put one of the printed strips on the top of the shell to create a printed border. 8. Cut 2 pieces of 4inch pick tape, to tape the sides of the wallet together. 9. Now it’s time to start the pockets. Cut 6 strips of 4 inch of any color tape besides the color of your actual shell (in this case the printed tape is used). Stick two pieces of tape together , after completion you should have 3 assembled pieces. Measure the 3 pockets to make sure they are exactly the same size 10. Cut small strips to tape down to the shell.Make sure after taping the first pocket down that there is a substantial amount of space so there will be room to put credit cards in. After, place the next on top and tape down and continue until the last one is taped down. 11. To create the secret pocket, cut 3 strips of 4 inches. Place the 2 pieces of tape on top of each other, once that’s done put the last piece on the very top of the pocket and fold it. Secure it with strips of tape on the three sides. 12. Get the other strip of the printed tape you cut earlier and place at the bottom to create the border. 13.Then cut 3 ? inches of the printed tape to finish up the printed border of your wallet. When that is done, you have made your own wallet. Options to add to the wallet * To make the I. D holder you will need a piece of plastic or 2 pieces of scotch tap e. Place over the secret pocket and secure it with small strips of tape and you has an I. D holder. * You could also add Velcro keep the wallet closed. Never knew that having a few pieces of duct tape could turn into something so fun and exciting to do. It’s a good way to be creative and make a craft for someone or yourself.

Definition of morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Definition of morality - Essay Example This is one of the most illusionary things because it differs a lot depending on society, culture, surrounding, religion and other factors. For instance, everyone would agree that killing someone has nothing to do with morality and such an act even contradicts it. Meanwhile, there are still countries where death penalty is a norm, where lapidation is implemented as a punishment and it is considered to be for sake of morality. But isn’t it the same? It also kills people. So, who does have the right to decide whose death is good for morality and whose death is bad for that? The rate of death penalties has been growing in America during the last few decades. On one hand, it can be explained by the wish of the government to maintain justice and to prevent more crimes that may be committed. On the other hand, there is a question of morality because in such a case justice is ruled by the same principles that the crime itself. According to this, there is a legalized murder that is supported by the laws and does not contradict moral principles. But looking for an explanation and investigating this question in more details, one more important fact should be arisen – motivation of people who support death penalty. Unfortunately, the truth is that the followers of this idea are â€Å"inspired† by appetite for revenge, not for justice. Also, religion should be addressed in the search for the right answer. It is wildly promulgated that murder is one of the greatest sins but very often religion supports politics better than own principles. Basing on the abovementioned, morality becomes the matter of the political system. The more this question is discussed, the more contradictions are found that is why it is hard to disagree with Bucciarelli, Khemlani and Johnson-Laird about the fact that â€Å"the principle of moral inconsistency postulates that the beliefs underlying your moral evaluation are neither

Research Methods in Sales and Marketing for Tourism Essay

Research Methods in Sales and Marketing for Tourism - Essay Example Furthermore, the proponent provides examples in their application in the tourism sector. Quantitative research method Quantitative research is a common method used in investigating or finding information in various fields of studies. This method ensures that information can be transformed into figures for quantitative analysis. Quantitative research method preserves neutrality and sees to it that there will be no bias since the collected data will be used for quantitative analysis, so it is more numerically measurable (Bennett, 1986; Shi, 2008). In quantitative analysis, there is a need to come up with objective output because a researcher deals with figures and transforms them into essential information that can be subjected to more meaningful interpretation and source of information. One common quantitative research method is experimental method. In experimental method, the researcher could potentially obtain information from certain observations under controlled condition. Thus, t here are important things that need to be considered prior to obtaining the most essential information and one of them is to ensure the significance and validity of the entire method used. Quantitative research is quite flexible but its potential drawback could be its not being able to potentially explain all types of phenomena (Muijs, 2004). Qualitative research method Qualitative statements and concepts comprise the body of qualitative analysis (Shi, 2008). Qualitative research method still applies numerical data which potentially include counting and assigning numbers to observations, but the presence of qualitative statement and concepts prevail as its general core foundation. Thus, it may still turn out that all information under qualitative approach cannot be numerical in nature but in a verbal form (Creswell, 2003). Observations which are integral components of qualitative statements and analyses are important in qualitative research method because they would ensure that the analysis will be well presented and the research aim is substantially obtained. An interview for instance regarding certain issue may focus more on understanding the framework of the subject and this could potentially concentrate the analysis on general qualitative information. Qualitative method therefore can be done at multiple levels of analysis (Piekkari and Welch, 2004). This means a researcher could still potentially find information in using this method even at various levels of analysis. An interview or focus group for instance can essentially initiate this because what the researcher needs is to integrate various concepts or frameworks in order to bring the entire analysis at different levels, depending on the actual objectives. However, one general and potential drawback of qualitative method is that the sample size is small and non-random, making findings most likely not conclusive at some point (VanderStoep and Johnson, 2008). The differences It is noted based on the abo ve discussion that both methods of research; the quantitative and qualitative have potential advantages and drawbacks. Furthermore, they are an entirely different approaches; that is why they have significant noted difference. In the case of quantitative method of research such as survey or experimentation, it is important to have remarkable number of samples in order to make certain that the conclusion is conclusive. Sample should be numerically or statistically significant. On

Cyber crime Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cyber crime - Article Example For instance, some of the malicious attacks that organizations and businesses face include cyber theft and fraud, cyber warfare, industrial espionage and hacking among others. The non-malicious attacks include misuse of access devices, human error and accidental system failures. Additionally, the article provides the costs that companies incur or may in future incur as a result of cyber crime. Moreover, some of the best practices that can limit the cyber crime, and legislations and regulations of cyber crimes are also included in the article. In my opinion, I would agree with the information provided concerning cyber crime in the article. One fact is that cyber crime is increasingly becoming an issue to most governments and its threats can be far much worse to an economy since it is a crime related to the internet; internet is one factor that an economy cannot survive without. Additionally, I would agree with what the author has indicated in the article because currently issues concerning cyber crimes are often discussed in the social media and various governments, therefore it is no doubt that whatever the author has provided is backed by so varied and valid evidences. The topic is very much important globally. Cyber threats and data privacy are factors that are currently becoming a major focus to various businesses, organizations and governments around the world. Since various sectors in the world or different nations depend so much on the internet, I think it is important to educate people on the threats that come as a result of the existence of the internet and how these threats can be limited. Failure to notify the world about this can affect the general economic growth of various nations. Certainly, the author has provided more than enough evidence with regards to cyber threats and data privacy. For instance, the author has provided valid statistics concerning the intensity of cyber

Enzymology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enzymology - Lab Report Example Substrate concentration is directly proportional to activity rate up to a point beyond which the reaction rate slows down and settles at a constant level because of the enzyme’s limiting factor (Yada, 2004; Whitehurst & Oort, 2009). Temperature and pH, however, increase the activity rate up to optimum levels beyond which the activity rate reduces. The optimum temperature and pH level for most enzymatic activity is room temperature and the pH level of seven (Rastogi, 2010). Enzyme inhibitors are another set of factors that reduce enzymes’ activity rate (Seager & Slabaugh, 2010). This report investigates the effects of substrate concentration, pH level, temperature and inhibitor hydrogen peroxide on bovine liver’s activity rate. It seeks to answer the question ‘how does the factors affect activity rate of Bovine liver?’ Care was taken to ensure that the oxygen gas sensor was plugged into the USB interface to launch the PAS portal window. This was followed by a click on the DataStudio icon to launch the program. The ‘create experiment’ button was then clicked to generate a ‘Digit’ box. A click on the setup button and a change of oxygen’s measurement unit to ppm then followed before calibration of the sensor. Amounts of liver extract were then incubated at given temperatures for five minutes before addition of substrate and push on the oxygen sensor stopper. With the stopper firmly held, the substrate was mixed and incubated while noting the amount of released oxygen. The experiment was repeated for different temperatures. With the set ups at the room temperature, tests were conducted at the pH levels of two, four, six, seven, eight, ten, and twelve respectively. In each set up and for every pH level, 6 ml of buffer, 3 ml of liver extract and 4 percent of H2O2 were mixed in that consecutive order. This was followed by measurement of the level of generated oxygen for calculating reaction rates at each pH level. With the

The War Between Cyprus And Turkey Research Paper

The War Between Cyprus And Turkey - Research Paper Example Conflicts that arise between two different ethnic groups are always a challenge to resolve and Cyprus Island was not an exception. Moreover, the strategic location and the island’s unique history have played a part in the involvement of many parties in Cyprus and the challenges in settling the disputes. Present conflicts between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have been sparked by this historical environment that was between them. The legacy of the many wars and conflicts has created a destabilized situation where both communities cannot trust each other. Pre-war period. Greeks were seen to desire domination over the Turkish Cypriots.in 1878 the British created a legislative council in Cyprus the Greeks demanded more representation and in 1882 the British decided to give the Greeks 9 members and the Turkish Cypriots three. The Turkish Cypriots protested as was expected as they saw its risky having the Greeks dominate. This defensiveness became a primary characteristic in the Turkish Cypriots behavior a notion that the Greek Cypriots did not really comprehend. After the war against the British came to an end the Greek Cypriots did not bother to have talks with their Turkish counterparts or give them assurance. This thus led to a state where although the island was Great Britain’s colony, and both groups were under colonisation, independence was not the outcome of the mutual cooperation by both communities. The two groups were never willing to cohabit as one state as both communities had different objectives. For many years the Turkish Cypriots never understood the Greek Cypriots desire for enosis. They thought that this desire to unite with Greece reflected the Greek Cypriot’s attempts to govern them. In the years 1878-1960, the Turkish Cypriots affiliated themselves with British, which was a serious mistake. This move is what made the constitution contain to privileges leaning on the Turkish Cypriots. If they hadn’t aligned t hemselves with the British they may have entered independence jointly with the Greek Cypriots. They on their side showed little interest of the powers they were given under the Zurich constitution. Conscious of Turkish government support and Turkish troops in the island they were unyielding in claiming their rights as a separate group even in situations where these rights were unrealistic or conflicted with the state’s interests. The populace of the Turkish Cypriots was small but their leaders still insisted on having the 30% positions in the civil service though qualified people were unobtainable. Between 1960 and 1963, using their veto powers they utterly paralyzed the government (Amussen, 2008). This sparked president Makarios proposals The Greek Cypriots agreed that the constitution had to be revised and was not necessary to be a compromise with the Turkish Cypriots. They made a blunder and continued their discussion to reunite with Greece, a move that was prohibited by t heir constitution. Turkish had control of 40% of the island and was entitled to 30% of the civil service position, a 40% share in the army with just being 18% of the whole populace. The Greek Cypriot’s actions were even more fueled by this privileges the Turkish Cypriots were liable to in the constitution but had the Greek Cypriots been content with the status quo and accepted those privileges and let go of their desire for the union with Greece, then the Turkish Cypriots just might have been more receptive for some compromise (James, 2011). Nevertheless, this never happened. Instead the leader of the Greek Cypriots, president Makarios attempted to review thirteen amendments of the constitution. The Turkish Cypriot leaders and the Turkish government

Reflection the Influence of Marxian Economics Essay

Reflection the Influence of Marxian Economics - Essay Example This class has presented a perspective on the economic theories of Marx and Engels in such a way that it can be easily applied to almost every situation one comes into contact with. The influence of Marxist economics is so deeply grounded into my consciousness that now when I pass a homeless person the street I do not immediately buy into the capitalist caricature of a lazy person who refuses to work and so should rightfully be denied public assistance, but I imagine an entire tapestry of historical confluences. Did this person buy a bigger house than he could actually afford in a misguided effort at upward mobility Did he lose his high-paying job after being laid off by an employer who outsourced his work to a low-wage country Indeed, my appreciation of the vast reach of Marxist theory influences me to view everything from a different perspective. The economics of politics has come under greater scrutiny as well as I apply Marx's theories to it. What is the real purpose of the war in Iraq Is it actually to bring democracy there, or is it an attempt to create a new market for global conglomerates like Microsoft and McDonald's Before this class I naturally divided economics and politics into different spheres that obviously blended together at times.

Business plan - (investment) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business plan - (investment) - Coursework Example Investments are usually done from the closing balance of cash flows and not from the surplus or deficit that is incurred in the financial year. In this firm three scenarios are given and the cash flow results of two financial years are given on the basis of which investments are prepared. The items on the cash flow statement  that information the collective transform in an organization’s cash situation resulting from any profits or losses from savings in the operating subsidiaries and financial markets, and changes ensuing from  values spent on savings in capital assets for instance plant and equipment. Cash Flow statements have most fundamental information’s for depositor’s who are examining the financial report of the organization with savings objectives. Cash Flow Statements Analysis for Investment Objectives. 2010. Investment Blogger. [Online] Available at [Accessed 29 Nov.

Married Lifestyle vs. Single Lifestyle Essay Example for Free

Married Lifestyle vs. Single Lifestyle Essay There are advantages and disadvantages to being married or single. Some married couples share every aspect of their lives including, work, children and marital related issues while some may opt to have a joint bank account . While this may help each spouse financially, one person always has to consent with the other before making any serious purchases. However, single people don’t need anyone’s consent nor do they have to share. Children are another thing married couples and single people have to consider. Having children can be a great thing, especially with someone there to help share the responsibility of raising those children. Whereas, single people may ultimately struggle with things such as, child care, the cost of raising a child on their own, and being the responsible party. Goals are also a big factor, because some married couples have a hard time agreeing on or reaching common goals. A single person is only responsible for their own goals and how they choose to reach them. Over time, the passion may seem to cool in married couples. The couple may not be as sexually active as they once were due to the routine each lives. They may be busy with work or kids, or unfortunately, simply desensitized to one another. Some married couples work on keeping their sex life interesting. On the other hand, it isn’t hard for a single person to keep things interesting and new in the bedroom, because they may have as many sexual partners as they please, and this may seem fun. But sometimes, for them the work is finding the right sexual partner. In a marriage, not only could you have sex when you want, but you can enjoy intimacy as well. According to [Eve Prajonyud, Single Versus Married Life-Pros and Cons] â€Å"The cons of both lifestyles differ from person to person. If you are involved in a bad marriage than single life will seem like a dream come true. Likewise, if you are unable to find someone to spend your time with, then you will likely feel lonely and frightened no matter how successful your life is. The key to weighing the differences is actually in enjoying the lifestyle you have while you have it.† (Eve Prajonyud) People living single lifestyles have freedom to do what they want . For instance, if they were offered a well-paying job a thousand miles away from where they lived, they could simply take the job and move without anyone else to consider. Married couples don’t have that same option. The goals of married couples and single people may be different. For example, a married couple may be saving up money toward the goal of purchasing a bigger house in the future, for a growing family. They may be working toward a better lifestyle than they started with as a newlywed couple. They might attain a degree together or maybe just save up for a couples vacation . Single people may choose to focus completely on their career, instead of a family. Their main goal may be reaching top status in their profession before focusing on a family. Their goal may also be to attain a degree, or saving money to travel or buy a house. There may be a difference in the career choices of married and single people. For instance, married couples may have to work around each other’s schedule and still have time to spend with one another. Single people don’t have to worry about that if that happen to have a job or career that is very time consuming. Both lifestyles can be challenging in many different ways. Whether it’s children, sharing, or setting individual or marital goals. Works Cited Prajonyud, E. Single Versus Married Life. Retrieved on April 1, 2013 from www.professorshouse.com.

Mainframe computer Essay Example for Free

Mainframe computer Essay Hardware and Software Components BUS 210 July 8, 2011 Brian Wirpsa Axia College Material Appendix E Hardware/Software Components In your own words, describe the following hardware/software components Legacy systems| The legacy systems are the IT system as a whole for a company. The legacy system is computers, hardware, and software needed to run an IT system. | Mainframe computers| Mainframe computers were the hub of a company’s IT system information. They were large, used mostly for number crunching, and only accessible by company managers. Later, although they remained expensive minicomputers were made that were used for word processing, and more readily available for other function departments to use. | Microprocessors| Microprocessors are the software components that help to make the personal computer possible. Microprocessors are essentially the brains inside of a pc. | PCs| PC’s or personal computers are much smaller than mainframe computers and made for individual use. They were computers that use software that any individual can use and within a business held a connection to the company’s mainframe. Network computers| Network computers act as the middleman in the communication between the pc and a company’s mainframe. This group of pc’s connection to the mainframe server called a â€Å"land area network† acts as a landline for the network of computers located in the same building. | World Wide Web and Internet| The world wide web is a connection worldwide to any and every computer in the world. The world wide web allowed information to be transferred to and from anywhere in the world via the internet. With wires, cables, Ethernet wires, and routers is how The internet was able to transfer information. | Wired and wireless broadband technology| Wired broadband technology is the use of the internet through wires that transmit data at a slow speed. Like a tunnel, wired internet technology must move slowly through the small space provided by the wiring. Wireless technology uses no wiring, therefore that tunnel is now wide open with more space and room for data to transfer at a higher rate of speed. PC software PC software is the brains that operate the computer. PC software is what is used to connect all functions of a computer together to work such as the hardware components and the software itself. | Networking software| Networking software is the second brain for a computer that allows it to connect to a company’s servers and company pc’s. | Computer security software | Computer security software is the protective shield or skull for a computer that prevents outsiders from entering a computer system and taking vital information.

Critical analysis of a Charitable Organization

Critical analysis of a Charitable Organization The reality of poverty in several communities around the world is quite inescapable. Admittedly, varying types of government in every country is doing their best to fight the negative pull of poverty and socioeconomic struggles of communities, yet, a number are still at ends with their finances in daily living. At this point, other sectors in society steps in to support other areas that the government can no longer substantially support. According to Shelley (n.d.) the economic structure of Australia consists of three sectors: private, public, and non-profit. The public division is said to be primarily controlled by the government, where duties are performed by way of services offered through taxation policies and user fees. On the other side, private sectors are chiefly governed by market competition and economic gains of individual and collective assemblies. On the last section, nonprofit organizations neither fit the above descriptions. As it is, this is the category that lives of f from the charity of the concerned public, either from private citizens, to private companies, and even the government pitches in to help. In review, one of the reputed nonprofit organizations based in Australia is CARE Australia, which is run on both community and international level. With its founding origins dating back to 1945 in United States, the said charity organization had found its roots across the oceans in Australia on 1987. Now, it is already serving more than 20 neighboring countries in Pacific regions, and extends towards Africa. With a mission to serve impoverished communities, regardless of race and nationality, the said organization had set forth a number of empowering campaign programs to provide support (socially and economically), as well as offer emergency international aid when needed. Free from religious and political affiliation, CARE Australia is a charity institution that seeks to concentrate on the plight of women and young girls, as they believe that these groups are integral for successful and sustainable communities worldwide (Anon., 2009). In this paper, the internal structure and managem ent conditions of the charity organization, CARE Australia, will be put into analytical perspective, where its leadership status and functions are reviewed, and probable resolutions to conflicts can be identified. Organization Profile The relative significance of charity organizations as the third community sector is indispensable. According to Palyvoda (2006), charity groups are beholden, not only in delivering public service to the poor and needy, but also in influencing other societal sectors to contribute with such altruistic pursuits in relevant service areas. In relative settings, most organizations take up a number of structural form and decisions-making process. Fuetchmann (n.d.) pointed out that for an organization to be legally accepted as a formal one, it must be incorporated first, and at best, possesses considerable properties in tax-free institutional status. In perspective, one can safely assume that an organization, even a nonprofit one, is liable to establish a formal structure in management. Henry (1998) listed the basic members in organizations, including board members, chief executives and funders (cited in Cornforth, 2001, p.13). The former two groups are the ones at topmost level, where they decide the movement of the organization, while staff within the organization simultaneously moves to perform the plans formulated by various management departments. As clarified by Gaist (2009), a well-managed organization should promote a structure that defines how each member should achieve their roles in, where decision-making activities are marginalized between the board, management officers, and the staff. As such, governance in the organization should be consistently delineated and followed-for organizational goals to be realized. Such responsibility falls primarily on the board of directors, which encompasses more than the obligation to manage the organizations, but should provide direction, efficacy, and accountability as leaders in the group (Angelini, 2005). With the power to appoint executives and committee officers, the board of directors is indeed influential in decision-making and general operations in organizations (Levrau, 2007). In such appeal, the importance of str ucture and role distinction is crucial for the survival of every organization. In application, CARE Australia, as a considerable charity foundation, adopted an organizational structure that is more of a corporate type. As illustrated in Figure 1 (please see Appendix A), the charity institutions is mainly governed by an organizational board, and their decisions are collaboratively translated through the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As further observed in the diagram, the charity board is aided by several subcommittees, and are altogether supported by an advisory council. In horizontal line, the CEO takes on the responsibility of monitoring and managing the different organizational departments: international operations, international programs, fundraising and communications, and corporate services (Anon., 2009). In more ways, the foundation appeared to adapt a formal structure that is top-down in direction, from highest hierarchical officers down to administrative staff and volunteers. As discussed earlier, governance mainly falls on the shoulders of the board members, although discussions and negotiations are rendered between the board, the subcommittee members, and executive directors before any concrete decisions are cemented. In CARE Australia, there is a collaborative type in planning and decision-making aspects. As predicted, directors in the board look out for overall condition of the organization, where they approve, monitor, and evaluate program performance. At their side, advisory council supports and reinforces the decisions of the board, where they act as representative counsels, in lieu of community members. On the other side, subcommittees report directly to the board, where they enact on decisions the board formulated, yet, are of equal consultation with the board members in reaching the goals of the organization (Anon., 2009). Lastly, the various staff and teams are instrumental in the whole operation of the organization, as they set forth the wheels in making a reality the plans and programs formulated and agreed upon at upper management levels. The line for decision-making depends, thereby, on the organizational structure they maintain. Corporate Structure: Pros and Cons The structure of CARE Australia is quite complex in framework, where this type of governance by the board may yield both positive and negative outcomes. The board of directors, as identified by Collin (2005), serves as mediating body between organizational management and stakeholders, where the latter can communicate their desires through association with the board. As a charity organization operating on international scale, CARE Australia caters to numerous stakeholdersconcerned public citizens in Australia, institutional sponsors from both government and private associations, and targeted impoverished communities (Anon., 2009). This clarified, the more influential stakeholder is revealed, where its power lies in parallel with the mission of the team, community empowerment, making public communities the real stakeholders in such organization. At this point, local community stakeholders hold the influencing power on the broader scale, while government and private institutions remain in the background-silent partners in the achievement of program goals and organizational missions. This delegating principle at the base level of the hierarchy is quite effective, for it promotes supportive delegation where needed-at the community level. As indicated in earlier discussions, the board in CARE Australia adopts the role as approval body, evaluator of strategies and project performance, as well as regulating body in balancing the executive and management functions of the other members in the organization. In theory, the board may take the form of stewardship perception, where they are independent in function, or it may adopt shareholder dependency practice, prioritizing shareholders condition above that of the organization (Collin, 2005). In relation, CARE Australia appeared to emulate the former view, where organizations mission and goals are topmost priority. By doing so, it indirectly adhere to stakeholders community development. Significantly, the board is quite active in its encompassing role, beyond passive rubber stamp appeal, as it dynamically engages with subcommittees and advisory group, contributing to well-directed activities in the organization. Their leadership is more participative in construct, as the board monitors those at lower ranks in delivering services to communities. As such, there is mutual collaboration with locals in area programs, as staff management directly deals with community citizens, in line with the mission of the organization and the goals of formulated projectsdecentralizing leadership management assures accountability, and transparency in both financial and operational progress (Anon., 2009). Accountability is delegated in lower management, but the board still holds control, ensuring that no dead spaces in function can occur between the planning and implementation stage of community programs. Yet, such notion may not be as idealistic as it appears. The problem with this functional structure is that it projects excessive staff innovation, leading to loss of corporate identityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(and) stagnation in individual regions (Clark, 1991). Continuous monitoring and strong commitment to the organiza tion may counteract the negativity brought by this type of organizational structure. Current Organizational Conflict The governance with the board may appear to be running smoothly, with defined organizational structure, and clear margins on the roles that all members have to maintain. Yet conflicts may arise in two patterns: disagreements between the board and management department, and the rise of too much professionalism in volunteer-based charity groups. On the first case, Anne-Line, Annick, and Marc (2009), admitted perceptions may differ among the members of the top organization level, especially in terms of policy set-ups, management planning and financing, as well as settling disputes within organizational network. As the board in CARE Australia seemed to promote the participant leadership style, relegated staff channels can have their say; however, this can also be a potential pitfall, in some ways. Clark (1991) placed emphasis on the possibility that staff compromise may lead to nonconstructive values, where lower ranked personnel may consequently guard substantial decisions that they thi nk may negatively impact projected plans, inhibiting creativity in promoting harmony. Aside from staff hesitancy, ambiguousness on the nature of staff and higher authority relation may lead to discontent and lack of organizational motivation. Collin (2005) identified the motivations that drive individuals in organization: need to belong and instinct to duty. The former denotes loyalty the group, while the latter is more individualized, where outcomes depend on self-perceptions on how to perform ones duty. The resolution with the first organizational dilemma on disagreements and inhibiting obligations is by enacting on these two motivations. Internal control within the organization must be strengthened, possibly through enhancing communication lines between board members and executive directors, and in worse scenarios, the former can either remove or compensate the latter management (Levrau, 2007).By projecting governance that is loyal to the cause of the organizations mission, above self-interest, commitment can also be stabilized between the top and lower management. With regard to increasing professionalism in nonprofit organizations, the danger with this value in governance can be targeted on too much administrative work, where groups can lose focus on the charity work itself. Admittedly, CARE Australia hires individuals with excellent professional qualifications, and even allots part of the resource funds in maintaining the efficiency of the said management teams. From the board members down to management staff, each one boosts a professional status that belies the strength of sustainable governance in the association. Yet, such technical competency in management is not sufficient in sustaining a good organization, as performance on the social and emotional level are said to be of equal importance in the progress of organizations (Anne-Line, Annick, and Marc (2009). As such, interrelationship should not suffer in the face of excessive administrative competence. Again, lines of communications should be kept open, where everyone is given the cha nce, one way or the other, in airing their constructive views and concerns through the right channels. Social association, then, is quite substantial and must therefore be incorporated within the informal lines of organizational structure. Promoting this can be quite tricky, as individual differences can get in the way. In resolution, everyone should be judiciously encouraged to adapt strong commitment towards the goals and mission of the organization, and policies must be ratified to accommodate behaviors that promote mutual collaboration between staff personnel and their superiors. The solution should work both ways, where those in authority should identify with the management committees, broadening their perspectives to allow for wider staff opportunities in rendering unified projects and services, while professional staff should know how to properly express their ideas and concerns in hierarchical procedures. Again, well-defined organization structure can aid in such pursuits. Summary and Conclusion Summarily, structure and functional roles in a charity organization relegate important parts in the development and progress of an organization. As the third sector in Australian society, and even in other societal regions, the existence of charity organizations are said to fill the gaps in community services that the government had not been able to perform due to a number of reasons. In altruistic sense, such roles in fighting the rampant case poverty and related societal issues are the main goals of such nonprofit groups. Although they may differ on the priority groups they may focus on, most are founded on the belief that they can be instrumental in easing the struggles of impoverished citizens in the community level. In order to deliver services in an efficient manner, organizations must have an internal network that is both stable in structure and function. To fulfill such requirements, most charity organizations adapt a corporate type of governance, where it commonly comprised of the board, executive directors, the staff management, and the stakeholders on the side. Although the stakeholders do not take active participation in actual operations, most of them primarily fund the organization, providing the necessary resources in order to sustain programs and projects, all the while the community stakeholders take precedence in the organization, where their conditions are the main concerns the organization deals on. These concepts are summarily adapted in CARE Australia, where added appendages included the advisory council and the subcommittees, where the delegation process promises faster results and efficient delivery of projected services. Yet, it seemed that the benefits reaped from such conceptual structure and functions can also be the crux for conflicts to arise. For one, decision-making may be marginalized between the board and executive management, yet, disagreements may arise when motivations between the two bodies may differ. At this point, self-interest may get in the way towards belongingness and harmony within the group. Another problem observed in the full organizational development is the excessive administrative professionalism that the teams assume. In the first place, such sector is more on volunteer works, where charity works are the primary focus. Technical expertise can somehow affect the social and emotional unilateralism in the organization, where it may threaten the stat us of community projects. At this point, dilemmas can be traced back to administrative conformity against social relations, where the latter is stifled as part of the organizations policies-removing opportunities to reach out in local community degrees. As these problems are identified, one can assume that no matter how compact and defined an organization is, there can still be problems along the way. As counteract measures, all members of the organization must be aware on where they stand in the hierarchal structure, with their roles are clearly defined, and they should know the directions they will be taking. To arrive at such situation, competence in technical and social levels must be tempered with open lines in communication from the top management and down to staff at the fields. In such means, existing and potential problems can be identified and resolved before it had time to fester and destroy organizational harmony. Preventive measures, then, is the best way to manage orga nizations such as CARE Australia, ensuring their sustenance for longer service provisions.

Leave Your Reality at the Door :: Free Descriptive Essay About A Place

Leave Your Reality at the Door Definition of the Table: a place where insanity, creativity and intelligence blend together in an often bizarre and amusing combination. Before my years at NDSU began, the Table existed. It is a place to hang out on campus and kill some time that would be better spent otherwise. It is a place where friends through various places and all walks of life come together in a long-since staked out territory to have discussions that vary from normal, to just plain bizarre and others that often border the taboo. If people are between classes and have free time that they aren’t spending studying, they are at the Table. It is our rendez vous point. It becomes a place for us to not worry, to kick back and relax and leave behind the usual version of what people call reality. Without the people and the activity, the scene around the Table is nothing out of the ordinary. In the basement of the Memorial Union there is an area of tables on the tile-floor where the Union Food Court meets the Recreation and Outing Center. The tall tables surrounded by stools are ignored as all the standard height tables have been taken over to form the Table. Generally we have about six tables, pushed into a formation that has evolved into a close area taking up as little space as possible. All the regular wooden chairs have also been commandeered for the Table, though when our numbers are high an occasional stool or otherwise non-matching gimp chair is added. For a while it seemed that the janitors had given up because in the past they had put the tables back in their original spots night. Of course, the next morning we moved them right back. At the beginning of this year the tables were left in place, but as of late the janitors have been putting them back. Recently the round tables returned which adds a completely new dimension to the table, since they perfectly fit in and over the square tables. The Table is positioned directly under a cold air vent adding its usual chill to the group, especially come winter. The unintelligibility of the music droning in the Rec and Outing Center is generally ignored, though a recognized song can bring comment and discussion.

Daisy in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald Essay -- Great Gatsby Fitzgera

Daisy in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the character of Daisy Buchanan undergoes many noticeable changes. Daisy is a symbol of wealth and of promises broken. She is a character we grow to feel sorry for but probably should not. Born Daisy Fay in Louisville, Kentucky, Daisy was always the princess in the tower, the golden girl that every man dreamed of possessing. ?She dressed in white, and had a little white roadster, and all the day long the telephone rang in her house and excited young officers from Camp Taylor demanded the privilege of monopolizing her that night,? (79). Daisy is beautiful, rich, and appears very innocent as a young woman, although it is later suggested that she was quite promiscuous. While she was the object of every man?s desire, Daisy was madly in love with Jay Gatsby. Daisy tried to escape to New York to see Gatsby off to war but was prevented by her parents because Jay did not meet their standards. They disapproved of him because he did not have as much money or come from a family in the same social class as their own. Though Daisy wrote letters to Gatsby and promised to remain faithful she married Tom Buchanan from Chicago the very next year. Tom was incredibly wealthy and ?the day before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars,? (80). Daisy seemed to be madly in love with her new husband and looked to be very happy. Daisy has been married to Tom for quite a considerable amount of time and they have already had a daughter by the time Daisy?s cousin, Nick, reappears in Daisy?s life. Mrs. Buchanan is extremely friendly with her cousin and always seems glad to see h... ...nted everyone to feel sorry for Daisy. However, one finds it hard to feel sorry for someone as well off as herself. She is a symbol of money and the corruption it brings. One must be careful not to identify Daisy with the green light at the end of her dock. The green light is the promise, the dream. Daisy herself is much less than that. Even Gatsby must realize that having Daisy in the flesh is much, much less than what he imagined it would be when he fell in love with the idea of her. While Daisy Buchanan undergoes numerous changes throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, she remains a symbol of wealth, broken promises, and dreams corrupted. While one finds it easy to feel sorry for her, she is in no means the victim of the novel. Work Cited F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992

Stages in a Marketing Plan Essay -- Business Marketing Papers

Stages in a Marketing Plan This essay will present the stages of a marketing plan and critically evaluate the differences suggested by the leading authors. However it is vital to understand what marketing planning is. Although marketing planning would appear to be a simple and step-by-step process, in reality it is not. As marketing plans are very complex, cross functional and it touches every aspect of organizational life. However the stages of marketing planning will explain and explore some of these issues by focusing on the process of marketing planning. Marketing planning can be defined as a sensible way to manage the sales and marketing function is to find the systematic way of identifying a range of options, to choose one of them, then to schedule and cost out what has to be done to achieve the objectives. Marketing planning is the planned application of marketing resources to achieve marketing objectives; it is simply a logical sequence of a series of activities leading to the setting of marketing objectives and the formulation of plans for achieving them. Companies go through some kind of management process in developing marketing plans. Marketing planning is essential when considering the increasingly hostile and complex environment in which companies operate. Many external and internal factors interact in a complex way, which affect the ability to achieve profitable sales. The four typical examples, which companies set, are maximising revenue, maximising profit, maximising return on investment and minimising costs. Revenue is the monetary value received by a company for its goods or services. It is the net pric... ...d along by momentum. Also if the company's culture and management style are not supportive of marketing planning, then no improvements will occur. And also if the business is highly competitive, no improvements will be seen, however the company might fare much worse without a marketing plan. Common implementation problems of a marketing planning could be lack of a plan for planning, weak support from management, lack of resources, lack of information and also it could occur due to too much detail and being too far ahead. In today's increasingly competitive markets, there is a growing realization that success in the future will only come from meticulous planning and market preparation. Therefore having a marketing plan is useful as it is better to weigh up the costs of planning against the costs of not planning.

Graduate Unemployment in Malaysia

Unemployed graduates have become a cause of concern in Malaysia. The findings of a Graduate Tracer Study in 2006 involving 132 900 graduates from institutions of higher learning all over Malaysia indicated that 30.7% of graduates remained unemployed six months after graduation, while 5.7% were still awaiting job placement (Tan, 2007). The Minister of Human Resources revealed that more female graduates in this country were unemployed because they lacked the relevant skills required in the labor market despite having excellent academic results. The number was much higher in comparison to male graduates (Nor Hartini, 2007). As there are so many unemployed graduates at present, we need to find out why this problem exists and what can be done to overcome it. One reason for this problem is that the focus of higher education institutions and the needs of the labor market for graduates are not as compatible as they were twenty years ago. The labor market is now more competitive and volatile. As a result, graduates, face difficulties in getting jobs because they are not ready for the industry (Tan, 2007). For instance, the knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) acquired by students does not quite meet the expectations of the industry. Lack of experience and skills are also causes of graduate unemployment. Generally, most organizations prefer to employ graduates with experience. Furthermore, in Malaysia, the private sector today is not interested in recruiting local graduates because they lack essential skills, such as proficiency in English and interpersonal skills (Nor Hartini, 2007). There appears to be a disparity between what employers require and what skills graduates have. In view of this, the government has implemented several measures to reduce the problem of graduate unemployment. One such measure is the introduction of several training programmes for fresh graduates. For instance, the Ministry of Human Resources, through their training agencies, has introduced the ‘Unemployed Graduates Training Scheme’ in order to equip graduates with certain skills and experience (Chapman, Chew & Tan, 2007). The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, likewise, has initiated a programme where established retailers have started recruiting graduates and diploma holders as management trainees. This scheme aims to not only provide employment opportunities for fresh graduates but also to expose them to fields in the private sector other than the ones they specialized in (Chin, 2007). Another measure involves a review of the tertiary education system. Soft skill development should be incorporated into the education curriculum where students can participate in extra curricular activities to enhance soft skills such as personal qualities, interpersonal skills and critical and creative thinking (Nor Hartini, 2007). These soft skills should be acquired through participation in extra curricular activities while they are studying for their degrees. A lecturer, for instance, can develop students’ skills and knowledge by stimulating their minds with discussions and case studies. According to Nor Hartini, these skills will enable them to communicate effectively, manage relationships, lead a team, solve problems and succeed in the job market. Thus, it is evident that lack of skills and experience are the main causes for graduate unemployment. To overcome this problem, the Ministry of Higher Education must ensure that the tertiary education system is relevant and up-to-date. It should continually evaluate the tertiary programs to help produce quality graduates who meet the needs of industries. Also, industries need to play their part by providing more opportunities for training fresh graduates while the graduates themselves need to be more open and take up these offers.

Decisions: Good and Bad

Decisions: Good and Bad Introduction In the news today, it seems as though everything we hear is negative. While I was searching for an organization that recently made a good decision, it appears that most of the things we read and/or hear about these days are the bad. I found plenty of information on bad decisions made recently, however talk about positive decision-making seems to be scarce. In this paper, I will discuss my views of a former CEO of a global conglomerate and the positive decisions he has made, as well as a recent poor decision made by another large corporation.A Good Decision For decades, we have heard the brand names Apple or Macintosh. If one were to judge the decision-making skills of Steve Jobs based on the success of Apple, one would have to say that he had to possess some of the best decision-making skills possible. Over the past few years, we have seen the MacBook, iPods, iPhones and the iPad. With the competition of Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and Microsoft to name a few, the Apple organization has made great strides to maintain its place at the top of the consumers list.One of the best decisions ever made by Steve Jobs was to return to Apple as CEO and take the market by storm with innovative technology and a selection unsurpassed by any other company. Through dedication, hard work and a vision, he has brought technology to a completely new level and others are left to catch up. With the desire to provide consumers with products that they were not even sure that they wanted, Jobs has made his place in corporate America.Through his decisions to take the world by storm and develop the ideas that seemed nearly impossible, he has left quite a challenge in trying to surpass the advancements in technology that he has achieved. A Bad Decision Over the past few years, there has been a vast growth in technology and the variety of products offered to consumers. One of the most popular novelties in entertainment today is the services offered by Netflix. The company began as a mainstream DVD rental provider and later transformed into an online movie-streaming leader.Recently, Netflix experienced an exceptional growth in subscriptions and demonstrated a high customer demand. However, due to terrible management decisions, the image of the company would soon become tarnished. It seems as if the decision-makers of the company misunderstood the reason behind its success and imposed a steep increase in price for the DVD plus streaming subscribers. Offering no rational explanation behind this decision, Netflix quickly experienced a momentous downfall.They did not have content that would make the company indispensable, and since most customers used the services because of the low subscription rates, stock prices would fall and consumers were looking elsewhere. This has now opened up a window of opportunity for newcomers such as Blockbuster, Amazon and Redbox. Conclusion While decisions are made within organizations each day, the l evel of research and the motive behind the decision may be the most important factor.The good decision that I described above was driven by the desire to succeed and to create innovative products and making them available to a large group of consumers. The bad decision seems to have been made out of greed and should never be a factor in making decisions at such high level. I believe that as long as the people making decisions stay focused on what is truly important to the organization, major pitfalls or obstacles may be avoided.

Cola Wars Group Case Analysis Essay

After reviewing the case and doing an in-depth analysis of the industry, we found that the concentrate industry is profitable for a variety of reasons. Chief amongst the reasons for the industry’s profitability is the remarkable net profit percentage at 35% (Exhibit1). When compared to the yahoo finance page that we viewed in class, the concentrate industry would rank amongst the top ten most profitable industries. If we compare the concentrate industry to the bottling industry, we see that the concentrate industry dwarfs the bottling industry meager 9%. In fact, if we compare it to retail and CPI (measure of the average change in price of consumer items over time), it is evident that the price growth in the concentrate industry performs better than both measures from 1988 to 2000 (Exhibit 2). This suggest that not only is the concentrate more profitable than the retail function, but also, the concentrate industry is performing better (from a revenue standpoint) than the average house hold good. We can also see that from 1970 to 1998 on Exhibit 3 in the case, the consumption of carbonated drinks has consistently increased, whereas most other liquids have been inconsistent. Since carbonated drinks are dependent upon the concentrate producers, this data would suggest that he the concentrate industry has longevity along with the carbonated soft drink industry. Despite the great profitability of the concentrate industry, there have been very few firms to successfully enter the industry. Using Porter’s Five Forces model, it is apparent why so few firms enter the concentrate business. Two of Porters’ Five Forces are very low, the power of buyers and the power of suppliers. The power of buyers is very important in any industry, and the lower the power of those buyers the better for the industry as a whole. However, there are two ways of looking at the power of buyers in the concentrate industry. First, the bottlers who are buying the concentrate and mixing it with the carbonated water and other ingredients have very low power. Coke and Pepsi have both consolidated bottlers and changed them because of price changes and other factors. Therefore, these buyers have no power because they can be easily replaced at a very little cost to the concentrate producers. The second way of looking at buyers in this industry is the consumer who is actually buying the end product. These consumers have a great deal of buying power. For example, the entire soda industry has been declining in recent years due to a higher awareness of health concerns of drinking soda as well as other replacements being more appealing to customers, such as flavored water and sports drinks. Coke and Pepsi have been competing for market share and customers are the factor that affects market share. The companies are competing for the customers’ business, giving them higher power in the industry. The power of suppliers is also very low. The raw materials that supply the concentrate industry are not hard to find and have been replaced many times throughout the history of the concentrate industry. The suppliers of the raw materials have no power over the concentrators and will not be able to affect the prices they sell their product for. This in turn, makes the industry that much more profitable because of this low power of suppliers. Another one of Porter’s Five Forces is threat of entry, which is very low for the concentrate industry due to the presence of so many entry barriers. There are seven barriers to entry; supply-side economies of scale, demand-side economies of scale, customer switching costs, capital requirements, incumbency advantages independent of size, and restrictive government policies. Supply-side economies of scale means when producing larger volumes, the cost per unit decreases. Coke and Pepsi concentrate producers have economies of scale due to the fact that they have huge capacity. With this large capacity, their fixed costs are lower than any rivals. The case stated that one concentrate plant could serve the entire United States. This increases the power that Coke and Pepsi concentrate producers already have. They also have demand-side economies of scale, meaning the existing concentrate producers have a very extensive network, and new entrants would be at a disadvantage if they decided to enter because Coke and Pepsi already dominate the industry. Customer switching costs are low if talking about the end consumers of soft drinks, because consumers can easily switch from Coke to Pepsi without incurring extra costs. With respect to the customers being the bottlers, who buy the concentrate and finish the production process, their switching costs are much higher. The case mentioned contracts that the bottlers have with Coke and Pepsi, and if switching, the bottlers would have to go through extensive paperwork and deal with legal concerns. Another barrier to entry is capital requirements. The concentrate industry is very unique and actually does not require very much capital investment to start things up. The majority of the concentrate producers’ costs are in marketing efforts, rather than the production of concentrate itself. However, this barrier is still high because all the investment Coke and Pepsi have put into building their brands is very high. If a new concentrate producer were to try to enter the industry, they would have to invest a lot of money into getting their name out there, and gaining a sizeable market share would be nearly impossible. This established brand leads to the mention of another entry barrier, incumbency advantages independent of size. Everyone knows who Coke and Pepsi are, and they have very high brand equity. This makes entry into the concentrate industry very difficult. There is also the experience aspect. The current concentrate producers know exactly what to do to keep costs down and produce a consistent product efficiently. A new entrant may run into some roadblocks strictly due to lack of experience. Both Coke and Pepsi have been in the industry for a very long time, so they have an immediate advantage. Unequal access to distribution channels is another very high entry barrier for the concentrate industry. Coke and Pepsi have established relationships with suppliers and buyers of their product. A new entrant would have difficulty accessing channels of distribution, because they have all already contracted with one of the existing companies. The final barrier to entry is restrictive government policies. The case mentioned several issues with regulation when speaking of Coke and Pepsi’s efforts to go international. For example, â€Å"When Coke attempted to acquire Cadbury Schweppes’ international practice, it ran into regulatory roadblocks in Europe and in Mexico and Australia, where Coke’s market shares exceed 50%† (Page 14). There is also mention of a mandatory certification for bottled water. This certification caused smaller local brands to fail. After analyzing all the barriers to entry, it is obvious that the threat of entry into the concentrate is very low, contributing even more to the industry’s profitability. Threat of substitutes, another of Porter’s five forces, is also low in the concentrate industry. The soda industry is very profitable, with Americans drinking soda at higher levels than any other beverage. Traditional substitutes such as water, coffee, tea, and milk have never served as a real threat in concentrate producers’ 100 plus year history. In recent times, consumer trends have brought the emergence of other alternatives including Diet Sodas and â€Å"non-carb† beverages. The Large concentrate producers have been on the vanguard of these trends, adapting new alternatives with a changing market. However, the primary concentrate companies, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper still dominate the market. The brand power that has been established over the last century is not likely to be challenged by a newcomer despite the low startup costs for concentrate factories. In essence, the major concentrate companies have become their own substitutes, transferring losses due to substitutes. Porter’s fifth force is rivalry among existing competitors. While the two major concentrate industry’s competitors initially had fierce competition, the threat of competition outside of Coke and Pepsi is relatively low. The phase of price driven competition ended and now the Coke vs. Pepsi war is played out with differentiation through advertising and brand lifestyle. This form of co-operation, where prices remain relatively high with only temporary store promotions, increased the overall profitability for Coke and Pepsi. The brand loyalty established over the last century means that the threat of substitutes is low and competition is generally for marginal changes in market share. Rivalry among concentrate companies has also expanded to new venues, such as sports drinks and bottled water. But aside from the primary concentrate companies, there is no real threat to market share. This analysis confirms that all of Porter’s Five Forces are low, meaning industry profitability is high. Although high profitability would in most cases attract new firms to enter the industry, there are a variety of reasons that is not the case for the concentrate industry, as mentioned above. Coke and Pepsi have almost created an oligopoly out of the concentrate industry, and their strong brand identities will keep them far ahead of any possible entrants.

“Krista” by Pablo Baen Santos Critique Essay

Pablo Baen Santos created the artwork, Krista. It was created in the movement of Social Realism. This artwork is oil on canvas painting which shows a female whose mouth is wrapped with a barbed wire and clenching her fists. At the back of the female subject, the Philippine flag and a lot of people are present. The female and the people can be observed to be clearly in agony and pain. It was like torturing the female and the people were likely to be dead by observation. The colors used were simple, not too pale, and not too bright and associated with a shade of color black. The lines are mostly curvy and some have edges; a lot of irregular shapes were used to form the image of the humans and the flag. The lighting saturation was just enough to visualize the painting. The different elements used in this painting are color, line, shape, form and texture. The color used for the subject is mainly brown, a warm neutral color, extensively found in living things. It creates the wholesomeness and dullness of the painting. In addition, there are also shades of primary colors and white at the back of the female. The choice of color is good; it has shown a good picture of the painting by its color. Due to the blending of black color in all parts, the painting appears natural and firm. The diagonal lines are used to create a sense of feeling, specifically agony, and movement. The combination of lines makes up the irregular shapes of humans and the flag. A feeling of right texture is attained as the artist conveys the resemblance of humans in pain. The Philippine flag is a symbol where the case is evident, in the Philippines. The group of people who are most likely Filipinos shows rebellion and oppression. And the female subject is likely to be the situation of the Philippines. The artist is trying to renounce the happening in the Philippines through art. As I saw this art piece, I was struck in the heart of how real and actual its message is. I was a blind not to see and care of the hardships my mother land has undergone. It was amazing that the artist used his hands not to fight but to draw what he wanted to express for a long time. It was a portrait of the truth. Krista made by Pablo Baen Santos on 1984, depicts inang bayan (Philippine motherland) with a crown of barbed wire around her mouth like a gag. The work simultaneously embraces the themes of nationalism, censorship and the strong influence of the  Catholic tradition in the Philippines. The Philippine flag and a sea of protesting bodies forge the backdrop as the female Christ holds her clenched fist in defiance. One year shy of the silver anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, not much has changed in Philippine politics. In many ways, it is even worse than during Marcos’ time. Corruption is rampant and has filtered down to all levels of government, public education is a joke, poverty levels have not improved, environmental degradation is uncontrolled, and journalists still fear for their lives. Even if we manage to elect an ethical president, there will not be much to celebrate during the revolution’s silver anniversary. It will take much, much longer than a year to apply breaks to the downward spiral that our country has gotten itself into since that historic moment.

Burials, Houses, Women and men in the European Neolithic Essay

Burials, Houses, Women and men in the European Neolithic - Essay Example Hence their processual approach to understanding the meaning and importance of these megalith structures still remains unproven. Amid these competing claims and counterclaims regarding the monoliths, Ian Hodder seeks to adopt a more robust framework of analysis for interpreting the importance and functions of these ancient structures. Ian Hodder identifies the different forms of tombs and houses by the differences apparent in their architectural styles and construction techniques. The long houses and long burial mounds are given special attention, for these structures are spread across continental Europe, spanning modern day Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Neatherlands and beyond. Based on the shape, size, location, orientation and the likely human population at the time of their construction, the author arrives at the most likely historical and anthropological significance of these structures. While long houses, long burial mounds and tombs are found all across Europe, no two structures are identical. In fact, the uniqueness associated with each of these archaological sites are what give their broader indication. The other task the author carries out is to ascertain the social and interpersonal implication of these structures. Determining the relation of long houses and tombs with respect to their surrounding environment is much easier when compared to finding the social interactions within these ancient spaces of living. This is so because the monoliths have withstood the passage of time while the smaller sized household utilities such as pottery, objects that served as furniture and food leftovers have largely been destroyed by the elements. As a result it is very difficult to estimate the number of people who took shelter in these houses, their relation to one another and what other function did these houses serve? Nevertheless, the author tries

Analysis of Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity with Special Essay - 1

Analysis of Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity with Special Reference to the Hotel Restaurant Erbprinz, Ettlingen, Germany - Essay Example y is linked with the brand and image of the organization, and hence it is expected to directly impacts upon the revenues and capitalization of the organization. As such, there is a need to understand and assess what comprises of corporate culture and corporate identity and how the two can be assessed and even perfected. This need is even more significant in the case of service intensive organization like the hotels and the restaurants, as the customers largely form their opinions about the organization on the basis of their interactions with the staff. The current research is therefore aimed at analyzing the corporate culture and corporate identity at hotel Erbprinz in Germany. The research was conducted using both secondary and primary methods. An exhaustive literature survey was undertaken where numerous books, journals, articles and data bases like springlink, emerald and ebosco etc, were used to collect the basic material for the review. The primary research was conducted using the interview method and selecting the Director of Erbprinz as the respondent. Some of the conclusions derived from the interview findings are as follows. Corporate Culture is the set of values, attitudes and behaviors that the owners of the organization expect the employees to cherish and follow. Organizational Culture is the set of values, attitudes, beliefs that the employees of the organization share. Corporate Identity is the way the organization is positioned in the minds of its stakeholders – customers, partners, competitors and employees. Corporate culture and Organizational Culture both impact upon the Corporate identity of an organization. There is a basic difference between Corporate Culture and Organizational Culture. While Corporate Culture is the outcome of the vision and mission of the organization as envisioned by the owners/founders, Organizational Culture is the result of the complex interaction between the employees. Corporate Culture can be deduced from the

Business Report of Coca-cola Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Report of Coca-cola - Coursework Example On the other hand, the internal functions of environmental reporting include to establish or revise or review existing environmental policies, objectives, and programs of organizations and to motivate the management and employees in organizations so as to encourage environmental activities of them. There is a general consensus that excellent environment report should explicitly acknowledge and explain environmental impacts that arise as a result of organizations operations and products and should further demonstrate the commitment of organizations to reduce such environmental impacts by publicly disclosing its policies, targets and long-term objectives (ACCA, 2010). This paper explores environmental reporting in companies with Coca Cola as a case study. Environmental Reporting in Coca Cola Company Coca Cola Company is the largest beverage company in the world and it responsible for the production of more than 500 brands of beverages that refreshes its consumers. Coca-Cola Company pro duces sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, juices ant juice drinks. The most popular and major beverage brands that are produced by the Coca Cola company include Coca-Cola, diet coke, fanta, sprite, coca-cola zero, vitamin water, powerade, minute maid, simply, Georgia and del valle (Coca-Cola-Enterprises., 2012). Coca Cola Company currently operates in more than 200 countries and has established markets across the world. The increasing sensitivity and awareness towards social and environmental issues and the concerns of stakeholders has prompted companies to enhance their images by endeavoring to become better corporate citizens and Coca Cola has not been left out in this trend. It is evident that Coca Cola Company has a wide array of stakeholders who have influence and interests on the company due to its global presence inn terms of market share and operations. Since the stakeholders are diverse and posses different interests and influence, any engagement and interactions t hat Coca Cola Company has with the stakeholders has the potential of shaping its current market share and future investment. The role that such stakeholders play has prompted Coca Cola Company to adopt environmental sustainability reporting as part of its strategic management goals. Another key feature that has caused Coca Cola Company to adopt environmental reporting is the economic, social and environmental impacts that are associated with the operations of the firm (Cross & Miller, 2009). There exist direct and indirect environmental impacts that originate from the operation of Coca Cola Company business. Examples of direct environmental impacts that are associated with Coca Cola business include greenhouse house gas emissions that emanate from the manufacturing site and distribution chain, emissions from cool drinks equipment, consumption of water and waste disposal from manufacturing site (Coca-Cola Company, 2011). The type of environmental reporting Company adopts is based on the guidelines that are given by the United Nations Global Compact framework. Environmental Reporting Strategies and Systems

Distribution of Wealth in the Jian and Hindu Religions Research Paper

Distribution of Wealth in the Jian and Hindu Religions - Research Paper Example Different religions have their own set of principles, ethics, and consecrated histories that defines and elucidate how the life and universe came into existence and the significance of life for an individual. Many of the religions and their belief systems have gained the acceptance by the universe, but it cannot come under consideration for the innumerable religions that exist in the world today. Many of the religions have defined themselves in sacerdotal hierarchies; have set structured behaviors for their members, where one should devote himself in the practices of the religion and should honor and give respect for their prayers and the immaculate places. Sermons, festivals, funeral ceremonies, meditation, wedding rituals, cultural characteristics like art, dance, and music are all components that make up a religion. Different cultures follow different values as some religions give more importance to their faiths and beliefs while others highlight the aspect of practice, thus the phenomenon of religion has taken various embodiments. Religions even focus and give high importance to the experiences and the actions of the spiritual leaders along with the incidents that occurred in their times. It has been an observation that a religion also plays a great deal of importance and comes under alliance with government, constitutional and legislative rankings. Although today, the wo rld is living in technological and scientific era, still, religion plays a significant and imperative part in one’s life as it has attained the focus of an individual due to the reason that it revolves around human’s life all the time. Individual tend to react in a calm and tranquil way to their problems and personal disasters and catastrophes as religion and its practice provides a person with the relief of their worries/tragedies. One can shape and enhance their personality, character, and social behaviors in a culture or nation through a source that comes under religion. Another important aspect of religion is that it helps in developing and controlling willpower in young generation as they undergo different changes around and inside them. Religion also teaches to have faith in God and stay away from the undesirable acts that may cause harm to them. As almost every religion has an essential learning that teaches us to maintain peace in the society and world and to h ave respect for all, but sometimes the religious discrepancies may lead to bloodshed, battles and biasness or unfair treatments. Religion is a source of influence and has a lot of supremacy in it, which can bring people of various environment, surroundings, and cultures under one roof for the sake of worship. With the numerous religions practiced all over world, Hinduism and Jainism are one of them that come under practice by the community of Indian subcontinent. The practices of Indian religions including Hinduism and Jainism involve concepts of dharma, karma, reincarnation, mantras, vantras, caste, and darsana. Hinduism is an ancient, primeval and one of the biggest religions practiced in the subcontinent. The concept of karma comes under application in the fundamental customs, everyday principles, and the wedding ceremonies of the Hindus. Hinduism is a religion that comprises of abundant of different philosophies of dharma and the major texts and epics that are of immense importa nce with respect to their beliefs includes â€Å"Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Puranas† (Das, pp. 5-45). The distinguished aspects of this religion also include the conviction of Hindus in reincarnation that is

What is the current status of clinical gene therapy trials for Chronic Essay

What is the current status of clinical gene therapy trials for Chronic Granulomatous Disorder - Essay Example ests that the disease is present in ‘one in 250,000’ infants at birth, but the symptoms become evident only when the child reaches a few months of age (Assari 2006: 6). Only 21% of patients have survived the disease beyond the age of 7 previously, whereas the recent trends show improvement in the survival rates because of the ‘advancement in treatments’ (Assari 2006: 6). On the other hand, the disease can rarely occur in adults, and therefore, if someone has the problem of ‘recurrent infections’, it will be advisable to subject such individuals to an evaluation, irrespective of the age factor (Chung, Cyr & Ellis 2013: 2). Gene therapy, which is the intervention in a disease or disorder through introducing genes into the affected cells to set right the impacts of ‘specific gene mutations’, is one of the methods used in the treatment of CGD (Dugal & Chaudhary 2012: 4). However, evidence suggests that in order for the treatment to be effective, the appropriate gene will have to be incorporated into the target cell ‘specifically, efficiently and stably’ (Dugal & Chaudhary 2012: 4). On the other hand, it is also necessary to use the most appropriate vector for the introduction of the gene or gene delivery into the human cell. Research studies have identified lentiviral vectors (LVs) to be one of the effective and the ‘most widely used’ vectors in gene therapy (Dugal & Chaudhary 2012: 4). A study conducted by Assari (2006: 6) on mice found that gene therapy, using recombinant retroviral vectors, is an effective treatment for the reconstruction of normal neutrophils an d in building ‘resistance to pathogens’ such as Aspergillus. The author also contends that gene therapy, using retroviral vectors in two humans, has produced ‘encouraging results’ where both of them have attained remarkable levels of gene corrected cells and their clinical conditions show good improvement (Assari 2006: 6). Studies further substantiate the fact that gene

International Market Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Market Research - Essay Example Along with that, the interactive setting can help the moderator focus on the non verbal aspects of the participants, i.e., the expression, attitude of the individual etc, which can help in giving clearer insight of the participants’ beliefs. Also, the possibility of screening each participant lets the researcher know who is involved in the discussion process, e.g., a competitor maybe. In our case, if the majority of our participants are the buyers, it can help us gain a better understanding as to what their demands and hence, queries entail(Patton, 1990). The observation method of conducting research is developed to observe individuals in their natural setting. There can be participant and non- participant observations. This method helps in overcoming issues of validity. It also helps in covering those areas which are not easily accessible through means of speech communication, for example, when an individual isn’t cooperating in disclosing certain information. Observat ions can also help researchers in studying trends of a particular market in great detail and how the attitudes of the buyers are affecting those trends.

Report on HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Report on HR - Essay Example Effective human resource management would encourage team playing and would enhance collective performance in the organisation along with accentuating the individual performances. In case of performance management, a sound human resources policy would allow individuals to grow along with the growth of the organisation. This would entail involvement of the people in the work that they are assigned and autonomy in the context of the work done. There are several aspects of human resources which have a positive impact on the employees and help them to perform better in the organisation. The HRM can assign challenging and mentally stimulating jobs to the employees so that the employees find diversity and interest in the work that they do. The human resources managers often take several indicators which show that the organisational performance is increasing. Thus they try to make improvement in these indicators to bring an improvement in the overall organisational performance. In case of Wa l-Mart for example, the performance of each of the retail outlets is estimated by the HR department of Wal-Mart by analysing the length of the queues in the billing counters, the level of stocks that lie on the shelves and the stocks that are remaining at the end of the day. These are the key indicators that provide the HR department an idea about the areas where the performance can be improved to generate greater profits. (Harter, Schmitdt and Hayes, 2002, pp. 268-279). The managers in Wal-Mart act as the immediate superiors of the lowest level and junior level employees. Therefore it is important for the managers to encourage the employees to perform better in the daily activities of the retail store. The employees on the other hand should have respect for the managers and should be motivated by them for the achievement of any target that they need to meet. The human resource policies of Wal-Mart are progressive in nature in the sense that the implementation of the HR policies sho uld be done with efficiency and the goals that the line managers set for the employees have to be in accordance with the organisational policies. Thus it is essential for the managers to have leadership skills which would drive a positive energy in the entire organisation culture. Mutual respect should flow bilaterally for the line managers and the junior employees. The relations of the employees with the organisation and its various elements are some of the major benchmarks of the organisational effectiveness. The Human Resource Departments of the organisations generally engage the employee into participation programmes

SOCIAL ACCOUNTING OR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Literature review

SOCIAL ACCOUNTING OR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - Literature review Example Conclusion 12 Reference 14 Introduction Accountants have made an important contribution in the debate of corporate social responsibility also known as social accounting or CSR. The major element that the accountants have contributed is the ability to provide mechanism for the holding corporations are accountable for their work. Ryan (2002) has described the Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR as motherhood issue, the hot topic of the noughties by Blyth (2005) and finally Mees and Bonham (2004) have defined CRS as the talk of the town. There are various definitions provided by the authors and which are simple and some complex and a range of ideas and terms are used interchangeably which includes the corporate sustainability, citizenship, social investment and also corporate governance (Thomas, 2006, p. 3). CRS is considered as a strategy to create, sustains a positive reputation and brand image for the company. Corporate Social responsibility has become an important part in the success of the corporate. Studies on the ef fects of CSR on the organisation have shown a diverse outcome. Many studies conducted on the effect of CSR have showed a negative result or relationship between the CSR activities and the performance of the organisation. But there are authors who have proved in showing a positive relationship between the CSR and the performance of the organisation. ... Much of the literature tends to promote the business for its CSR claiming the ethics are good for business. The instrumental approach states that the CSR needs to be reconstructed in an instrumental manner in order to be meaningful to the managers in their day to day activities to pursue the organisational goals and objectives. According to Beesley & Evans the government needs to promote the CSR in terms of taxation and also regulation in order to ensure profitability for the corporation and pursue CSR. But the normative approach states that the instrumental approach tends to diminish the ethical principles of the Corporate Social Responsibility. The normative and the instrumental approaches believes in different notion as to what would be the bottom line of any business should be and what. As per Reinhardt, the normative and also the instrumental arguments are mostly used simultaneously. There have been noticed an interplay in between the two approaches like with normative approach an understanding of the ethical business is acquired also by informing the instrumental approach. The instrumental approach does not act ethically unless and until it is profitable for the firm to do so and whereas the normative approach applies a more consistent ethical performance. According to research, driving forces for the organisations to adopt the CSR practises is catalysed in different events (Friedman & Miles, 2006, p.31). Influence on the practise of Corporate Social Responsibility tends to interact or overlap in many different and complex ways such as when the investment firms spends a huge amount of dollar in order to educate the potential financial consumers to