Research Methods and Methodologies in Accounting and Management Essay

Research Methods and Methodologies in Accounting and Management - Essay Example August Comte was the philosopher, which coined the term positivism and linked it with empiricism, which believes that authentic knowledge can only be gained with the help of our senses, human experience, and verification. Positivist researchers aimed at creating mechanisms with which they could develop hypothesis, test them in a manner, which helps them to predict the future occurrences or behavior (Scott & Morrison, pp. 314-316, 2006; Cohen, pp. 124-125, 2007). The positivist research approach is also known as the scientific approach where the logical of inquiry is based on reason, facts, and experiences. Holding knowledge of anything, which is beyond the human experience or which cannot be observed or measured, is impossible (Eriksson & Kovalainen, pp. 89-91, 2008). For example, in his research and studies, the focus of B. F. Skinner was on observing the predicting the positive and negative reinforces of behavior and he went on to avoid all other cultural, human and social factors which can impact the process since it is not possible to observe, measure and predict them (Phillimore & Goodson, pp. 209-211, 2004). Moreover, positivist researcher avoid the subjective state of individuals because they think that humans are passive and reactive to the external stimuli, which makes their thinking and behavior predictable and unworthy of attention. This not only dehumanizes the human beings but also makes them unworthy of free will (Zalan & Lewis, pp. 507-508, 2004). Positivist researchers go on to believe that the entire universe is working on specific principles of cause and effect. Moreover, in order to uncover the truth, the researcher should try to find those cause and effect link and use that to predict the future events, occurrences, and behaviors (McNiff & Whitehead, pp. 10-12, 2000; Creswell, pp. 235-236, 2009). Positivist research methods include experimental research and descriptive research. As the name suggests, experimental research occurs when the res earchers deliberately manipulate certain factors under highly controlled and monitored conditions (Johnson & Christensen, pp. 346-347, 2010; Cohen, pp. 124-125, 2007). Quite understandably, the purpose remains to highlight links between variables while manipulating different factors. Under the umbrella of descriptive research, researchers use surveys, case studies, developmental studies, corelational studies, trend studies, and others (Eriksson & Kovalainen, pp. 89-91, 2008; Scott & Morrison, pp. 314-316, 2006). Critical Research Methodology On the other hand, critical researchers hold the belief that social reality has its roots in history and although, people may try to change themselves and their reality but in the process of the doing so they find themselves faced with various social, economic, cultural and political barriers. It was Jurgen Habermas, one of the leading German philosophers of the 21st century, who deserves the credit for developing and nurturing this approach in the field of social sciences and research in order to explore the historical forces, which have the power of restrict the human freedom and justice in the society (Creswell, pp. 235-236, 2009). Karl Marx, Georg Hegel, Paulo Freire, and others have also played an important role in development of this theory (Eriksson & Kovalainen, pp. 89-91, 2008; Zalan & Lewis, pp. 507-508, 2004). Like the interpretativists, critical researchers also address and acknowledge the fact that the element of subjectivity is present in observations but

Business Plan for Mobile Phone Recycling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Plan for Mobile Phone Recycling - Essay Example Costs and Pricing Strategy 15 9. Financial Forecast 15 9.1 Sales and Cost Forecast 15 9.2 Cash Flow Forecast 17 9.3 Cost Table 17 9.4 Personnel Plan 18 Works cited 19 Student Name: xxxxxx Subject: Management Topic: Business Plan for Mobile Phone Recycling 12 April, 2013 1. Executive Summary ABC Recycle Company is a newly registered mobile phones recycling organization which intends to launch its mobile phone recycling operations by setting up a new plant in the vicinity of London. The company has the perspective to enhance its areas of operations in couple of other two cities in United Kingdom during next three years. Along with financial aims, the major objective of ABC Recycle is to provide the customers with economical alternatives for the disposal of their mobile phone waste. The second objective is to keep the society free of environmental issues by disposing off waste of mobile phones. This marketing plan has been prepared after analyzing various issues regarding the mobile pho ne recycling industry in United Kingdom. ... Due to practicality, mobile phones are present universally and now have become the leading communication tool. However, use of mobile phone causes health hazards due to the toxic chemicals found on the mobile phones and their accessories. Use of mobile phone also endangers different animal species in the universe. This is because the elements used in coating mobile phones are dangerous to animals and their habitats. The issue of health and endangered species is addressed globally by recycling the millions of mobile phones found on the planet. The continuous growing consumption of mobile phones along with the increasing cognizance of general public regarding their recycling has highlighted the need and significance of recycling industry and thus many manufacturers are coming to this segment of the business. We are going to establish our new ABC Recycle Company in this sector. 1.2 Business Aims The main operations of ABC Recycle Company will be to collect the used or unserviceable mobi le phones from the market and then after recycling process, making new product for reuse. Our recycled cell phones will meet the following objectives. (a) An achievable cost effective substitute to the customers for retailing their mobile phones (b) To mitigate the impacts of waste of mobile phone on the environment 1.3 Financial Summary After the initial stage of purchasing necessary machinery and equipment, ABC Recycling Company will commence its recycling operations and regular sales in May. According to our financial plan, the company will invest ?2,700,000 to purchase one recycling line and one manufacturing line to set up the recycling plant and working capital. The three partners will further invest ?1500,000 along with ?800,000 long-term loans. We will also provide

Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers

Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers CHAPTER 4 DATA ANALYSIS 4.0 Introduction This study was conducted in two different store formats, which are hypermarket and traditional wet market respectively. Totally 200 questionnaires were distributed and collected, each market has 100 questionnaires respectively. First of all, the general data such as respondents profiles, trip patterns and transaction patterns were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. This approach generates frequency and percentage of the respondents characteristics and presents the basic data and information. Secondly, reliability of the respondents perception on store image will be tested to examine whether if the data reliable or not. The level of reliability, which is so called Cronbachs alpha, the alpha value should not lower than 0.70 to obtain the consistent result. After that, independent t-test will be used to examine the level of significant on store attributes between different store formats. Moreover, we will also test the correlation between store formats and the demographic characteristics, trip patterns and transaction patterns. The differences of mean will be calculated, and 95% of confidence intervals were taken in this study. Significant probability was ≠¤0.05. It means if the result lower or equal to 0.05, it indicates statistically significantly different. 4.1 Descriptive Analysis 4.1.1 Respondents Profile 4.1.1.1 Gender Table 4.1: Gender Figure 4.1: Gender At both different store formats, we can find that there is more female shop at markets than male does. Gender distribution of respondents at hypermarket was much more balanced than gender distribution of respondents at traditional wet market, which are 46% for male and 54% for female at hypermarket, while traditional wet market was 1/3 of respondents are male and 2/3 of respondents are female. 4.1.1.2 Age Table 4.2: Age Figure 4.2: Age The data collection of this study showed that respondents at hypermarket and traditional wet market with the age of 25 years old and below are the highest, which are 35% and 28% respectively, compare with the ages which are between 26-35 years old (34% and 19%), 36-45 years old (16% and 14%), 46-55 years old (12% and 23%), and 56 years old and above (3% and 16%). One phenomenon can be found in this data is the number of respondents of traditional wet market with the age which are between 46-55 years old and 56 years old and above, are much higher than the respondents of hypermarket with the same range of age. The total percentage for this range of age (46-55 years old and 56 years old and above), for traditional wet market is 39%, while for hypermarket is only 15%. We can conclude that the respondents of traditional wet market are older than the respondent of hypermarket. 4.1.1.3 Ethnic Table 4.3: Ethnic RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Figure 4.3: Ethnic In this study, Chinese has the highest number of people (55% from hypermarket, 74% from traditional wet market) following to Malay (33% from hypermarket, 14% from traditional wet market), Indian (9% from hypermarket, 11% from traditional wet market) and the others (3% from hypermarket, 1% from traditional wet market). The biggest different of these store formats is Chinese respondent has higher portion at traditional wet market compare to hypermarket, which are  ¾ of all respondents of traditional wet market compare to  ½ of all respondents of hypermarket. While the figure of Malay showed that Malay tends to shop at hypermarket instead of going to traditional wet market, the number of Malay shops at hypermarket is twice compare to number of Malay shops at traditional wet market. 4.1.1.4 Marital Status Table 4.4: Marital Status RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Figure 4.4: Marital Status 40 RUL 573- RESEARCH PROJECT IN PLANNING CHAPTER 4: Store Image: Comparing Hypermarket and Traditional Wet Market Consumers Perception. Case Study: Bayan Baru, Penang. Base on the data that obtained, the respondents of hypermarket who are married (42%) are fewer than those who are single (58%). While respondents from of traditional wet market have the different situation, the result was totally inversed of hypermarket, that is 58% of the respondents are married, and the others 42% are single. This result indicates respondents of this study who are married tend to shop at traditional wet market and respondents who are single prefer to shop at hypermarket. 4.1.1.5 Education Level Table 4.5: Education Level Figure 4.5: Education Level The respondents from both store formats also have highest number of people (74% of hypermarket and 50% of wet market) who had at least tertiary education, which indicates college or university. This is because of more than 1/3 of respondents from hypermarket and 1/4 of respondents from traditional wet market who are younger generation, which is in the category of 25 years old and below as shown in Chapter 4.1.1.2. The overall result showed that the respondents of traditional wet market have slightly lower education level compare to those respondents of hypermarket. Half of the respondents of traditional wet market have not ever pursued tertiary education, the number is twice compare to those respondents of hypermarket who had only secondary education, primary education, and no formal education. 4.1.1.6 Occupation Table 4.6: Occupation Figure 4.6: Occupation In the previous data showed that the respondents who are younger generation (25 years old and below) and have at least tertiary education level had a large portion of entire respondents. In this section, it showed that most of the respondents of hypermarket are student (39%), following by waged worker (25%), government employee (18%), housewife (8%), entrepreneur (7%), retired (3%). While at traditional wet market, most of the respondents are worked as waged worker (32%), following by housewife (26%), student (23%), retired (7%), government employee (5%), entrepreneur (5%) and unemployed (2%). This data also showed that housewife prefers to shop at traditional wet market (25%) instead of shop at hypermarket (8%). 4.1.1.7 Household Size Table 4.7: Household Size Figure 4.7: Household Size The mode number of household size for respondents of hypermarket and traditional wet market are 4 and 5 respectively. The data showed that 28% and 27% of respondents of hypermarket have household size of 4 and 5. On the other hand, 22% and 28% of respondents of traditional wet market have household size of 4 and 5. These indicate more than half of the respondents who have household size of 4 or 5. From the figure above, we can see that the household size of traditional wet market respondent is slightly bigger than household size of hypermarket respondents. From the calculation, the mean household size of traditional wet market respondents are 4.87, and respondents of hypermarket are 4.63. 4.1.1.8Household Monthly Income Table 4.8: Household Monthly Income Figure 4.8: Household Monthly Income From these 200 respondents, there is no big difference of household monthly income between two different store formats. For respondent of hypermarket, the categories of RM1500 and below, RM2501-3500, and RM3501-4500 also showed 23% respectively, followed by RM1501-2500 (17%), RM4501and above (14%). On the other hand, the mode number of household monthly income for respondents of traditional wet market is RM2501-3500, followed by RM1500 and below (22%), RM1501-2500 (21%), RM4501 and above (20%), RM3501-4500 (13%). Overall there is not a very significant different between the groups and the categories. 4.1.2 Trip Patterns 4.1.2.1 Travelling Time from Home to Markets Table 4.9: Travelling Time Figure 4.9: Travelling Time Majority of the respondents travel from home to the markets were just within 15 minutes and this was showed by 48% respondents of hypermarket and 53% of traditional wet market. This indicates half of the respondents came from adjacent area. While 34% respondents of hypermarket and 28% respondents of traditional wet market have travelling time between 16-30 minutes. Travelling time between 31-60 minutes, 16% and 17% fell to respondents of hypermarket and respondents if traditional wet market respectively. The category of 1 hour and more is only chosen by 2% of respondents of hypermarket and traditional wet market respectively. From the data we can conclude that people prefer to travel from home to market in shorter time. 4.1.2.2 Transportation Mode Table 4.10: Transportation Mode Figure 4.10: Transportation Mode Majority of the respondents prefer going to the markets by car, the data showed that 68% of hypermarket respondents and 45% of traditional wet market respondents go to the markets by car. Another transportation mode that is chosen by respondents is walking (15% of hypermarket respondents and 23% of traditional wet market respondents), as well as motorcycle (8% of hypermarket respondents and 23% traditional wet market respondents). A few people chose bus (5% of hypermarket respondents and 6% of traditional wet market respondents) and bicycle (4% of hypermarket respondents and 3% of traditional wet market respondents). Taxi and the others transportation mode have none of respondent chose such mode of transportation. Although majority of the respondents have the shortest travelling time from home to market as showed at Chapter 4.1.2.1, but most of them still prefer to drive to the market. 4.1.3Transaction Patterns 4.1.3.1 Frequency of Visiting Table 4.11: Frequency of Visiting Figure 4.11: Frequency of Visiting Majority of the respondents visiting markets once a week, 36% of hypermarket respondents and 40% traditional wet market respondents chose this category. While 27% of hypermarket respondents and 21% of traditional wet market respondents chose to visit the market less than once a week. Less than half of the respondents visit the market twice or more than twice weekly. From the data obtained, 21% of hypermarket respondents and 11% of traditional wet market respondents visit the market twice weekly, 12% of hypermarket respondents and 10% of traditional wet market respondents visit the market thrice weekly, and 4% of hypermarket respondents and 18% of traditional wet market respondents visit 4 times and more weekly. The respondents who visit the markets 4 times and above weekly are 4.5 times more than those hypermarket respondents do. 4.1.3.2 Visiting Markets with Whom Table 4.12: Visiting Markets with Whom Figure 4.12: Visiting Markets with Whom Almost half of the respondents prefer to visit the markets with their family member or relatives, this occupied 47% of hypermarket respondents and 52% of traditional wet market respondents. While the respondents who chose to visit markets with friends/ neighbors/ colleagues or alone, there is a significant different between hypermarket and traditional wet market. 36% of respondents of hypermarket prefer to go to the markets with their friends/ neighbors/ colleagues instead of go by alone, which has only 17% of the respondents chose that. On the other hand, traditional wet market is different. 36% of the respondents chose to go alone instead of go with friends/ neighbors/ colleagues, which only has 12%. None of them chose to visit the markets with the people who have other relationships. 4.1.3.Time Spent Table 4.13: Time Spent Figure 4.13: Time Spent From the data that obtained, majority of the traditional wet market respondent spent 30-60 minutes in the market, which occupied 49% of the traditional wet market respondent, followed by 1-2 hours (28%), 30 minutes and less (18%), and 2 hours and more (5%). While hypermarket respondents prefer to spent longer time in the market. 41% of hypermarket respondents spent 1-2 hours, followed by 30-60 minutes (32%), 2 hours and more (15%), 30 minutes and less (12%). For overall, 2/3 of traditional wet market respondents tends to spend shorter time compare to only 44% of hypermarket respondents spent less than 1 hour. 4.2Reliability Analysis Data of consumer perception have been collected in the approach of Likert scale, reliability of the data should be tested. Gatewood and Field (1990) said that reliability is the ability of the instrument in providing the consistent results when it is repeated used. Cronbachs alpha is the basic measurement for reliability and an alpha value of 0.7 is sufficient (Nunnally, 1978). All the store attributes will be tested in terms of the store attributes those contribute as the reasons of consumers to choose a retail store and also the importance level that respondents have given to the store attributes. 4.2.1Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to Shop Following are the store attributes as the reasons for consumer to shop: Attribute 1 : Appropriate opening hours Attribute 2 : Near to place of residence Attribute 3 : Product quality Attribute 4 : Product variety Attribute 5 : Reasonable price Attribute 6 : Speed of purchase Attribute 7 : Satisfactorily service Attribute 8 : Spacious interior space Attribute 9 : Not crowded Attribute 10 : Clean and comfortable Attribute 11 : Good public transport available Attribute 12 : Car parking facilities Attribute 13 : Easiness on finding the product Attribute 14 : Habit Attribute 15 : Trust in vendor 4.2.1.1 Hypermarket Table 4.14: Reliability Statistics (Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to Shop at Hypermarket) Table 4.15: Item-Total Statistics(Store Attributes as the Reasons for Consumers to ShopAt Hyperma

Democrats and Republicans View Points Essays -- Politics

Since the beginning of their inception the Republican and Democrats have had a great divide on their perceptions of what is best for this great nation of ours. Republicans and democrats are distinct in several ways above all in their ideas, politics and world views. Republicans seem to be known as conventional or cautious and they seem to embrace economic equity beyond any other thing. Whereas a Democrat seems to be more open minded and they stand for government supported programs. The purpose of the paper is to analyze, compare and contrast the two parties positions on the issues of same sex marriage, race based affirmative action and illegal immigration. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia â€Å"Affirmative action" means constructive periods reserved to rise the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded. Fletcher (1996) stated â€Å"Affirmative Action was spiraling unpleasant as Republicans in Congress and state legislatures across the country criticized the issue†. America gives the impression to be held up with fair-mindedness as equality which increases questions in the minds of many who are not acquainted with the unique purpose of Affirmative Action. This will always be an ongoing problem throughout history but has come a long ways from the early nineteen hundreds. Racial discrimination is noticed more in schools and in the workplace. Springer (2003) reported that the New York Times surveyed a few thousand respondents and found that eighty percent of black respondents believed in affirmative action. Republicans are said to have old-fashioned american main beliefs. They trust that people who are skilled for a profession should g... ... 4 (Dec , 2003), pp. 289-311 Published by: Springer Articles Stable URL: http:// www.jstor.org/stable/3657306 Margaret E. Dorsey and Miquel Diaz- Barriga Senator Barack Obama Immigration Reform – Journals of Black Studies, Volume 38, NO. 1, The Barack Obama Phenomenon (Sep., 2007). Pp. 90-104 Published by: Sage Publications, INC.Articles Stable URL: http:// www. Jstor. Org/stable/40034404 Stoyan Zaimov Same Sex Marriage stirring Battle for the Heart and Soul of the GOP, Observers Say The Christian Post (Jan. 2012) Michael A. Fletcher Washington Post Staff Writer (Sept 18, 1996) pg. A12 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/10/democrats-push-to-repeal-defense-marriage-act/ http://prospect.org/article/democrats-gay-marriage-problem-0 http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/Values.htm http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/affirmative-action/ (Apr 1, 2009)

British Invasion: Mods, Rockers, and Social Crosscurrents

In the late 1940’s a genre of music known as ‘Rock and Roll’ has evolved in United States. ‘Rock and roll’ which was a term originally used to refer to sexual intercourse became popular in 1950’s. There are two types of rock and roll, The classic rock and roll which is the simple one while the mod (refers to ‘modern’) rock and roll refers to the modern music style. Although Beatles and Elvis Presley both revolutionized pop culture, the first was more popular compared to second.The Beatles is the best-selling musical act of all time in the United States which sold more than 106 million albums in the U. S. alone. On the other hand, Elvis Presley only sold 77 million units in the U. S. (The Recording Industry Association of America). The Beatles and Elvis Presley influence the developing mass culture by introducing a new trend for their listeners. The Beatles listeners reflected the period's changing tastes and behavior through the mu sic that the Beatles had created (Still Fab – The Beatles and their timeless influence).The Rolling Stones, an English band, is one of the Mods. In terms of album sales, they were been surpassed by the Beatles. They’ve got their bad boy images when Andrew Loog Oldham, their manager and producer, suggests setting a ‘bad boy image’ to them which captured the attention of the kids and the media. They always had this bad boy images with them especially in their songs. They would prefer the more boldly sexual side of rock and roll to do the opposite of what the Beatles were doing.To them, the reflection of the Mod and the rockers is that, the rockers portray the simple rock and the Mods are those who prefer different style of music like those ‘bad boy images’ songs they are creating (The Rolling Stones). This distinction is continuously manifested by rockers today. We can often watch or hear music that have foul languages or music that was anti-gov ernment. The evolution of this kind of rock and roll affects the rock industry like African Americans do.Just like the discrimination to the African American ethnic minority group which results to the division of people that loves African American music and the people who loves American music alone, the Mod music affect the industry by dividing the rock and roll lovers into two groups. The first group is the one who loves ‘classical rock’ like the ones created by The Beatles. The second group is the one who likes ‘bad boy rock and roll’ like the ones created by The Rolling Stones. References: ______________. November 10, 1999.â€Å"The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century†. June 6, 2007 from, Recording Industry Association of America Website: http://www. riaa. com/news%5Cnewsletter%5Cpress1999%5C111099. asp Freud, Charles Paul. June 2001. â€Å"Still Fab – The Beatles and their timeless influence†. June 6, 20 07 from, FindArticlesâ„ ¢ Website: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_2_33/ai_75099632 ______________. 1989. â€Å"The Rolling Stones†. June 6, 2007 from, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Website: http://www. rockhall. com/inductee/the-rolling-stones

Wind Technology Case Study

Situation: Company 1. New company (10 years), small compared to competitors 2. Cash flow problems 3. Produces wind-profiling radar systems for weather forecasting and wind detection 4. 9-12 months to improve cash flow Strengths 1. Adherence to specifications and quality production 2. Technical expertise provides full system integration—customers can order either basic components or a full system 3. Meteorologists and atmospheric scientists provide the customer with sophisticated support 4. All resources had been devoted to wind-profiling 5. Government contracts—account for 90 percent of sales Weaknesses . Poor cash flow 2. Lack of a well-developed marketing department 3. No salespersons—management and engineers call customers 4. No production capabilities to compete in high-volume, low-voltage segment 5. No resources and technical expertise to compete in high-output segment Opportunities 1. Wind Technology develops almost all of its major component parts and soft ware, versus competitors who depends on a variety of manufacturers. 2. HOWEVER, the development of the power supply has been problematic, SO Wind Technology needs to develop power supply instead of purchasing an HVPS from outside supplier 3.HVPS has greatest potential for commercial success Threats 1. Vaitra is unwilling to place additional money into Wind Technology 2. 9-12 months to implement new strategy and improve cash flow Product Sell component parts, specifically the high-voltage power supply (HVPS) 1. Small, with low level of output (less than 3kV) a. Communications 2. Medium (between 3 and 10 kV) b. Radars and lasers 3. Large (greater than 10 kV) c. High-powered X rays and plasma-etching systems Market Total market potential is estimated at $237 millionWind Technology’s estimated market share is 0. 5 percent, or $1. 185 million Finances Margin: 30 percent (production=70 percent of selling price) or $355,500 Variable/Fixed Costs: Unknown Promotion Budget: 10 percent or $118,500 Contribution Margin: $237,000 Competition Unysis—the only key player in the wind profiling market Customers Research labs, large end-users, OEMs, and distributers Government: Research, NASA, state colleges, Department of Defense Problem: The market for wind profiling radar systems has been developing at a much lower rate than anticipated. Options: 1.Enter HVPS market, or ride out the two years (cutting costs) that the company had estimated it would take until the wind-profiling market achieved high growth levels? 2. If entering HVPS market, establish target segment 3. If entering HVPS market, develop a marketing and promotion plan Scenario 1: Enter HVPS market 1. The product provides a differential advantage, superior quality, is innovative, reliable, customizable, and technologically advanced 2. Provides an additional +/- $237,000 in contribution margin per every 0. 5 percent of market share is achieved. 3.HVPS could be produced with very little added fixed costs & production would cost 70 percent of selling price. Scenario 2: Do not enter HVPS market 1. Young company in a mature industry 2. Severe cash flow problems make it difficult to produce, market, and hold inventory 3. Development of power supply will remain a problem 4. Difficult to cut costs when Wind Technologies already does not have a sales force or marketing department 5. Realistically only have 9-12 months before the company goes under Establishing target segment—Recommendations: 1. Microwave—highest market growth and strength 2.Radar—2nd highest growth and attractiveness, 3rd highest market share and strength 3. Semiconductors—highest attractiveness, 2nd highest market share Promotion Plan: 1. Collateral Material a. 5,000 pieces * $5. 50 each = $27,500 2. Public Relations b. Cost to write and mail to editors = $500 c. Are there hidden costs, such as publishing? d. How many people actually subscribe to wind technology trade magazines (Exhibit 3 = 35 0,538 in circulation) e. Of the 350,000 in circulation, if 1% of subscribers actually read the PR= 3,500 reached 3. Direct Mail f. More effective than PR, because recipients have the material in heir hands versus skipping over the page in a magazine. g. Buying list of prospects = $5,000 h. Are there lists available online? (Perhaps today, but not in 1991 at the time of the case) i. $7,500 per 1,500 mailed j. @ 3,000 mailed (universities, government) = $20,000 cost 4. Trade Shows k. $50,000 in costs + $50,000 for 5 staff members to attend l. Reach has to be significantly less than PR and direct mail because of geographical constraints—limited to the number of interested people near trade show—maybe 1,000-2,000 people attend trade show, and only 25% stop and look at your product m.Benefit—Get to see physical product and talk to experts n. Benefit—People who attend the trade show are probably looking to purchase (50% are hobbyists, 25% looking to buy, 25% no t interested at all—tag alongs) i. 250 people see your product, +/- 50 are interested o. Potential to cut costs—why does it cost $10,000 per person to attend? Send current employees for +/- $3,500 per person (airfare, hotel, food). 5. Trade Journals p. Design News presents the best value, at just $0. 05 per page in circulation, it has a reach of 170,033 readers at a cost of $8,120 6. Personal Selling q.Telemarketing ii. Salary for employee would be $50,000 iii. 90 calls per day * 250 days = 22,500 per year, assume 75% are hang-ups = 5,625 actually talk on the phone, 5% are interested = approximately 250 r. Field Sales iv. Would provide most incremental revenue v. Most costly vi. $80,000 vii. However, this person can serve dual roles, also attending trade shows, responding to customer service issues, etc. Final Recommendation: Kevin, from Wind Technology, acknowledges that it would be risky to proceed with the HVPS spin-off, but not doing something to improve the firmâ €™s cash flow was equally risky.Therefore, I would support neither decision, but instead go to the root of the problem which is Vaitra’s decision to cut funding for Wind Technology. Kevin needs to go to the management at Vaitra and ask for money to continue sustaining the business for another two years. At that point, the industry is expected to mature and the high growth levels that they anticipate may be achieved. In the meantime, it is not worth it to restructure the business, and implement costly promotion strategies that may not even be effective during the two years which they are most needed.However, in two years, when Wind Technologies anticipates a more secure cash position, they can begin specializing in the HPVS, hiring personal sellers, and attending trade shows. Then, perhaps they can also pursue more than just 0. 5 percent of the market. That is, however, if they even need to do so; it is possible that they will succeed with their current products. It would be best to have ample resources and do everything to the best of their abilities when the time is right, versus emptying their pockets just to get by in the industry, and abandoning their current strategy which could be successful in the very near future.

Native Son- Cycle of Poverty Essays

Native Son- Cycle of Poverty Essays Native Son- Cycle of Poverty Essay Native Son- Cycle of Poverty Essay Essay Topic: Fight Club Novel Native Son Cycle of Poverty Do poor children become poor adults? Does your financial status predetermine you and your family’s success rate? The cycle of poverty is a cold hearted phenomenon. Throughout the world families struggle to break the cycle of poverty- but does it work? In Native Son by Richard Wright, the cycle of poverty rules the Thomas family. They are born into poverty and find it extremely difficult to lift themselves out of their tragic situation. Although several individuals in the novel work to end the cycle, many of their solutions are insufficient and do not take on the problem as a whole. Bigger Thomas and his family clearly portray a typical family stuck in the cycle of poverty. Although many attempts are made to break the cycle, we learn that it takes more than a few individuals to end poverty. The Thomas family fits almost perfectly into the cycle of poverty. Bigger, the main character, lives with his two siblings and his mother. His father died during a riot, leaving his uneducated mother alone with three children, and his children without a role model. This describes the first steps of the cycle of poverty. An uneducated single parent has little opportunities to move forward in life. Biggers mother struggles to pay their high rent of $8 while trying to properly raise, feed, clothe, and take care of three children. With a single parent trying to make ends meet, the kids are often unsupervised. Supervision is important in early life because it enforces rules and teaches right from wrong. If children are unsupervised, they miss out on learning the basics of life and how things work. Unsupervised kids often get caught up in mischief and mayhem. Bigger constantly finds himself hanging around with a group of guys whose thoughts revolve around crime. They conspire to rob a liquor store, they masturbate in a public theater, they get into fights, and more. Furthermore, with so much crime committed by those in poverty- many of whom are African American- discrimination comes easily to others. A newspaper during Bigger’s murder trial explains that, â€Å"Thomas comes of a poor darky family of shiftless and immoral variety. He was raised here and is known to local residents as an irreformable sneak theif and liar. . . Crimes such as Bigger Thomas murders could be lessened by segregating all Negroes in parks, playgrounds, cafes, theatres, and street cars. Residential segregation is imperative† (p. 280-281). This discrimination keeps the doors shut to many opportunities. Whites viewed blacks as inadequate, incapable, dangerous, untrustworthy people. For this reason, blacks were not allowed to do many of the things that whites were able to. In Biggers case, he wanted to fly: â€Å"If you wasn’t black and you had some money and if they’d let you go to that aviation school, you could fly a plane† (p. 17). The disappointment of having nothing to aspire to or look forward to causes people to lose hope. Once hope is lost, it is hard to rise up. Being so restrained also makes people feel trapped and isolated, â€Å"‘. . . I just can’t get used to it,’ Bigger said, ‘I swear to God I can’t. . . Every time I think about it I feel like somebody’s poking a red hot iron down my throat. Goddamn it, look! We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we ain’t. They do things and we can’t. It’s just like living in jail. Half the time I feel like I’m on the outside of the world peeping in through a knothole in the fence†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 21). Since the chances of achieving the â€Å"normal† is so low for those in poverty, their standards and goals are compromised. Instead of striving to be the best, they strive to just live comfortably. These are all parts of the cycle of poverty that keep people from thriving or â€Å"living†. Mr. Dalton, a white millionaire in Native Son, takes several approaches to help end the cycle of poverty for African Americans. His solutions include sending ping-pong tables to the South Side Boys Club, offer some African Americans jobs, and send money to African American education programs. Although these are good attempts, they do not efficiently help the poor people as a whole. His action of sending ping-pong tables does not educate, offer opportunity, give self-esteem or confidence, and does not create equality in any way. These would be good steps to improving the poor’s lifestyle. Max tries to relay this to Mr. Dalton in Biggers jail cell: â€Å"Will ping-pong tables keep men from murdering? Cant you see? Even after losing your daughter, youre going to keep going in the same direction? Dont you grant as much life-feeling to other men as you have? Could ping-pong have kept you from making your millions? This boy and millions like him want a meaningful life, not ping-pong (p. 295). Although it does not offer any opportunities, it does help keep young African Americans busy and off the streets, therefore reducing crime. When kids are actively busy and productive, they are less likely to participate in mischievous activities. By Dalton offering jobs to African Americans he is definitely helping their society. The only problem with this idea is that h e is only helping one out of millions of people. He cannot end the cycle of poverty through one person. Dalton offers Bigger a job working as his family’s chauffeur, trying to give Bigger a chance at the world. While his intentions are good, he is subliminally enforcing the concept of blacks being inferior to whites. He works in the house serving their family. He is somewhat in the same situation as slaves- which the time period had just gotten over- except he was treated well and paid. With this job, Bigger realized that there is no room for improvement or a higher status. The most beneficial thing that Dalton did to support the black community was send money to educational programs. Education is the first step to success, and by allowing more African Americans to obtain an education he is helping the black community take a step forward. If more African Americans were educated, then less of them would be in poverty which would cause less discrimination and so on. Overall, his attempts do slowly help progress the African American race, but they were still not sufficient to end the cycle as a whole. Just as Mr. Dalton, Max has good intentions in helping the poor and his solutions as well are not sufficient. Max, who is Biggers lawyer at his murder trial, tries helping the poor black community by defending African Americans in court. He is one of the few people who realizes racism and discrimination, and he wants to change it. He tells in court the reasons why Bigger commits the awful crimes that he does. His explanation blames the whites for oppressing him and never giving him a chance to â€Å"live†. Max sees the big picture in which no one else can seem to grasp: â€Å"Multiply Bigger Thomas twelve million times, allowing for environmental and temperamental variations, and for those Negroes who are completely under the influence of the church, and you have the psychology of the Negro people. But once you have them as a whole, once your eyes leave the individual and encompass the mass, a new quality comes into the picture. Taken collectively, they are not simply twelve million people; in reality they constitute a separate nation, stunted, stripped, and held captive within this nation, devoid of political, social, economic, and property rights† (p. 397). Max explains how this reason led to Bigger Thomas murdering, standing up for the African American race at the same time. The only problems with Maxs solution to defend blacks is that he is connected to the communist party. A local preacher tries to convince Max that he is jeopardizing Biggers case, â€Å". . . there ain no usa draggin no Communism in this thing, Mistah. Ah respecks yo feelins powerfully, suh; but whut yuhs astin jus stirs up mo hate† (p. 289). Many people are against communism and even afraid of it. Bringing communism into a non-communistic case only brings trouble. People will have no trouble connecting the two, even if they are completely unrelated. Another problem with Maxs solution is that he is trying to help those who have already lost the battle. There is no hope for those who have their fate decided for them already- death. He should try to catch these people early, before they make the wrong decisions. Even though Max sees the whole picture, he is wasting his time at the wrong end of the cycle of poverty. Breaking the cycle of poverty will take more than helping a few individuals and saving a couple people from death row. In order to create an escape from the cycle, actions will need to be taken at the very first steps of poverty. Education is the most important factor of success and unfortunately, not many of the poor are offered the chance to a good education. Systems could be set up that provide cheap, convenient, and accessible education. These systems could be in personal environments, at a local church, over the computer, on video, etc. Getting the poor educated will then lead to them making better decisions and having more opportunities. As for unsupervised children who often end up in trouble with the law, community centers could be built. These places could offer fun activities, food, tutors, and overall just a place to â€Å"hangout†. Giving children somewhere to go keeps them off the streets and out of trouble. Community center supervisors could also play as role models for those who are in lack of. Another way to help prevent some people from falling into the cycle of poverty is to offer free contraception and medical care. Planned Parenthood and other facilities currently provide these types of services, but making them more accessible and more convenient would help save many teens from unwanted pregnancies. In all, one person can not end the cycle of poverty; there must be a change in society as a whole. The cycle of poverty is shown clearly throughout Native Son, with Bigger Thomas and his family being stuck right in it. With the restrictions that are put on them, they struggle greatly to improve their lives. It seems impossible for them to be anything but poor. Although both Mr. Dalton and Max try to help the Thomas family, we learn that the problem is much larger than what they can handle. It takes a want for change from society, not from a selected few. Problems need to be nipped in the bud to ensure that everyone gets the same chance at life. Although this ideal may not be attainable, we are certainly able to try to improve the current conditions.

Adventure sports in India Essays

Adventure sports in India Essays Adventure sports in India Essay Adventure sports in India Essay Essay Topic: The Beast in the Jungle Adventure athleticss has fast caught up in the Indian surroundings. India offers huge chance for escapade lovers throughout its length and comprehensiveness. Enjoy the most alone escapade circuit in India, affecting trekking, jeep campaign, wildlife campaign, scubadiving, gliding, skiing, river rafting, stone mounting, mountain climbing, cycling, . Trekking is a really good activity that is vastly utile for both organic structure every bit good as head. It is a sort of religious experience rejuvenating the head fixing it for the day-to-day diifficulties of life. The Indian Himalaya are an ultimate finish for escapade lovers and has attracted Trekkers and lovers of nature Indian Himalayas are the beginning of important life giver rivers, like Ganges Beas, Satluj and their feeder. The Himalayan mountain scopes of India offer breathtaking, extremely disputing trekking routes.The list is eternal and options are mind boggling.Mountaineering in India was introduced by the Europeans in the eighteenth century. India offers an exciting mountain climbing experience to an escapade athletics lover. The Himalayas that stretch from north-west of India to far north-east offers a figure of high rise extremums that are considered ideal for mountaineering. Some of the fantastic topographic points for mountaineering in India are Leh Ladakh in Jam mu and Kashmir, Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Kullu vale and Lahul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim and some other parts of north-eastern part. ANGLING A ; FISHING are two singular escapade activities among the many others that are offered in the India. They are specially suited to the Indian bomber continent because of countless rivers that class through the expansive Gangetic Plains, and originate in the upper ranges of the brilliant Himalayas. The clear hotfooting Waterss of these assorted rivers and their feeders provide first-class fishing and angling vacations musca volitanss that are capturing in their chip and clean mountain beauty, every bit good as rich engendering land of a figure of different assortments of fish. The adventuresome scenes for angling and angling scope from the olympian Himalayan vale, snow-fed watercourses and high height lakes to the broad coastal stretches of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. With a figure of wildlife sanctuaries and national Parkss, India offers an first-class chance for wildlife Tourss in India. India is place to many wildlife animate beings ; Asiatic king of beasts and tiger are two premier attractive forces of the Indian jungles. These two animate beings are possibly what pull most wildlife lovers to India. But that is non merely attractive force that India offers on its wildlife Tourss. The wildlife sanctuaries and national Parkss in India are pullulating with a broad assortment of vegetations and fauna.There are legion topographic points in India that are favourite among birdwatchers. White-water rafting is a high-level, high epinephrine H2O escapade that has few other escapade athleticss fiting its alone exhilaration and bang! The disruptive H2O, the unmanageable velocities, and the challenge of doing it over the churning rapids is a bloodcurdling high that has one raring to travel!

lexicographer - definition and examples

lexicographer - definition and examples Definition A lexicographer is a person who writes, compiles, and/or edits a dictionary. Lexicographer examine how words come into being and how they change in terms of pronunciation, spelling, usage, and meaning.The most influential lexicographer of the 18th century was Samuel Johnson, whose Dictionary of the English Language appeared in 1755. The most influential American lexicographer was Noah Webster, whose American Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1828. See Examples and Observations below. Also see: Ambrose Bierce on Lexicographers American Spelling and British Spelling Corpus LexicographyEtymologyAn Introduction to Noah WebsterLexicographicolatryLexicographyOxford English DictionaryReading the Dictionary: Ammon Sheas Lexicographical ExerciseSamuel Johnsons DictionaryWebsters ThirdWhich Websters Dictionary Is the Real Thing? Examples and Observations Lexicographer. A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words.(Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755) Lumping and SplittingDictionaries are . . . based  on an oversimplification which posits that words have enumerable, listable meanings that are divisible into discrete units. Such constructs come in handy because dictionary users tend to work best with clear-cut  distinctions and categories that we like to classify into distinct, well-defined boxes.  One of the key questions the lexicographer  then faces is related to the distinction between lumping and splitting. The former term refers to the slightly different patterns of usage that are considered as a single meaning, while the latter happens when the lexicographer separates slightly different patterns of usage into distinct meanings. The burning question whether the lexicographer should apply a lumping or a splitting st rategy does not just apply to monolingual dictionaries, however. A related question for bilingual lexicographers is whether sense divisions should be based upon the source language or the target language.(Thierry Fontenelle, Bilingual Dictionaries.  The Oxford Handbook of Lexicography, ed. by  Philip Durkin. Oxford University Press, 2015) Homonymy and PolysemyA major problem for the  lexicographer is  provided by the distinction between homonymy and polysemy. We speak of homonymy when two lexemes share the same word-forms . . ..   We speak of polysemy when a single lexeme has two (or more)  distinguishable meanings. There is no generally agreed criterion for distinguishing between the two. EAR  organ of hearing and EAR  spike of corn may be treated as two distinct lexemes . . . and usually are in real dictionaries on the basis of distinct etymologies, although diachronic information should not  in principle be used to determine synchronic linguistic structure.  On the other hand, many speakers feel that an ear of corn  is called that because it resembles the ear on someones head, and implicitly treat EAR as a single polysemous lexeme. In the writing of any dictionary, a decision has to be taken as to how to distinguish between these two.(Laurie Bauer, Word. Morphology: An International Handbook on I nflection and Word-Formation, ed. by  Geert Booij et al. Walter de Gruyter, 2000) A Descriptive Approach to LanguageEven when they must make choices, lexicographers are attempting to provide a factual record of the language, not a statement about correctness of its usage. However, when people see one form highlighted in a dictionary, they interpret it as the one correct form and subsequently infer that any other form is incorrect. Furthermore, many who read and reference dictionaries take these decisions to be comprehensive and inalterable standards. In other words, even though lexicographers take a descriptive approach to language, their work is often read as prescriptive.(Susan Tamasi and Lamont Antieau, Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US: An Introduction. Routledge, 2015) A Proscriptive ApproachModern-day lexicography has produced convincing arguments in favour of a proscriptive approach (cf. Berenholtz 2003). Although it is possible to employ such an approach in printed dictionaries, it is an approach ideal for internet dictionaries. The proscriptive approach allows the lexicographer to present the user with a variety of options, e.g. different orthographic forms of a given word or different pronunciation possibilities. No single form is prescribed but the lexicographer indicates his or her preference by recommending one or more forms. By doing so the alternatives are not demonised but users get a clear indication of the form recommended by the expert.(Rufus H. Gouws, Dictionaries as Innovative Tools in a New Perspective on Standardisation. Lexicography at a Crossroads: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Today, Lexicographical Tools Tomorrow, ed. by Henning Bergenholtz, Sandro Nielsen, and Sven Tarp. Peter Lang, 2009) Samuel Johnson on Lexicography and LanguageWhen we see men grow old and die at a certain time one after another, from century to century, we laugh at the elixir that promises to prolong life to a thousand years; and with equal justice may the lexicographer be derided, who being able to produce no example of a nation that has preserved their words and phrases from mutability, shall imagine that his dictionary can embalm his language, and secure it from corruption and decay . . .. The language most likely to continue long without alteration, would be that of a nation raised a little, and but a little, above barbarity, secluded from strangers, and totally employed in procuring the conveniences of life.(Samuel Johnson, Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755)

From Buddha to his pupils Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

From Buddha to his pupils - Essay Example I want you to be aware of the difference between being Buddhist and Buddhic. First of all, Buddhism is a philosophy, not a theology. In Jesus Christ you can find a theology, but in me you can find a philosophy than can be integrated into Christianism. To be Buddhist means to be a follower of Buddha.To be Buddhic means to be a little Buddha in miniature himself or herself. To be Christian means to be a follower of Christ. To be Christic means to be a little Christ in miniature. You have to know these distinctions. Buddhism is a path to stop suffering, but Christianism is a path to adore and worship God. You have to know how to integrate Buddhism and Christianism into one simple way of life. First you have to be Buddhist, then you have to be Christian. Then you have to be Buddhic, then you have to Christic. At the end you will be Buddhic-Christic. You will be a little Buddha-Christ in miniature. You will see that reincarnation is an evolutionary step to resurrection. You will see that reintegration with God or the Highest Being is in fact Universal Salvation. Follow the Four Noble Truths and read carefully the Bible. Integrating Buddhism as a philosophy and Christianism as a theology will guide you through the right path. The Four Noble Truths will guide to Christ. Christ will guide you to the Universal Father according to the Book of Urantia. You have to be eclectic at all times. You have to keep your minds open to knowledge. Not to Gnosis, but to Epi-Gnosis according to John 17:3. Gnosis is knowledge, but Epi-Gnosis is Correct Knowledge. You will stop suffering when you kill your egoistic impulses of desire. The solution is to integrate Buddha and Christ into one body of Epi-Gnosis. Don't be afraid. You will see the light when you become Universalists. Satori will be accomplish at any time. You will live in a perpetual Nirvana that will lead you to Mahanirvana. Don't be afraid to study the Bible. But don't distort God. God is unconditional love and omnipotence, so Universal Salvation makes sense. Don't follow the Calvinist ideas. Don't follow the Arminian ideas. The Calvinists state that God can give salvation to all the Humankind, but that God doesn't want to. So they rely on the wrong concept of Election. Arminians state the opposite. They assert that God wants to give salvation to all human beings, but that God can't due to the free will of them. That's a wrong concept of free will. There is no free will; there is only free agency. Universalists hold the correct vision of God. They teach that God wants to give salvation to all human beings, and that God can give salvation to all of Humankind. This is the correct worldview. My Four Noble Truths will guide you to knowing Christ in an intimate way. You won't be Christians; you will be Buddhic-Christics. That is the correct path. That is the true reconciliation between Man and God. Kill suffering at its root. Don't distort the true idea of a loving God. Before I didn't want to deal with the concept of God, because you were not ready. Now you are ready for the Fifth Noble Truth. Buddha and Christ work together for the salvation of all Humankind. That is the Fifth Nobel Truth. Be Buddhic; don't be Buddhists. Be Christic; don't be Christians. That is the right path for achieving Nirvana and Mahanirvana. Satori will come up at any magic instant. Firstly, you have to be aware of your sinful condition; secondly, you have to be awakened through satori; thirdly, you have to be illuminated through the light of integration between Buddha and Christ. This is the Fifth Noble T

Marketing research insurance program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing research insurance program - Essay Example The research aims at assessing the potential of proposed insurance program by garnering data from the target audience. The research approach and data collection methods would further highlight the research objective. Primary research method has been favored to achieve the objective of the research as it would offer current information and understanding. Research Approach The research is based on offering a new and innovative insurance program to elder people who find it difficult to manage their finances and time. As per the current Elder Shield plan, insured people would get $300 per month for a maximum period of 5 years and $400 for a maximum period of 6 years. The new insurance program would offer the same benefits along with wide arrays of physical and mental activities that would offer great results in the short as well as in the long run. Moreover, for each referral, there would be certain rewards and awards that would further motivate and influence people to insure their life and health along with spreading the message in a positive manner. There is no denying that elder people are more prone to injuries and health issues and thus this insurance plan would try to help them regain their health through physical and mental activities. This can also be considered as a noble cause by taking care of the elder people along with making their life exci ting and problem free. As per the statistics of the United States Department of Labor, around 20% of the retirement income is attributed to health expenses that can be considered as quite high (United States Department of Labor, 2011). Moreover, basic Elder Shield Plan offers $300 per month for a maximum period of five years that can be considered as good enough to meet health demands. This insurance plan would help in engaging retired people in physical activities like golf and Taichi along with few mental activities like chess and emotional intelligence games. This insurance plan would also help in saving more money as people who are healthy and fit tend to spend less on health problems. This statement can only be considered as a valid one once views and opinions of the respondents confirm it. However, there is no denying that garnering personal opinions and offering wide arrays of information to the respondents would help in achieving the research objectives in a desired manner. Research Design Research design plays an important role in achieving desired results pertaining to the research. Research designs are classified as explanatory, descriptive and casual with distinctive features. Explanatory design is useful in analysing secondary data as it determines the hypotheses that can be tested. Descriptive design is based on primary data collection methods favoring quantitative analysis. It also examines the association and relationship with wide arrays of variables. In this particular research paper, descriptive and explanatory designs have been preferred as explanatory design helped in examining the hypotheses through secondary data and information while descriptive design would help in understanding the utility of introducing new and innovative insurance plan for retired people. There is no denying that descriptive design is time consuming and often a cumbersome task but the validity and reliability of

International Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Trade - Essay Example Most of the countries participate in such trades. The US exports high tech goods such as aircrafts, chemicals and ammunitions and at the same time it imports consumer goods, which are traded internationally at much lower prices. Usually, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment has a direct correlation; that is to say, employment or new jobs in the country rises in tandem with the growth in GDP. Gross Domestic Product, in the economic parlance, is the measure of goods and services that are produced in the country. GDP is the sum of the incomes of all the residents within the country. It is also measured by adding all kinds of spending such as government spending, investment spending and consumer spending. All exports generate incomes at home and they are part of GDP. Imports do not form a part of the GDP as they generate incomes abroad. For many years in US, imports exceed exports. That means domestic markets suffer in the goods that are imported. For example, steel import disrupt s domestic steel industry resulting into a closure of many units and the loss of jobs. The government often imposes tariffs on certain products to make imports costlier safeguarding domestic industries. At times, the government resorts to quota system and restricts imports within predetermined quota for a given country. This is usually found in textiles and garments business where quotas are allotted to the countries beyond, which they cannot send material into US. Tariffs restrict international trade as they are one kind of tax on imported good and make imports costlier. The university students in US are not benefitted as consumers of other industrial goods because education industry in US is a big exporter. A huge number of students from other countries enroll in US universities for study and research by paying huge tuition fees in US dollars and spend in US for their essential needs during their learning. Since 1930s, many countries have supported free trade among nations by redu cing tariffs. That is how the process of globalization has progressed at the rapid pace and world trade touched to the tune of almost $12,400 billion by 2009 (International Trade Statistics, 2010 p.12). World Trade Organization (WTO) works toward reduction of tariffs and smooth flow of goods and services among the nations. The WTO also works to discourage retaliatory taxes among nations. When two countries trade their currencies form a relationship for transaction to place. It is true that exchange rates between two currencies are governed by the demand-supply dynamics of the currencies that arise due to trade between two countries. When US imports more Chinese goods and exports less to China, a trade gap also called balance of payments is created causing more demand for Yuan against dollar. When this continues for a long, dollar tends to depreciate against Yuan. In 2011, the US exported goods worth $103.93 billion to China while imported goods worth 399.36 billion creating trade ga p of $295.5 billion. The trade gap was $273 billion and $226.8 billion in the year 2010 and 2009 respectively. The figures reveal that the trade gap is constantly on the rise and the reason for this is that the China produces hosts of goods at much lower the cost compared to the producers in US. The US consumers have benefitted a lot due to these

Research Critique of Ostomy patients' perceptions of quality of care Essay

Research Critique of Ostomy patients' perceptions of quality of care - Essay Example The discussions are based on the researchers' ability to demonstrate an understanding of the qualitative paradigm and the particular qualitative method being used, if the problem clearly delineated with an appropriate rationale for using a qualitative approach, if the purpose for the study one of discovery and description, conceptualization (theory building), illusions, or sensitization, if the researcher-respondent relationship is understood and if the role of the researcher as "research tool" is apparent. This research critique carefully assessed the importance of a research paper for the improvement of the quality nursing care given to Ostomy patients. Recommendations would not be effective unless the process before setting up a recommendation is to be found true, correct and free from any bias. Centuries had already passed and compared to the world way back centuries ago, people today are more knowledgeable, and curios about the things going on around us. Compared to the lifestyle of the olden days, there are things which they believe is indescribable and even tuberculosis has no cure. Today, there are many things that science can do. It is no doubt then, that today's technological era has been achieved by the careful research of scientists, engineers and concerned people who aims to improve something which is inline with their forte. Through thorough research, things have been achieved which changes the world, that is why, careful and truthful research is essential. Can you imagine a world being deceived by false research It could not only harm the world and the society, malicious research, especially medical researches could cause death to patients instead of nursing them to make them better. In the research conducted by Persson, Eva PhD RN ETN; Gustavsson, Bengt PhD MD; Hellstrm, Anna-Lena PhD RN; Lappas, George BSc and Hultn, Leif PhD MD entitled Ostomy patients' perceptions of quality of care [ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN NURSING PRACTICE], the researchers aim to improve the nursing practices towards Ostomy patients to be able to provide them with quality care. They have fully understood and identified the needs of Ostomy patients, though following the qualitative research, it lacks the identification and thorough explanation of what Stoma is all about. They should have clearly defined Stoma and give a narrative explanation which would enable readers to picture out the severity if this illness. Through this, the reader would understand how and why it is important to focus on issues and innovations in nursing practice with regards to the quality care given to Ostomy patients. Before continuing with the research, the researchers should have also explained in clear, straightforward terms, all aspects of living with a stoma, including ways to feel more comfortable with it, and helps you overcome any embarrassment a patient may feel when talking to doctors and other healthcare professionals, to be able to get the best possible help and support. For those who have stoma, the surgery is life-saving, but they can be hard to adjust to, and even though no-one may know that a person have stoma it can make a patient feel

Blue ocean strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blue ocean strategy - Research Paper Example Due to these underlining causes, the strategy of BOS is offered high concentration by the organizations operating in this era, among many other rival players (Kim & Mauborgne, 2013). The product, Yellow Tail of Casella Wines of Australia needs to implement the strategy of Blue Ocean as it might prove effective in developing new markets as well as wide range of customers. Other than this, by implementation of Blue Ocean strategy, the organization of Yellow Wine might offer more concentration over wine market as compared to others. This strategy might highlights its market segments in a more effective way such as wine drinkers, easy to go drinkers like beer, cocktail, soft drinks etc as well as any individual desiring to attain a refreshing feeling. However, in order to increase its range of customers or to reach beyond the existing demand, extensive promotion or campaigns is essential. Other than this, the organization of Yellow Wine is implementing Blue Ocean in order to reduce driving cost by amplifying the values of the products. This might prove extremely effective for the customers, thereby amplifying their demand and loyalty over the brand among many other rival players. By doing so, maximum extent of the customers desiring to drink wine or beer might get attracted towards the product line that may increase its productivity in the market among others. Along with this, the position and loyalty of the product line of wine might also get improved to a significant extent. Hence, due to these underlining reasons, the organization of Casella Wines might try to implement Blue Ocean strategy so as to amplify its portfolio and brand value in this competitive market among many other rival players. So, the popularity and demand of Blue Ocean Strategy is increasing day by day. Red Ocean Strategy is a strategy used to compete with the existing rival players

Beyond the Apparent Meaning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Beyond the Apparent Meaning - Research Paper Example Close and keen analysis of his works reveals the how the author builds the theme in the story. This paper will highlight the how the author develops the theme of moral obligation in the story ‘Magic Barrel’ and others. The ‘magic barrel’ is a fascinating literary piece that has received a lot of attention from literature scholars. The story centers on the Leo’s search for a bride, an assignment that he considers himself unable to handle and designates it tom Salzman, who specializes in matchmaking. The story highlights why Leo must embark on searching for a potential bride. Apparently, he had spent most of his years in rabbinical studies and having a wife at that juncture had the potential of improving his chances as a rabbi. At the time, a rabbi without a wife hardly found a congregation to shepherd. At twenty-seven, he realized that he urgently needed a bride but lacked the capacity to court one for himself because he had spent the preceding years c oncentrating on his studies and never found time to develop any social skills. These are the reasons that made him seek for the assistance of the matchmaker. The story progresses to describe the process that followed in the search for a bride. It becomes evident that Leo Finkle embarked on the venture because, it was an obligation for him to have wife, as a Jewish scholar. Although his initial motivation was entirely being able to meet the moral obligation required by Judaism, it turned out to mean much more. A rabbi had to have a wife prior to ordination, a factor that placed him in an appropriate position for him to understand the marriage institution complexities because he would have to give others counsel on such matters. Consequently, being bachelor placed a barrier for some potential rabbis because it proved them incapable of managing a congregation. Malamud uses Leo as reflection of religious moral obligations in the Jewish community. The zealous search that Leo indulges in reveals the depth and criticality of moral obligation. As Salzman made suggestions of potential brides for Leo, it became evident that his moral obligations influenced his decisions and opinions of the potential brides. He had moral standings that served to determine the would-be bride. In this context, Leo was acting in accordance to the Jewish law (Avery190). Having studied law for a long time, Korah laws defined his moral standings. As Malamud developed the story, he introduces a new perspective of moral obligation. As Leo Finkle absorbed himself in the search of a potential bride, he realized that he lacked the central value that defined an individual’s moral values. Although he strived to fulfill the religious moral obligations, he recognized that love for God had not moved him to theological law. In essence, love for God appeared to him as higher authority. Although being a rabbi involved helping others out of love, he lacked love for God and fellow humans. He recognize d his need for love and resolved to build the important attribute that would help him serve effectively. He understood the emptiness that surrounded a rabbi who lacked understanding of love. Upon realization of the fact that he needed love, he woke up to the reality that love was a stronger moral obligation (Malamud 167). In addition, Malamud used the opinion of Salzman to emphasize the value of adhering to moral obligations. As a matchmaker, he handled Leo’s case with a different approach. He intended to find him a bride that

Blue ocean strategy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blue ocean strategy - Research Paper Example Due to these underlining causes, the strategy of BOS is offered high concentration by the organizations operating in this era, among many other rival players (Kim & Mauborgne, 2013). The product, Yellow Tail of Casella Wines of Australia needs to implement the strategy of Blue Ocean as it might prove effective in developing new markets as well as wide range of customers. Other than this, by implementation of Blue Ocean strategy, the organization of Yellow Wine might offer more concentration over wine market as compared to others. This strategy might highlights its market segments in a more effective way such as wine drinkers, easy to go drinkers like beer, cocktail, soft drinks etc as well as any individual desiring to attain a refreshing feeling. However, in order to increase its range of customers or to reach beyond the existing demand, extensive promotion or campaigns is essential. Other than this, the organization of Yellow Wine is implementing Blue Ocean in order to reduce driving cost by amplifying the values of the products. This might prove extremely effective for the customers, thereby amplifying their demand and loyalty over the brand among many other rival players. By doing so, maximum extent of the customers desiring to drink wine or beer might get attracted towards the product line that may increase its productivity in the market among others. Along with this, the position and loyalty of the product line of wine might also get improved to a significant extent. Hence, due to these underlining reasons, the organization of Casella Wines might try to implement Blue Ocean strategy so as to amplify its portfolio and brand value in this competitive market among many other rival players. So, the popularity and demand of Blue Ocean Strategy is increasing day by day. Red Ocean Strategy is a strategy used to compete with the existing rival players

Holes Essay Example for Free

Holes Essay Novels are extremely important part in people’s life. They teach us valuable lessons and provide an escape from the real world. Louis Sachar’s novel Holes, allows teenagers to feel for the characters and also allows them to relate to what character is going through. In the novel Holes, there are many characters that teenagers can relate to. One of these characters is Stanley. Stanley is the main character from the novel. When he first arrives at Camp Green Lake Stanley was bullied by the inmates and put in his place. He soon became friends with the inmates from group D. Everyone in group D had a nickname. Stanley had yet to get one but when he was called Caveman for the first time he finally felt that he was accepted into the group. â€Å" you coming caveman? Said squid. Stanley looked around to see that armpit and squid were talking to him†. Another character from the novel that teenagers can relate to is Zero. Zero is a small, shy character who Stanley becomes great friends with in the beginning of the novel. When Zero became friends with Stanley, the reader learnt that Zero is silent because he does not like answering questions because he is cautious of people like Mr. Pendanski, who always mock him. Teenagers can relate to this because they are always wary of what people think about them. Zero was called stupid and dull all the time which makes Zero angry but he can’t do anything about it because he is a lot smaller than the rest of the inmates. â€Å"He is so stupid he doesn’t even know he is stupid†. Zero represents an incompetent teenager that we can all relate to at some point in our life. Louis Sachar uses many themes in the novel Holes. One of these themes is friendship. The benefits of forming solid friendships are clearly shown in the text. Stanley and Zeros friendship leads to survival and wealth. Once Stanley became Zeros friend he feels happier than he has ever felt in his life. False friends who are only friendly when they are getting something they want, like X-Ray, are shown to be dangerous. Once X-Ray stops getting benefits out of his friendship with Stanley, he becomes hostile towards him. â€Å" Another very important theme from the novel is Bullying. Bullying is used throughout the novel, which helps teenagers feel and understand what the characters are going through. Bullying is the act upon a person or persons causing harm physically or mentally. This theme adds extra emotion to the novel. The two characters Zero and Stanley are used to generate an authentic and recognisable aspect in the book. Stanley and Zero bond throughout the text and Sachar modifies the language when they are present to relax the reader, so they can interpret the text in their own way this quote clearly describes the beginning of their friendship and allows the reader to warm up to the characters. Conclusion Louis Sachar uses all these techniques to create a fascinating novel that all teenagers can relate to. Sachar uses language techniques appropriately and it enhances the books attractiveness and makes teenagers continue to read the book

Boutique Hotel And Tourism In Mexico Tourism Essay

Boutique Hotel And Tourism In Mexico Tourism Essay Introduction This report conducts the feasibility study to invest a boutique hotel in Mexico. It illustrates the structure of Mexico economic system, tourism industry, and the situation analysis. In order to evaluate the potential business, marketing mix is carefully analysis. Since the product is already chosen as boutique hotel, we must define boutique hotel and where is the location to be investing in. A boutique hotel is a small to medium size usually with no more than 150 rooms; provide personalized service and distinction design to attract the niche market. Boutique hotel is attracting the niche of customers looking for individual and special needs different than other property can offer. The investing boutique hotel will be located in Cancun Island, which is well known by its sea resort, and wide variety of activities can be done; it is voted one of the best tourism destinations. Mexico United Mexican States, which is commonly known as Mexico; it is located in the central of Americas. Mexico is the 14th largest nation in the world with estimated population 112 millions. Before Mexico declared independence in 1821, it was Spain colony for three hundred years. The most spoken language in Mexico is Spanish. The GDP by country in 2009 is 1.017 trillion. Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa is the current president in Mexico. Cancun Cancun is located in the east part of Mexico, in the state of Quintana Roo alone with the Caribbean Sea. Cancun is famous by the beautiful nature, beach, and the ancient Mayan archaeological sites. There are about 140 hotels in Cancun with 24000 rooms (Cancun Tourism Center); the occupancy focus in 2010 is 80% during the high season in July to the end of August. The weather of the city is sunny 70% the time during the year, and the temperatures are between 26C to 36C all year around. There are plenty of activities to enjoy in Cancun city with the water activities in the beach, nightlife in the downtown, and also the well famous heritage, the Mayan ruins. Yucatan General Information State name: Yacatan Capital: Merida White City (955,000 population) Population: 1,945,840 Area: 39,612 square kilometers Currency: Peso (1 Peso = 100 Centavos) Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6%, other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% Cancun population is 542,043 people. Tourism industry in Mexico Tourism is a very large industry in Mexico; it is rank as 2nd foreign destination within Latin America, 1st in Spanish speaking country, and 10th place in term of international tourists arrival (World Tourist Organization), figure 1 shows the international tourist travel around the world. Tourism sector 8% of the total GDP in Mexico. Mexico has one of the largest tourism industries in the world; in 2008, it had total 22.6 million tourists, with 13 billion generated by tourism industry. However, due to the economic crisis and swine flu H1N1 in 2009, new visa regulation and drug dealer violence act; Mexicans tourism industry had a large drawback, which causes the tourism visit Mexico drop by 16% in the 2nd quarter of 2009. The year 2009 was rather difficult for Mexicos travel and tourism industry. The situation expects to change in 2010 with 5% annual growth for the next decade. Experts of the AMHM are looking forward to 2010 are forecast this year will become an eventful year for Mexico with the upcoming bicentennial and action plans for extensive program of events. The tourism and hospitality industries are counting down on these events as a lot of tourists are expected to come to Mexico, which will become the first step to recover from the recession. The tourists will be able to learn more about Mexican culture, history, and the people. International tourist arrival Tourist (Stop-over) Arrivals in by Year Destination 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Bahamas 1450043 1514532 1491663 1527726 1462404 1326722 Cancun 2331362 2134180 1586942 2022302 2165320 1434416 Jamaica 1414786 1478663 1678905 1700785 1767271 1837091 Tourist Attraction An amazing fusion of European and especially Spanish and Meso-American cultures, which make up a unique culture, plus the coastal climate make Mexico even more attractive. The peak seasons in the country are during the month of December and the months of July and August. Cultural event in Mexico are mainly focused on: An amazing fusion of European and especially Spanish and Meso-American cultures, which make up a unique culture, plus the coastal climate make Mexico even more attractive. The peak seasons in the country are during the month of December and the months of July and August. Cultural event in Mexico are mainly focused on: Religion Art Literature National holidays Music Dancing Cuisine Cinema Sport There are three categories of event in Mexico: Catholic religious events, national events cultural events. El Dà ­a de Los Reyes which is the Three Kings Day is the traditional gift giving day. Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities take place from February to March with parades, dancing, fireworks and music. From 10-13 May, the Cancà ºn Jazz Festival takes place, featuring top musicians. The nation celebrates Independence Day on 15 and 16 September with fireworks and parties. The International Caribbean Festival is celebrated in November which is followed by the Fiesta of Isla Majors that honours the patron saint and the Cancun Fair in early December. Potential Problem in Mexico tourism industry Passport Visa requirement Start from June 2009, all the U.S. travelers returning/entering to the United States from Mexico must present a valid passport or other WHTI documentation, such as passport card, birth certificate or enhanced drivers license. Hurricane impact the coast Since our hotel is located in at the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun, the area can be affect by the hurricane season. Hurricane season in Mexico last from June to November, in 2009, the hurricane season was relatively mild in comparison with the few previous years, but the heavy storms had affected the tourists come to visit the country. Economic in Mexico The economy of Mexico is rank at the 14th largest in the world, and place 11th by the purchasing power parity. Since the year 1994, when the most severe crisis in the whole history of Mexico, Mexican peso suddenly suffered devaluation due to the high inflation rate, nearly 50% of the population suffered due to the no value in the currency. However, the country has made an impressive recovery, building a modern and diversified economy, and financial support from the U.S. government; even the 2002 South America economy crisis, it didnt influence much of the countrys economy as the government did everything possible in order to improve countrys economic fundament. Mexico is characterized by macroeconomic stability, by reducing inflation and interest rates to increase per capita income; however, enormous gap remain between the urban and the rural area, which only the rich and poor people remain, the middle class is almost disappearing. The Mexican government is facing the challenges include the upgrade of infrastructure, the modernization of tax system and labor laws, and the reduction of income inequality. Mexico has a strong business relation with the U.S., it suffered from the economic slowdown and economic recession by -6.8% in GDP in 2009. In 2010, Mexico is expecting a 3% growth and 2-3% growth for the next decade. Economic system Free Trade ActMexico is a free-market based economy, by signing up free trade agreements (FTAs) with more than 40 countries, which including the European Union, Japan, Israel, and much of Central and America. More than a quarter of the countrys GDP are generated from the export goods to the U.S. Mexican government are welcome for business to enter. Mexican economy is depending on the following: agriculture and food production, industry natural resource and services. Figure 2.2 shows the GDP sector. Taxation In order to open and develop a business in Mexico, there are some factors that should be taking into consideration before planning the correct strategy of investments. The political situation of the country, economical situation and demand that will help to build a marketing plan directed to making high revenue. Federal tax in Mexico may vary from 10% to 28% despite to the income. Corporations are been charge for 30% tax rate; however, for foreign private investors, the tax rate is set at 25%, which is slightly lower than the residents. This has a positive effect on the development of business in Mexico and attracts entrepreneurs to invest their money. The value-added tax (VAT) on the sale of goods, rendering of services, granting the use or enjoyment of goods and importation of goods or services is normally set at 16% in Mexico. In the border areas (international land border areas) is at 10%. (www.taxrates.cc) The concept of capital gains in Mexico does not exist. The earning that one gains from the sale of a product is treated as normal income. S.W.O.T. analysis of Mexico Strengths: Location is good because it is the major connection between North and South America. Tropical climate two main seasons (rainy and dry) Beautiful nature and rich culture with a lot of history Weaknesses: Economy is closely related with export to USA around 70% is export. Swine flu that hit very badly the whole country and they need to close it to stop the spread of the flu Big problem is drugs (selling and transport to USA) Natural disasters tsunami, earthquakes and hurricanes Split oil in the Gulf of Mexico related with tourism Treats: Economy depends too much on USA economy High violence because of drug traffic and cartels related with it Opportunities: Reducing dependence of USA economy and increase independency of the economy Development of the economy S.W.O.T. analysis of Cancun Strengths: Good location Very good known like tourist destination world wide Popular with Mesoamericans history and Maya`s ancient buildings Big variety if worldwide well known hotels A lot of options to explorer Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico also regions around Cancun (scuba diving, fishing, jeep trips, Mayan ruins, parks, museums) also there are 475 bird species, over hundreds different mammals and twelve hundred plants. Accessible (airport 10 km) Weaknesses: Too crowded because of the many tourists Hurricane ( Dean 2009) Treats: Depend too much on the tourism and hospitality industry Opportunities: Encourage people to invest and extend the agriculture (support and subsidize the sector) Develop green sites of the city Foreign investors in infrastructure Conclusion Investment Three quarter of the hotels in Cancun city are rated as 5 star luxury hotels. The average room rate is $80-200 according to dealbase.com, which is relevantly cheaper than Miami resort, start from $119 and go up. Cancun city became a favorite tourists destination by the U.S. and European. The occupancy rate is consistently stayed above 70% in the regular bases (Latin American Berald Tribune), which provide large clienteles to make profit. Cancun city has 140 hotels with very few boutique hotels in the area, by the research on escapio unique hotels web site, there are only 2 unique hotels can be fit into the boutique hotels categories. They are Hotel Villas HM Paraiso Del Mar and Las Nubes de Holbox. These hotels have standalone building for each room and only 20 rooms and 26 rooms each. This creates a huge demand of boutique hotels once the concept and advertising are spread in the area. Since there are only few unique style hotels in Cancun, the sustainability is low, it create inela stic of demand. This is why we think it is a good idea to invest boutique hotel in Cancun. From the customers side of view, the VAT is Cancun is at 10% rate, which is 6% lower than other inner states, because it is on the border of Mexico, this will attract more potential customers to Cancun. As we mention earlier, the taxation is set at 30% to corporation in Mexico, 33.3% in Jamaica, 20% in Belize. From an entrepreneur point of view, the taxation is quite high compare to the neighbor country Belize. To start the business, we must look at the factor of production: capital, labor, entrepreneurs, and land. The capital will be the most important factor to invest due to the high startup capital. However, our aim is to open a boutique hotel with 40 rooms, this can be an advantage to enter the business with lower initial investment. The labor cost is cheap in Mexico; the average minimum wage is at $4.5-6 per day. To maximize the profit, the operational expense will be the key to success, which the salary will be limit to the bottom to maximize the profit.

Essay on the Setting in Curtain of Green -- Curtain of Green Essays

The Setting in Curtain of Green      Place is one of the most distinctive factors in the development of Eudora Welty's writing and in her own evaluation of fiction in general. Welty considers setting to be a powerful tool for a writer of fiction. She sees setting as a way to provide roots for her characters and a realistic basis for her stories (Vande Kieft 8). In more general terms, Welty feels that place is so inherently important to the writing and receiving of fiction as a whole because of the set of feelings that are often associated with various places and the added realism that is gained by characters who are defined by their place (9). Welty's attitudes toward her settings are also important. Raised in Mississippi, the setting for nearly all of her stories, Welty possesses an understanding of the region, built through experience, that flourishes in her writing. Welty views setting as a vehicle through which she can provide roots for her characters (8). The union between setting and characters allows the reader to see the character in his setting, which ad...

Organizational Behavior Essay -- essays research papers

Organizational Behavior Terminology and Concepts April 2, 2005 Organizational behavior encompasses a wide range of topics, such as human behavior, change, leadership, and teams. Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people, individuals, and groups act in organizations. It interprets people-organization relationships in terms of the whole person, group, organization, and social system. Its purpose is to build better relationships by achieving individual, organizational, and social objectives. An organization’s base rests on management’s philosophy, values, vision and goals. This in turn drives the organizational culture which is composed of the formal, informal and the social environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Donald R. Clark there are four major Models of Organizational Behavior (1998) that organizations operate out of: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Autocratic – The basis here is power with a managerial orientation of authority. The employees are oriented towards obedience and dependence on the boss. The employee need that is met is subsistence and the performance result is minimal. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Custodial - The basis of this model is economic resources with a managerial orientation of money. The employees are oriented towards security and benefits and dependence on the organization. The employee need that is met is security. The performance result is passive cooperation. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Supportive – The basis here is leadership with a managerial orientation of support. The employees are oriented towards job performance and participation. The employee need that is met s status and recognition. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Collegial – The basis is partnership with a managerial orientation of teamwork. The employees are oriented towards responsible behavior and self-discipline. The employee need that is met is self-actualization. Although there are four models listed, I do not believe that any organization operates exclusively within one. My company, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. operates predominantly in the Supportive model. My position is run mainly on job performance and quality of work produced. My department also uses Collegial and Custodial (we are a gaming company after all). The culture of an organization is the personality o... ...rder to be successful. By understanding behavior, culture, diversity, communication and effectiveness, a company has a great chance of making their business work. Companies are not here to create a club with a certain culture. They are here to accomplish something; they have a core mission, a purpose. References American Heritage Dictionary of English Language, (2000). Houghton Mifflin Company, 4th Edition. Retrieved April 3, 2005 from: http://www.dictionary.com Caesars Entertainment, Inc., (2005). Corporate: About Us, Diversity. Retrieved April 3, 2005 from: http://www.caesars.com Clark, D., (March, 1998). Models of Organizational Behavior. Elements of Organizational Behavior. Retrieved April 2, 2005, from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/.html Prasad, C. (2004). How to distinguish yourself as a culturally diverse candidate. Retrieved April 2, 2005 from: IMDiversity http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/diversity/20040429-imdiversity.html Sonnenfeld, J., (2004). Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision. What is culture?. Retrieved April 2, 2005 from http://www.mapnp.org/library/culture/culture.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Destin Brass Products Co. Case Study Essay

Destin Brass Products Co. has been established and grown to produce valves (24% of the company revenue), pumps (55% of the company revenue), and flow controllers (21% of the company revenue). This paper will illustrate the recommended solutions for the management of the company that are trying to evaluate the competitive trends of the market for the mentioned products, and trying to start new strategies to deal with these trends. Finance and accounting, as mentioned by Ambler (2008) are the essentials and basis to the short and long existence of any type of companies. The high competitiveness of market requires that all types of businesses have a comprehensive understanding to the costs and profits in much detail in order to facilitate decision making process. In Destin Brass case, the company tried to establish a high brand name for producing the valves, but later as an expansion to the business, the company included two new product lines which are the pumps and the flow controllers keeping in mind the similarities of productions and the availability of the productions capacity. Destin Brass did not have a distinguished competitor in the valves market because of the high quality of the valves produced, but there is a massive competition in the pump and flow controllers market. This paper will capture a time of the company business where there is a high competition on the pumps’ prices and the solution of increasing the prices of the flow controllers did not change the market. The management is in need to reconsider its financial strategy in order to face competition. The financial analysis After evaluating the current financial situation of Destin Brass, The analysis hereby will collaborate to answer the management questions, and examples of the below solutions had been used by business and it proved to have an influence of decision making process regarding the company strategy. The solutions are as follows: Product costs as per the ABC information From the given information in the case study, there is a connection between the products costs and the costs incurred by the activities related to the productions of each product line. The answer to this issue is to prepare cost estimates for the three products by applying the essentials of the  activity based costing, table 1 shows that the ABC costs of the valves is 37.8, the pumps is 48.82, and the flow controllers is $100.63. The ABC method tries to connect the indirect costs to the products, and consequently treat them as direct costs. Based on the case study financial information, the calculations in table 1 have been prepared by using the following: Creating a cost pool for the machine depreciation and maintenance cost, and allocate the products based on machine hours. Creating a cost pool for receiving and material handling costs by calculating the number of transactions consumed for every product. Creating a cost pool for engineering costs by calculating how much engineering is consumed by each product. Comparing the ABC with the standard and the revised unit costs In this comparison, it will appear the cost of each product under the three types of costing calculation methods and the reason why they are different. Table 2 shows the comparison. The three costing methods treat direct costs which are run labour and material, in the same way. Moreover, financial experts support the idea that direct costs is not the actual problem as this can be tracked to the product, but the issue is that costing calculations gets complicated when trying to allocate the overheads (Indirect costs). The allocation of overheads is where the differences in costs come under the three costing methods. In the standard cost accounting there is no effort made to track the overhead costs to the products. It is believed that indirect costs can not be related with the products that’s why they are summarised and then allocated to the products based on the given allocation factor (cost driver). In Destin Brass case, the overheads which include the receiving and materials handling, packing and shipping, and depreciation and maintenance for $680.000 per month, are allocated based on the run labour dollars. Consequently, every product is allocated a percentage of the overheads in the same ratio that the product consume of labour (valves 0.5 run hours per unit, pumps 0.5 run per unit, and flow controllers 0.4 run per unit). See table 3 for details. The revised cost accounting makes part of the indirect costs as direct. The material and handling costs are treated in a separate way, but not the best cost driver had been chosen (direct material dollars), as it would be seen in the ABC. Moreover, setup labour is assigned directly based on the setup hours for which information is available. The remaining overheads are allocated on the basis of machine  hours. As mentioned by Peggy Alford, this gives an idea why competitors are cutting prices on pumps. It is now clear that costs of the pumps is overstated using the standard costing method while the costs of the valves are understated. But, costing can be improved especially that the flow controllers’ price is not really explained that they are cheaper to produce than it was calculated by the standard costing method. The ABC method tracks as much as possible of the indirect expenses of the products and services. So any expense incurred of a product is directly charged to that particular product rather than spreading the expense over all the products. When expenses incurred of a number of products, they are gathered and allocated based on a proper cost driver. In this way, the allocation will be done in proportion to the real costs consumption by all the products. Table 1 had shown the ABC costs calculations for the three products. Now, we can see that flow controllers have been subsidised by pumps and selling them for $97.07 is loss making (cost $100.63) rather than at 42% gross margin. But, subsidising flow controllers had made pumps less profitable while selling price of $81.26 corresponds to 43.37% gross margin. The costs of the valves are the same under both the standard and the ABC methods. Strategic implications of the financial analysis According to Bhimani et la (2008), highly competition business environment requires a comprehensive costs understanding, and a proper costing strategy is essential to facilitate decision making. In Destin Brass case, the management is facing a decision whether to go on in the pumps market in spite of the prices fall and decreasing profit margins or to cut this business line and concentrate only on the valves and the flow controller’s products which are profitable. But, making a decision following the standard costing method would have caused disastrous consequences for the company as it would cut the profitable product and concentrate on products that are selling at a loss. Destin Brass is an ideal example of how vital is to have an accurate costing method to follow to provide strategic decision making. But, in spite of the importance of the financial and accounting information that the costing method will provide, the management vision should be supported by the information not only dictated by the accounting information. The next month results In the time where cost accounting does not matter for the cost allocation to determine the costs of the products, it does not affect the bottom line. Here, assuming that the quantities of the productions and the sales, inventory, selling prices stay the same, and the prices of material, labour, handling remains the same. The net profit would be the same as the net profit of the last month. The bottom line will be affected in case the results showing in the ABC method are considered and the selling prices are adjusted. Conclusion The costing methods used to identify the strengths and weakness of the business performance helps management to decide whether operations require any improvements. This indicates that the inaccurate costing allocation can lead to either over or under pricing. Consequently, this will prevent the management from leading the company to make higher profit, retain customers or lead the company to wrong strategic decisions.