On Distance Learning Essay

Distance education represents a way of teaching with geographically dispersed individuals and groups. Moore related that as early as 1978, regular mail service was used to aid distance education, but the advent of the internet brought new and exceptional dimensions to the world of distance education (10). It offered access to geographically and physically separated individuals to courses and instruction in a more interactive manner through increased education, interactivity among participants, and incorporation of collaborative pedagogical models. But even with the increasing number of courses and degrees delivered entirely online, and the number of supporters this type of education has gained, many still express opposition to it as against the traditional classroom education. Former college teacher James Barszcz’s is one well-known critic of distance education. He strongly asserts in his essay that distance learning cannot fulfill the true purpose of education. The diffusion of the Internet worldwide has literally changed the traditional structure of the school, and, as it can be noticed from the previous examples, it is doing in many different ways that are more and more interesting. It must not be forgotten, of course, that parents keep on worrying about the fact their children’s opinions are circulating all over the world and that this could mean danger and repression for them. These anxieties, however, cannot erase the advantages coming from the introduction of this new technology into the educational are, most importantly, of bringing education to everyone. But what is the true purpose of education, really? In its most basic sense, I strongly believe that the essence of education is to instill in an individual the capability to make out at the world for oneself, to generate one’s own choices, to declare what is black or what is white. In whatever manner this education may come from, it is still learning and discovering about new things that help shape a person into what he is. Distance learning has brought a remarkable means of delivering this education to students in rural or remote areas, so that they make take advantage of continuing learning and give them the ability to schedule learning at times convenient to them. Not only that, a great number of distance education programs cater to the requirements of a lot of diverse people of all ages, sexes, occupations, learning backgrounds and health conditions. Granted that personal contact which is very important in effective education is missing with this kind of education, but as is the situation with all new technologies, there are negative and positive aspects to distance learning. Many instructors, as well as students of distance education miss this. Distance learning can admittedly be lonely sometimes. There is always a price to pay, whether it be big or small. Although this is the case, steps could be done to assuage this drawback. Encouraging students to share something about themselves is one activity that can at least give all participants the feeling that they know something about their colleague and the professor. Additionally, many courses are well supported and, for students who are unable to attend residential events, there are usually opportunities for students to participate in online discussion groups, clubs and societies. It would be noteworthy to point out that for distance learning to be effective, a conducive learning environment needs to be created and maintained. Considerable thought and effort should go into the criteria required for setting-up learning centers and how these criteria would be put into practice and monitored. If this would be followed, distance education, with an extensive record of providing learning to out-of-the-way and distant learners, will become the effective, mainstream method of education and training that advocates claim it to be. In a world where continuous learning is a must, distance education has paved the way for everyone to have access to the educational system without having to physically go to school. Discipline is needed, of course, but it is one value that even traditional schooling teaches students to have. In the end, distance education can only provide a win-win situation for everyone involved in it.

Banc One HBS case Essay

Banc One has a problem with the alignment of two of its important strategies: (1) rapidly acquiring profitable banks and (2) sustaining high returns while mitigating interest rate risk. Banc One has been very successful in acquiring banks, and much of this is done through the sale/transfer of Banc One’s stock. This strategy relies heavily on Banc One’s ability to maintain a high stock price. The second strategy – high returns with mitigated interest rate risk – relies heavily on the use of interest rate swaps. This use of interest rate swaps has become concerning to investors – due to its complicated nature, off-balance sheet activity, and distortions in earnings metrics – which has negatively affected and continues to negatively affect Banc One’s stock price. Because both strategies are extremely successful, Banc One should not focus on abandoning either, but rather focus on educating investors about the use of interest rate swaps and their importance in not only sustaining high returns, but also providing mitigated risk, which is a strategy investors generally seek. Rather, Banc One should follow a three-step solution. The first step is to continue educating investors through prospectus-type materials (in very simplified forms) and individually informing fund managers and analysts, who are easier to educate about these complex transactions. The second step is to provide transparency with swap transactions. Although Banc One is only required to disclose swap information in the footnotes of its financial statements, Banc One should provide very detailed and clear information about specific swap transactions, to reinforce the notion that Banc One has nothing to hide with these swap transactions. For the last step, Banc One should analyze it s swap-trading procedures and identify simpler types of swap trades it could make. This would make reporting and educating on swaps easier. QUESTION 1: How could Banc One manage its interest rate risk exposure without using swaps? That is, how could it move from being asset sensitive to being neutral or liability sensitive without using swaps? The reason why Banc One needs to use swaps is to cover the gap between the duration of its asset and liabilities and thus to mitigate its exposure to interest rate risk. Therefore, another way for the bank to achieve this is by: Matching the maturities of its assets and liabilities. Since the bank has more long- term fixed-rate liabilities, it can add more long-term fixed rate assets, such as Treasure Securities to its portfolio. This will match the maturities on both sides of the balance sheet and will make the bank neutral to changes in interest rates. If rates change, an upward movement on one side of the balance sheet will offset a downward movement on the other. Matching the duration of its loans and liabilities and making sure the impact of interest rate changes on both sides of the balance sheet would cancel each other out. If the bank decides to take this approach, it can use instruments with different maturity periods in order to neutralize its exposure to interest rate risk. In order to achieve this it has to match the return of initial investment periods of its assets and liabilities. Borrow at a floating rate and use the proceeds to buy long-term fixed rate assets in order to mitigate their asset interest rate exposure. In this case the bank secures future income payments at a certain fixed rate, which it can use to pay the interest on its long-term fixed rate liabilities. Similarly, it can use the income from its floating-rate assets to repay the income on its borrowed floating-rate instruments. Thus, it neutralizes its risk-exposure. Avoid long-term liabilities in order to reduce its exposure to interest rate  risk on the asset side. In this case, the bank can borrow only through short-term liabilities and thus changes in interest rates will not affect its liabilities side more than they will impact its assets side. Purchasing options, forward, or future contracts. In this way the bank can reduce the uncertainty in the future by entering into an agreement with set terms for a specific date. Thus, if the interest rate moves in an unfavorable direction, the bank has the option to use these tools in order to mitigate the impact of the change on its balance sheet. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using swaps rather than these other means? Advantages: There are no capital reserve requirements specific to swaps. Swaps do not appear as assets on the balance sheet and thus they are not accounted for in the capital requirement calculations for the bank. This frees capital for the bank and at the same time brings insurance against its interest rate exposure. Swaps give flexibility and allow the bank to design the contracts in a way that fits its needs. Banks can tailor the durations, rates and other terms of the swap contracts and make it specific to the current situation of the bank. Furthermore, they can easily communicate with other banks in order to construct contracts, which benefit both sides. Swaps can also improve the bank’s liquidity – It can invest in short-term instruments and thus avoid locking in its funds in long-term securities. At the same time it can add swaps to its portfolio in order to mitigate some of the interest rate risk involved in the investment of short-term securities. In this manner the bank can make sure it has enough funds to meet changes in demand and at the same time it does not have to be exposed to the accompanying rate change risk. Swaps are off-balance sheet agreements; however, the income they generate is included in the company’s financials. In this case swaps are not recorded as assets or liabilities, however, they still bring income, which is included in the company’s cash flow statement and accounted for in the performance ratios of the organization. Disadvantages: Creates difficulties for the market and for investors to assess the risk and financial situation of the bank. As banks use more and more swap contracts, assessing the risk exposure of the organization becomes increasingly complex. Thus, external investors have a harder time evaluating the bank’s current situation and usually require higher returns to compensate for the perceived higher risk. Gives opportunities for speculations- Even though banks use swaps in order to mitigate interest rate exposure, they can also use them as instruments for speculations and short-term gains. If managers think they can predict the rate movement for a future period, they can be tempted to use swaps in order to gain from this movement. Thus, banks have to be careful in their strategies and should make sure they monitor the decision making process involved in the purchases and sales of swaps. They carry a small risk that the opposite party might default on the contract and leave the bank exposed to interest rate risk. What is the impact on interest rate sensitivity, accounting ratios, and capital ratios? Utilizing swaps, Banc One is more liability sensitive rather than asset sensitive. Without swaps, they would need to use its long duration assets to help control its interest rate sensitivity. Through its use of swaps, Banc One increases it return on assets. If they chose to manage interest rate risk by using methods mentioned above, the bank would hold more assets with longer durations causing the return on its assets to decrease relative to them using swaps. In the same scenario, the bank would have a lower return on equity due to the large amounts of assets needed. In  addition, the Appendix shows that although the Twin B bank has higher risk adjusted assets, the Tier I capital to risk-adjusted asset ratio is lower compared to Banc One’s ratio. References: http://www.federalreserve.gov/Boarddocs/SupManual/trading/200901/3000p2.pdf QUESTION 2: Describe how AIR’s work. Amortizing Interest Rate Swaps (AIRS) at Banc One grew out of a desire to create a synthetic collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) similar to swaps but with the additional returns characteristic of CMO investments. Why is Banc One using them? CMO’s are desirable investments because it allows investors to get the benefits from investing in mortgage securities and it also is structured so that investors can easily estimate speed of prepayment. AIRs work best in low interest rate environments. With low interest rates, AIRS amortize faster and banks reinvest only when yields were low. AIRs have evolved to have their amortization schedule fixed by a formula instead of being tied to a group of mortgages. Another element of AIRs desirable to Banc One centered on the fixed rate or swap spread. In AIRs, Banc One would receive a fixed rate plus LIBOR. During this time period, Banc One could receive a swap spread of 120 bps over treasuries as compared to Banc One using a standard swap or comparable CMO that yielded 100 or 20 bps over similar treasuries, respectively. QUESTION 3: What are basis swaps? Basis swaps allow Banc One to transform prime-based floating rate assets to  fixed-income investments. Why is Banc One using them? Banc One was still vulnerable to basis risk even though synthetic investments partially shielded the bank from sensitivity stemming from shifts in interests rates. Between the two rates, LIBOR and prime, LIBOR changed frequently because it was traded daily while prime changed infrequently because it was governed by bankers. Basis swaps involved Banc One paying a floating rate based on prime while receiving floating rates based on three-month LIBOR and in addition Banc One would use an AIR to mitigate the risk posed by mismatched rates. QUESTION 4: What is counterparty risk? Counter-party risk is the risk that the counter-party – the other party in the transaction – will default on its obligations. How does Banc One measure this risk? The key to measuring counter-party risk is to understand the counter-party’s ability to pay, and this is done through a counter-party’s credit rating. The higher the credit rating, the greater the likelihood that that counter-party would not default. There are other ways that institutions can assess this risk, such as through an independent analysis of the company’s financial reports. How do they manage counter-party risk? Banc One managed this risk in several ways. First, it never dealt with an entity with lower than a single-A rating. Second, Banc One monitored its mark-to-market exposure to each counter-party and limited its exposure to any given company through strict guidelines. If the exposure exceeded the specified amount according these guidelines, Banc One would reallocate its swap portfolio. Third, counter-parties were required to post additional collateral as the market value of the swap changed, similar to how a margin account works with stocks. If the swap value for the counter-party dropped, it would have to post additional collateral to cover the value of a potential default. QUESTION 5: Why might Banc One’s use of swaps be damaging to the stock price? The main problem Banc One is facing is a drop in investors’ confidence due to its increased use of interest rate swaps. As confidence in Banc One falls, so does its stock price. At that time Banc One has ten pending acquisitions, with Liberty National Bancorp being the largest and if its stock falls below the â€Å"walkaway† price of $34.55 Liberty National Bancorp will either cancel the deal or the acquisition will become dilutive in violation of the bank’s established rules. What are investors and analysts concerned about? On the one hand investors are concerned about the transparency and accuracy of Banc One’s financial reports. Since interest rate swaps were off-balance sheet transactions, they underestimated the bank’s assets and in turn overestimated its earnings performance (Net interest margin, ROA and E/A ratio). In addition, the regulatory bodies (Financial Accounting Standards Board) required minimal disclosure on the companies’ swap portfolio, and as Banc One’s portfolio increased, investors felt they could not accurately assess the risk of the bank. On the other hand the fact that Banc One was acquiring heavily asset-sensitive institutions – which required it to increase its interest rate swaps portfolio to adjust to mild liabilities sensitivity – further made investors uncomfortable because they felt the growth of the portfolio might get out of control and could further cloud Banc One’s financial performance. How should Banc One respond to these concerns? The best path for Banc One is to educate investors about the bank’s use of derivatives. If Banc One does nothing, investors will likely become more concerned with Banc One’s practices and continue to withdraw from the stock, which will result in lower a lower stock price and major complications in Banc One’s investment strategy – acquiring other banks. If Banc One limits its derivatives trading, it exposes itself and its stock holders (which it has a fiduciary duty to) to much greater levels of interest rate risk. Because Banc One’s current strategy is the most optimal strategy for higher returns with more limited risk, it must find a way to educate investors about its practices, and how these practices are in investors’ best interests. This could include the disbursement of simpler educational materials (similar to prospectuses) and meetings with fund managers and analysts to inform them of the benefits of these trading practices. Banc One should also provide more transparency to investors about the types of derivatives trades it makes, adding more information about these trades rather than detail-limited footnotes in financial statements. Banc One should also research and implement (if possible) methods to trade swaps more simply.

Malunggay as an effective cooking oil Essay

Commercial cooking oil is an enormous need of people nowadays. These days, cooking oil is becoming expensive. Commoners, or people with insufficient finance, can no longer afford this necessity. Instead, they opt for oil with lesser quality simply because it’s cheaper. It’s very ghastly to do this because for one; your health could be affected, two; you could harbour diseases, and three; on the worst case scenario, it could lead to your death. To think that they would go to extreme lengths, such as that, just to provide oil. Going back to the topic prior to this, we think that although it may be costly, most cooking oils are of unsatisfactory standards especially in our nutrition. With that said, we all share the idea of wanting to solve this problem. We conducted a research about the effectivity of Moringa Olefeira, also known as â€Å"Malunggay†, when used as an ingredient for cooking oil. We chose Moringa Olefeira for a reason; gram for gram, â€Å"Malunggay† leaves contain: seven times the vitamin C in oranges, four times the Calcium in milk, four times the vitamin A in carrots, two times and the protein in milk and three times the Potassium in bananas. Using this so called â€Å"Wonder Vegetable† (according to the elderly), we could create a product that can be healthy and useful, and at the same time be sold in a reasonable price. Our main goal is aimed at the welfare of everyone. We hope that this experiment can be of great help to anyone who uses it. We gathered the data of this study from various references. We owe a massive and part of this study to literature and the internet; without them we wouldn’t have anything, even a problem, to begin with. 3 Statement of the Problem. Main Problem Can malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) leave extract be a potential material for formulating cheaper yet healthier commercial cooking oil? Specific Questions 1. At which concentration of malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) leaves extract will it be able to cook food? a. 10 mg/ml b. 20 mg/ml c. 25 mg/ml 2. How effective will it be on cooking safe and edible food? It can be inferred in terms of: a. Period or time of cooking b. Taste of the food cooked c. Nutrition facts or nutrients contained by the food 4. Significance of the Study People living in the community. The study will help the people in the community to manufacture useful cooking oil that can be alternatively used to cook food – which is a basic commodity. Malunggay is very common to the community so people can easily grow them and prepare it for extraction. In addition, unlike the commercial cooking oil we use, it is healthy and contains the nutrients of malunggay. The researchers. The researchers will benefit from the study because in would fulfil our curiosity. It will also encourage us to find other alternatives from malunggay -which is very abundant in our country- that can help us in our everyday lives. Environment. The environment profit from the study in the fact that cooking oil that is already used by people will just be thrown away in the streams and it will cause water pollution. Not like with the cooking oil made from malunggay, its chemical components can be easily dissolved in water. Manufacturers of commercial cooking oil. This study would help big companies as it lessen the production cost of cooking oil because it only uses malunggay. 5 Scopes and Limitations of the Study The study aims to produce budget-friendly and nutritious oil that can be used by people to cook their own food. In able to do this study, researchers must first collect Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) around the community and prepare it for extraction in the laboratory or do it at home. After the extraction process, series of test must be done to prove and justify the effectivity of the product. It must cook food using stoves at normal cooking temperature that are normally used by households and the food must contain healthy nutrients that must be good to our body. This experiment also has its fair share of restrictions. And one of those restraints is when the researcher doesn’t have sufficient materials to create the said product, especially if they don’t have the main ingredient or, in this case, the malunggay. The person would have to plant or buy these materials, thus spending much time and cash. Speaking about money, another problem may occur if the researcher has a weak budget. An extra problem is if the researcher does not have enough knowledge to create and research about the problem. Another limitation of the study is when the researcher doesn’t have a place to create the product or when his surrounding isn’t fit for the making of the substance. The researcher must remember to take into account even the smallest detail of this project. The researcher must have great dedication in doing this study. He should love what he is doing and he need to make it as one of he’s passion. 6.

Discussion on NSA Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion on NSA Security - Essay Example According to Hypponen, basically, each international internet user is under US surveillance. Hypponen is worried about our future communication and data which he fears will be stored in the US data center in Utah; the world’s largest. Hypponen laments how the US government is infringing on individual privacy and making everything insecure by infiltrating standardization bodies to purposely sabotage encryption algorithms. The NSA by use of PRISM which is a particular NSA database and an aspect of the entire NSA surveillance endeavor, details collection program for data collection from various service providers. Thus clearly, the world is no longer a safe place to communicate freely and the US has completely infiltrated people’s privacy under the guise of fighting terrorism. Although the US is legally obligated to monitor foreigners as well as foreigners’ data connections when they end up or pass through United States, you realize that 96% of people in the planet are foreigners. This means that almost virtually everybody is being watched by the US. This i s not only morally wrong, but also rude and should make everybody angry. Hypponen proposes that the world unite together through either political pressure or by seeking alternative services, so as to build together open, free as well as secure

Czech Republic Conversion to the Euro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Czech Republic Conversion to the Euro - Essay Example Investments in property have been greatly reduced. Thousands of advertisements for selling properties are seen in newspapers daily. Negotiations with the Czech National Bank (CNB) to lower the interest rate by 1.5 percent are in process so as to lessen the impact and stress on economy. Czech Republic: Importance of Euro Adoption Since Euro is the second largest currency distributed and used worldwide, following points will emphasize on how beneficial it will be to Czech to adopt Euro as its official currency. Minimizing Transaction Costs: - People in Czech, with 'Koruna' (CZK) as their currency, have to first convert their currency to dollar to pay their bills. The latest conversion rate is 1.00 CZK = 0.0499510 USD. Banks and exchange companies charge an extra amount for this conversion. Euro, if adopted as the national currency in EU, will definitely minimize such transaction costs leading the Czech economy to progress. Eliminating Exchange Rates: - Since, conversion from one currency to other in between European states will be eradicated on the adoption of Euro, the exchange rates will no longer affect the economy and the risks for the appreciating or depreciating currency will also be eliminated. Increasing Competition: - Transparency refers to knowing and seeing much of something; a product, price or service. Euro is transparent and will benefit the consumers to understand what they actually need and how much by paying fewer prices for products and services. It will also increase the wages thereby creating competition among the European states with Euro as their national currency. Capital Distribution: - All the European states including Czech... The paper describes the Czech economy and the importance of Euro adoption in it. Since the whole world is going through the period of recession, the economy is being tremendously affected. The economy of Czech Republic, more of a struggling state, is totally dependent upon the development of the Western Europe for the next two years according to the latest poll published by the Czech News Agency. Investments in property have been greatly reduced. Thousands of advertisements for selling properties are seen in newspapers daily. Negotiations with the Czech National Bank (CNB) to lower the interest rate by 1.5 percent are in process so as to lessen the impact and stress on economy. Since Euro is the second largest currency distributed and used worldwide, following points will emphasize on how beneficial it will be to Czech to adopt Euro as its official currency. All the European states including Czech Republic will have a fair allocation of capital in financial markets. The Czech Republi c government first decided the introduction of Euro in 2009. But due to the stressed circumstances all around the world, it has been reported by the Czech News agency that the plan of introducing Euro as the national currency of the Czech Republic has been postponed until 2012. For this, CNB has time to work on its monetary policies. It also plans to research more on the European framework to improve the economic situation of the Czech Republic.

Early Formation of Our Government The United States of America Essay

Early Formation of Our Government The United States of America - Essay Example The other was the belief in covenants. Puritans believed that covenants existed not only between God and man, but also between man and man. The Pilgrims had used covenants in establishing their congregations in the Old World. The Mayflower Compact is such a covenant in that the settlers agreed to form a government and be bound by its rules. X: A new tax was imposed on all the American colonists in 1765, which is known as the stamp act. This act states that all the American colonists should pay a tax on every piece of printed paper. The reason of the tax is to defend and protect the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains, where 10, 000 troops were stationed to accomplish the task. "The actual cost of the Stamp Act was relatively small. What made the law so offensive to the colonists was not so much its immediate cost but the standard it seemed to set. In the past, taxes and duties on colonial trade had always been viewed as measures to regulate commerce, not to raise money". X: Yep, July 4, 1776 was the day when the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America was passed. It is also considered the Independence day of America. The struggle which was started in the start of the eighteenth century was come to the end at a positive note. In a nutshell, Americans did a lot to get the independence from the colonists, who were not loyal to the people of North

Suicidal Behavior Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Suicidal Behavior - Case Study Example Nevertheless, I have established the following cause and effect relationship for the suicidal case: Family related - an abusive father with grave personal issues such as gambling addiction (p. 86); a self-destructive mother who eventually died leaving the children to fend for themselves (p. 86); a sister as a source of envy (p. 88). Suicidal tendencies common in the family (p. 86). Self related - attempt to make people around feel guilty; tendency to blame self for the miseries happening around her (p. 95). The narrator also had the feeling of being powerless of saving the parent whom he loved very much (p. 93). Society related - being a woman at that time (stated to be 1972) was disadvantageous because of the concept of man as superior than his partner. (p. 92). There was also a lack of effectiveness for the support and rescue system such as tranquilizers only causing lethargy, uninspired trainee psychiatrist and ignorant love of nuns at the convent school (p. 85). The Cause and Effect analysis reveals many important points for the determination of the suicidal tendencies. Foremost of the reason is the abusive father who found it appropriate to make his children suffer as he did. He had a hard background and the pressure of supporting his children and his mentally challenged wife was too much for him to bear. He saw his family as people who made him suffer and so he must make them suffer. Backed by the notion that the man is the head of the family, he could have deemed it fit to treat to make his family recognize his superior masculinity, albeit, to a serious and violent degree. The patriarchal system pervading the period was also providing the justification for the abusive act. Self-destruction it appears runs in the family. The mother and sister had it as well as the narrator. However, it becomes more important to point out that such unfortunate situation can be more attributed to the unfortunate life that their parents had. The narrator's mother fended for herself at the young age of 10 while the father was forced to work and forget schooling. Misery for those misfortunes made itself known thru violence. There is also a cause and effect relationship for her survival. It is as follows: 1. Narrator successfully repressing her suicidal tendency Family related - fond memories for her mother who taught her the value of cheerfulness; a newfound sibling relationship with her

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 356

Assignment Example In such circumstances, NSAIDs and Acetaminophens are the most common drugs used in pain relieving incidences. Despite their similar use in pain relieving, NSAIDs and Acetaminophens differ significantly. Some of the differences between the two grug classes include the aspect that NSAIDs have worse side effects, which requires for reduced exposure in terms of time while Acetaminophens have fewer side effects and as such can regularly be used for pain relieving activities (Arcy and Marmo 42). Considering the differences in mode of action of different drugs, different drugs are used in response to occurrences of various symptoms. Acetaminophen as a pain reliever is best utilized in the treatment of symptoms involving heartaches, headaches, and backaches. Naproxen on its part is best used in the treatment of symptoms such as painful periods, arthritis, gout, and joint inflammatory disease that occurs both in children and adults. Aspirin, which happens to be the most common NSAIDs, is best used in the treatment of inflammation of the heart with rheumatic fever rheumatic fever, and Kawasaki disease. Ibuprofen on its part works in an almost similar manner to aspirin in symptoms treatments, which involve painful periods, joint inflammatory disease in children and young adults, and rheumatoid

Enterprise infrastructure and Cloud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Enterprise infrastructure and Cloud - Essay Example The two types are available in three computing platforms which include SaaS, PaaS and IaaS. TRU should choose IaaS out of the three available platforms. Cloud computing is a distributed computing system that makes information technology services available on remote computers. Internet based service providers offer cloud computing. Some of the services offered include data storage, processing, applications, and software. Organizations using cloud services can improve their efficiency and can also respond quickly to customers’ demands. Private cloud computing is owned and operated by a single organization. The organization itself can either manage or hire a third party to do the management on its behalf. The organization can also set up a private cloud within its premises or in some other place. Community cloud computing system is shared by several organizations. The organizations using the shared infrastructure have common concerns such as policy, security requirements, mission, or even particular compliance. The organizations can jointly manage the infrastructure or higher a third party. The facility may also exist within or outside the premises of the organizations (Radack). Hybrid cloud consists of at least two cloud services such as public, private or community. The various cloud services grouped together remain separate entities, but applications and data are portable (Radack). Software as a Service (SaaS) involves organizations renting cloud applications from service providers. The consumers can access the cloud services through applications such as web browsers. In such a computing platform, the service provider manages the entire cloud infrastructure. The consumers, thus, cannot control the operating systems, applications, networks and storage. In such a system, the service provider can easily integrate new system functionality. The consumers also benefit by running the same software version (Sareen, 533). Platform as a

Comparison of Two Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Comparison of Two Companies - Essay Example In the year 1929, Cohen opened the first ever Tesco store in North London. During the 1930s, the company experienced growth as Cohen began to buy stores in the expanding London suburbs, and in the year 1947 the company became a public company. It was in 1958 that the first supermarket was inaugurated in Maldon, Essex. Household goods became item of sale for the company from the year 1960. In the year 1993, the company introduced Tesco Value which allows the customers to choose goods from a wide range of products at attractive prices. The company gained international status in the year 1995 after capturing the Hungarian market. It entered the Chinese market in the year 2004 by opening 100 stores and the US market in the year 2007 under the name Fresh & Easy. In the year 2012, Tesco for the first time started online shopping service with a wide range of fresh and frozen food. Since its inception the company has consistently flourished and today it has more than 53,000 people working fo r the company, and caters to more than millions of customers every week (â€Å"Tesco: History†). The company’s mission is to provide the ultimate shopping experience to its customers. Morrisons Supermarket is the fourth largest retail chain in UK with more than 500 stores. Food and grocery are its main products sold in weekly stores. For over 100 years, Morrisons Supermarket has ruled the retail market of the UK. The founder of this chain of retail stores is William Morrison, an egg and butter merchant, who opened his first store in the year 1899 in Bradford market. In the year 1967, Morrisons was declared as a public company with 80,000 shares becoming instant demand among investors. After showing high sales and a consistent increase of profit for 35 years, the company joins the FTSE 100 for the first time in April 2001 (Morrisons: Company History). As of 2013, Morrisons has captured 11.8 percent of the  £101bn value of UK grocery store market.

Eid Celebration and Poors Essay Example for Free

Eid Celebration and Poors Essay Abstract Acknowledgement We are highly grateful to almighty Allah who gave us the power to complete this report and we would also like to a very special thanks to our honorable teacher to Mr. Tahir Iqbal DIHE ,   for providing us a golden opportunity to do this research whose help , stimulating suggestions, knowledge, experience and encouragement helped us in all the times of study and analysis of the project. without whom this report was almost mpossible. It was a really good learning experience working under him. We would also thanks to all of those who supported us in any respect during the completion of the project. There are many traditional celebrations throughout the world. There is Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Not everyone or every culture, so to speak observes these celebrations. It depends on your background, culture, and beliefs. Every year within our culture and religion we celebrate (Eid) al Fitr. Eid is the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad it is the month of fasting Eid is an Arabic word meaning festivity, while Fi? means conclusion of the fast; and so the holiday celebrates the conclusion of the thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The first day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month Shawwal. Eid is almost like Christmas, with family gathering, festive attires, giving of gifts, and food, this holiday is very memorable. In Pakistan, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, charities and markets find the mselves overcome by a burst of activity. We call ourselves Muslims, yet we don’t want to lose out on this wonderful opportunity to rip people off in the holy month of Ramazan. We create an artificial price hike, raise the prices to double and triple to earn a windfall profit†¦ because who knows when the chance to ‘hit the hardest where it hurts the most’ will come again. The entire nation adorns a garb of piety from the evening of the first day of Ramazan till Chand Raat. Western society has a lot to learn from us Muslims; they don’t quite understand the essence of unity, do they? Like naive creatures they actually lower their prices around Christmas time and go on a complete slash of prices right after Christmas. These people actually want consumers to afford the luxuries of life and celebrate with their loved ones. It seems like they haven’t learnt their lessons of a capitalist society well enough. No wonder people in that part of the world live longer and are hideously obese! On Eid day and the holidays that followed, we saw numerous pictures on television channels of  people celebrating the occasion in parks, on the beach and at family gatherings but this is just one face of Eid. For many others — perhaps, tens of thousands of people — Eid remained a far less festive occasion. The parents who could not buy clothes or new shoes for their children ; nor did those unable to put together a decent meal even on this occasion. During the religious festival, the household spending touches its peak Our survey revealed that in Karachi even low income group spend nothing less than Rs1000 per person in the family. This is inclusive of all expenditures that include spending on dresses, footwear, accessories, edibles, household durables and transport. The informal survey indicated the varying composition of spending in the family budget of different social classes. The proportion of spending on poor increases as income climbs. While in families of modest means, the Eid budget is consumed by basic needs, food, clothing, etc . Problem Statement The commencement of the month of ramadan is going to bring in not only the frenzy of the upcoming Eid festival but also something else which is increased tension and worry that is caused by the uncontrolled price hike of the daily essentials. Each year before the month of ramadan, the prices of the daily essentials increase twise or even thrice as much. Its difficult for lower income families to manage their budget in Ramadan and Eid due to increases of prices. The poor have got poorer and those who thought that they were well off a few years ago are busy reassessing their value – something to do with fitting into the elite. , a person (unskilled worker or the people at the lowest rung such as guards, sweepers or seasonal workers) making Rs5,000 (about $75) per month living off a make- shift hutment in a shanty township (kutchi abbadi) supporting a family cannot spend his full salary on Eid shopping. The market sources confirmed that inflation has jacked up the prices but the rise in prices of fabric, footwear and ordinary accessories is much less in percentage as compared to hike in the prices of edibles. â€Å"The food inflation is backbreaking high at 25-35 per cent. For a variety of reasons, the rates of ordinary local fabric and garments have risen marginally by 5-10 per cent†, a market analyst observed. According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, 88% of Pakistanis said their preparations for Eid suffered due to inflationary pressures. Eid is our religious festival and give the massage of sacrificing and share the joys but now days it becomes celebrate as cultural festival and we forgot this massage | | | | |Variable to be Studied | | |Independent variable: | |†¢ Price hike | | | |Dependent variable: | | | |†¢ Family of Middle class | |†¢ Family of working class | |†¢ Family of lower class | Research Hypothesis H1:- Does the price hike affect the budget of lower income families H2:- Does the price hike affect the purchasing power of lower income families H3:- Does the price hike affect the Ramadan spending of lower income families H4:- Does the price hike affect the Eid celebrations of lower income families. H5:- Does inflation affect the Eid shopping very highly Research Objective The main objective of this research is Find out and analyze the problems which are faced by lower income families due to high inflation that how they manage their budgets specialy in Ramadan and how the celebrate their Eid with low income. Sources of Information Primary Sources:- Questionnaires Interviews Secondary Sources:- New Articals Online Articals Websites Method Of Data Collection A self administered questionnaire interview was conducted to collect the data from the target population on basis of non probability based sampling techniques. The people belonging to above mentioned three classes will be approached for this purpose. Questionnaires were developed for the interview which were distributed in different social Classes. To obtain the relevant information, population interviewed consisted of house wives and people from all walks of life. The questionnaire was designed to measure the impact of price hike on low income families. Likert scale was used for dependent variable different social classes independent variables price hike ranging from 1 to 5 where 1 is coded as â€Å"strongly agree† to 5 is coded as â€Å"strongly disagree†. Sampling Techniques Convenient Sampling:- Non Probability based Convenient sampling technique has been used for this purpose of data collection. Sample was taken from the Karachi city, through structured questionnaire , Instruments of Data Collection:- Close ended Questionnaire with likert scale has been used for data collection Sample Size: A total of 300 questionnaires were administered to potential respondents chosen from various areas of Karachi. A total of 250 usable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 87%. Data Analyses ; Findings Discussion ; Conclusion Recommandation List Of References Apendix

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Essay Example for Free

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Essay I have chosen to build a temple for Poseidon in the city-state of Athens. The reason this temple is in Athens is because according to the Greek myth on the website Mr. Donn, the contest of Poseidon and Athena, the two gods compete to prove they are worthy of guarding that city-state. Athena gets the honor to guard that city-state because Poseidon thinks her gift is much better than his, but still is unhappy. To show his unhappiness, he flooded Athens. So, to show thanks to allowing her to be their guardian, I made this temple in honor of Poseidon. Additionally, Poseidon likes receiving temples and gifts from the city-states, especially the coastal city-states, like Athens, since those are closer to his true royal underwater palace. In this temple made especially for Poseidon, I have included some features that would be found in his royal underwater palace. This includes the decorative columns, fountains, and shells to add decoration to his palace above water. In the model of the temple and the drawing, I focused on only one room, the most important room to Poseidon. In this room, there is Poseidons throne, his Tridents holder and a royal fountain with sparkling blue water. He has a view of the city-state of Athens, and of the Aegean Sea. Poseidon will truly be pleased by this temple for many reasons. First of all, he will be pleased because the temple is on a peninsula where he can gaze out to the Aegean Sea. At the same time, he will still be close enough to Mount Olympus so he can travel faster when needed at a meeting of the council of gods. Also, Poseidon will be able to have a private place where he can map out what city-states he still has to take guard over. This would be important to him because he wants to be the guard of the most city-states to prove hes the mightiest.

Mission Statement Essay Vision Statement Essay

Mission Statement Essay Vision Statement Essay Mission Statements Vision Statements Vision Statements and Mission Statements are the inspiring words chosen by successful leaders to clearly and concisely convey the direction of the organization. By crafting a clear mission statement and vision statement, you can powerfully communicate your intentions and motivate your team or organization to realize an attractive and inspiring common vision of the future. â€Å"Mission Statements† and â€Å"Vision Statements† do two distinctly different jobs. A Mission Statement defines the organizations purpose and primary objectives. Its prime function is internal to define the key measure or measures of the organizations success and its prime audience is the leadership team and stockholders. Vision Statements also define the organizations purpose, but this time they do so in terms of the organizations values rather than bottom line measures (values are guiding beliefs about how things should be done.) The vision statement communicates both the purpose and values of the organization. For employees, it gives direction about how they are expected to behave and inspires them to give their best. Shared with customers, it shapes customers understanding of why they should work with the organization Vision Statements are difficult to write they should short, clear, vivid, inspiring and concise without using jargon, complicated words or concepts. Successful Statements are memorable and engaging. A combination of both a companys mission and a companys vision of the future may be included in a Mission Statement. No wonder there is so much confusion between Vision Statements and Mission Statements! Sample Vision Statements Definition of a Vision A Vision is defined as An Image of the future we seek to create. Definition of a Mission A Mission is defined as Purpose, reason for being. Defined simply Who we are and what we do. What is the difference between Mission Statements and Vision Statements? A good definition for a Mission Statement is a sentence or short paragraph which is written by a company or business which reflects its core purpose, identity, values and principle business aims. The definition for Vision Statements is a sentence or short paragraph providing a broad, aspirational image of the future. Mission Statements therefore contain important information about a company in a nutshell. This should include the the company mission ( what the company does, its products, its services and its customers). These types of Statements focus on today Vision Statements therefore contain details of the companys future its vision ( the future plans with aims and objectives )These types of Statements focus on tomorrow. An organizational mission is an organizations reason for existence. It often reflects the values and beliefs of top managers in an organization. A mission statement is the broad definition of the organizational mission. It is sometimes referred to as a creed, purpose, or statement of corporate philosophy and values. A good mission statement inspires employees and provides a focus and direction for setting lower level objectives. It should guide employees in making decisions and establish what the organization does. Mission statements are crucial for organizations to prosper and grow. While studies suggest that they have a positive impact on profitability and can increase shareholder equity, they also support that almost 40 percent of employees do not know or understand their companys mission. Not only large corporations benefit from creating mission statements but small businesses as well. Entrepreneurial businesses are driven by vision and high aspirations. Developing a mission statement will help the small business realize their vision. Its primary purpose is to guide the entrepreneur and assist in refining the planning process. By developing a strategic plan that incorporates the mission statement, entrepreneurs are more likely to be successful and stay focused on what is important. The mission statement encourages managers and small business owners alike to consider the nature and scope of the business. Business Week attributes 30 percent higher return on several key financial measure for companies with well-crafted mission statements. COMMON ELEMENTS While mission statements vary from organization to organization and represent the distinctness of each one, they all share similar components. Most statements include descriptions of the organizations target market, the geographic domain, their concern for survival, growth and profitability, the company philosophy, and the organizations desired public image. For example: Our mission is to become the favorite family dining restaurant in every neighborhood in which we operate. This will be accomplished by serving a variety of delicious tasting and generously portioned foods at moderate prices. Our restaurants will be clean, fun, and casual. Our guests will be served by friendly, knowledgeable people that are dedicated to providing excellent customer service. This mission statement describes the target market, which are families and the geographic domain of neighborhoods. It clearly states how it expects to be profitable by offering excellent customer service by friendly, knowledgeable people. When defining the mission statement it is important to take into account external influences such as the competition, labor conditions, economic conditions, and possible government regulation. It is important to remember however, that mission statements that try to be everything to everybody end up being nothing to anybody. Companies should have mission statements that clearly define expected shareholder returns and they should regularly measure performance in terms of those expected returns. If the major reason for a businesss existence is to make a profit then it stands to reason that expectations of profit should be included in the organizations mission. This means that management should reach a consensus about which aspects of the companys profit performance should be measured. These might include margin growth, product quality, market share changes, competitive cost position, and capital structure efficiency. A mission statement sets the boundaries for how resources should be allocated and what strategic and operational goals should be set. The mission statement should acknowledge the companys strengths and then inform employees where to direct their efforts in order to take advantage of those strengths. Before writing a mission statement organizations should take a look at how they are different from the competition, whether it is in technology, image and name brand, or employees. It can often be thought of as a recipe for success because it not only defines the organizations accomplishments but it also provides employees with directions to help them develop plans and look for opportunities for improvement. The organization defines what is acceptable behavior through the mission statement. Values and beliefs are the core of a strong mission statement. For example: Quality and values will secure our success. We will live by our values, have fun, and take pride in what we do. Our values are to maintain a work environment where people enjoy coming to work, to serve our guests and exceed their expectations, and to be profitable and result oriented. This mission statement is simple and straightforward. It does not, however, specify the products or target market. The mission statement also provides meaning to the organization by stating not only what goals the company wants to achieve but also why it wants to achieve these goals. It is not effective unless it is challenging and forces workers to establish goals and means to measure the achievement of those goals. A mission statement should inspire employees and get them involved in the organization. It has been called the glue that holds the organization together through shared values and standards of behavior. A mission statement should be relevant to the history, culture, and values of the company. Many statements refer to the social responsibility of the organization. For example, a company can show their concern for the community in the following: To be involved as good corporate citizens wherever we are around the world. We will treat customers and distributors with honesty, courtesy, and respect. We will respect and preserve the environment. Through all of this we will prove to be the worldwide leader in industry trade. One important issue in organizations today is the concern with diversity. While it is not a traditional point included in mission statements, more and more companies are including it because of the globalization of the economy and the increased diversity of the workforce. Before writing a mission statement, leaders in the organization must have an idea of what is in store for the future. This vision is the foundation for the mission statement. The vision provides a strategic direction, which is the springboard for the mission and its related goals. A vision statement differs from a mission statement. Vision statements are a view of what an organization is striving to become. For example: To bring back to neighborhoods all over America the importance of family unity. We will view ourselves as a family so these attributes will be carried over into our service. They guide an organization into the future while mission statements are a reflection of the present. Because vision statements are a glimpse into the future, they are often not realized for several years. Organizations go through many changes and can face times of confusion and uncertainty. Changes are not always expected or easy, so a well thought out vision statement will help everyone stay focused and meet the organizations goals. Some examples of well-known companies mission statements: Wal-Mart: To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people. 3M: To solve unsolved problems innovatively. Walt Disney: To make people happy. Historically, these may have seemed arrogant. But consider the outcome of the following mission statements from each companys early days: Ford Motor Company: Ford will democratize the automobile. Sony: Become the company most know for changing the world-wide poor-quality image of Japanese products. Wal-Mart: Become a $125 billion company by the year 2000. WRITING A MISSION STATEMENT When creating a mission statement there are a few simple guidelines that can be followed. It is important to remember the basics so the mission statement stays simple and straight to the point. Some researchers agree that it should be kept to between 30 and 60 words, while others believe it does not necessarily have to be that brief. Some organizations have mission statements that are only one sentence, while others are a paragraph. An example of a mission statement that is limited to one sentence is Our business is selling houses and our mission is total customer satisfaction. At a minimum, each mission statement should answer the following three questions: (1) What are the opportunities or needs the organization addresses? (2) What does the organization do to address those needs? and (3) What principles and values guide the organization? In other words, defining the organizations purpose, business and values. Avoiding jargon and buzzwords will keep the mission statement clear and easy to understand. It should be universal and simple to comprehend for all employees in the organization. It should be unique and identify the organization. A mission statement is often what sets one company apart from the competition. It should outline the organizations competitive advantages and differentiate it from everyone else. Specific products/services offered as well as markets or customers should be included. Also a general business definition, behavioral standards, and desired competitive position can be added to a strong mission statement. EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT It is often helpful to allow company-wide input when creating a mission statement. This bottom up approach results in greater commitment to the organization and a better understanding of the organization. Employees from throughout the organization can help identify the core values of the company. In order to encourage employee participation, many companies have created competitions inviting employees to submit suggestions. Cash prizes are sometimes provided as an incentive for creative and inspirational statements. Some companies find it useful to invite customers to assist in writing a mission statement because they can provide an honest perspective. Another option is to review mission statements from other companies. This can help provide ideas as the writing process begins. It is important to keep in mind that there will be a draft process involved in creating the mission statement. Employees can often provide invaluable insight on how to improve on each draft. In the end, the mission statement should reflect the personality of the organization. Thus, each company should be creative and unique in developing its own statement. Creating a mission committee that consists of members of management, frontline employees, and customers is another way to begin writing a mission statement. The major benefit of this strategy is the inclusion of all areas of the organization to ensure that everyone is represented. Another benefit is that employees will be more willing to work toward accomplishing the mission if they know they had a voice in its creation. A top down approach can be effective in smaller organizations or even sole proprietorships. There is less time involved in creating a mission statement when it comes from the top. Also, many times frontline employees and lower level managers lack the insight necessary to see the big picture. They may not be able to conceptualize the entire organization and therefore miss important aspects of the business. Participation may not always be a good option for small businesses. In small businesses that are started by entrepreneurs the mission statement is generally a vision of an individual and therefore may not be negotiable. When the mission statement comes from upper management, employees are more assured of the organizations commitment to the statement. A word of caution should be noted when deciding whether to adopt a top down approach or a bottom up approach. If the mission statement is to be created with a wide variety of input from both employees and customers then it will take longer than a top down approach. There must be a sharing of views and ideas with compromises made. A consensus should be developed without the problems associated with groupthink. There is always the possibility that too much compromise will distort the mission statement and the end result is something different from the original intent. The top down approach is not always effective because it rarely consults employees when making important decisions. Therefore, although it is the fastest route to take it isnt always the most effective. While the mission statement should be able to change with the times it is also understood to have a certain degree of permanence. As new businesses begin to grow and hire more employees the mission statement should provide a strong sense of stability and a clear definition of the culture. A mission statement is worthless unless it has the support of the employees in the organization. It will only be successful if each employee commits to its success and internalizes it. Once the statement is completed it is extremely important that the organization not put it on the shelf to collect dust. It should be shared with the entire company. The introduction of the mission statement should come directly from top management in order to set the example. Organizations should be creative in making employees aware of the mission statement. Placing it strategically in locations where employees gather will increase awareness and remind them of the goals of the organization. Videos outlining the details of the new mission statement are often useful; however, it is critical that employees have the opportunity to discuss the statement with members of management. Setting up meetings with members of management and frontline employees can often help uncover areas where the company does not meet the standards set by the mission statement. Communicating the mission statement to customers will make them feel valued and important. It can be sent to customers in a mass mailing or posted on signs in areas those customers frequent. It sets forth the goals of the organization so customers know what to expect when doing business with the company. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps an organization match its internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is important and useful in creating and executing the organizations mission statement. Often the best strategies for accomplishing the organizations mission are revealed through the SWOT analysis. The best strategies are those that take advantage of strengths and opportunities, offset threats, and improve weaknesses. Organizations should first begin by reviewing internal strengths and weaknesses. When analyzing an organizations strengths it is important to identify distinctive competencies or strengths possessed by only a few competing firms. These distinctive competencies often become the competitive advantages that are included in the mission statement. Distinctive competencies can be found in financial resources, quality products and services, proprietary technology, or cost advantages. Organizational weaknesses are skills and capabilities that prevent an organization from implementing strategies that achieve its mission. They can be problems with facilities, lack of a clear strategic direction, internal operating problems, too narrow a product line, weak market image, or the inability to finance changes. The next step is to identify external opportunities and threats. Organizational opportunities are circumstances in an organizations environment that if capitalized on will result in above normal increases in economic performance. Examples of opportunities are related to the possibility of adding a new product line, increasing market growth, or diversifying into related products. Threats are viewed as circumstances that give rise to normal or below normal economic performance. They can be found in the ease of entry of competitors, increased sales of substituted products, demographic changes, slowed market growth, or increased competition. EVALUATION Evaluation of the mission statement is necessary to ensure the organization is meeting its goals. If needed, new goals may have to be created in order to accommodate changes in the organization. It may be time to reevaluate what the organization is doing or where it is headed. This is a good time to think about entering into new areas or to begin doing things differently by rewriting part or all of the mission and vision statements. In evaluating an organizations performance, management must look at several different aspects of the organization. First, managers need to determine if the organizations plans are clearly linked to its mission statement and related goals. Plans should be developed for both the short run and long run. Secondly, assigning jobs that are directly related to the achievement of organizational goals will help ensure they are attained. The goals should be communicated clearly so employees understand what tasks need to be carried out and what the rewards will be. Finally, when evaluating individual performance, the information gathered should be recent and compared to established standards. Mission statements are often difficult to evaluate because they are written in a somewhat abstract form. They are, many times, not directly measurable and vaguely worded. 1 presents an example of how mission statements can be measured from the top of the organization to the bottom. Strategic goals are directly tied to the organizations mission statement and apply to the organization as a whole. Tactical goals are departmental goals that support the strategic goals. Finally, operational goals are written at the individual level. Each one of these makes it possible to measure the organizations mission statements. An organizations likelihood of accomplishing its mission is increased as it creates strong and measurable goals at each level. It is not necessary that the mission statement be measured in quantifiable terms. It may also be measured qualitatively. For example, We will answer all of our customers questions and if we dont know the answer, we will find out. While this is not a quantitative statement it can be measured by monitoring customer service calls and setting operational goals for employees that revolve around follow up and thoroughness. Mission and vision statements give organizations a focus and a strategy for the future. According to Bart and Tabone, they have become the cornerstones of organizations. They contribute to organizations success and can lead to increases in productivity and performance. They do not have to be reserved for the entire organization—each department or division can benefit from developing a mission statement, as long as they are not in contradiction to the companys overall mission. Preferably, an individual departments mission links it to the fulfillment of the overall company mission. Mission statements for functional departments provide the same benefits as they do for the entire organization. In conclusion, mission statements provide a sense of direction and purpose. In times of change and growth they can be an anchor and a guide in decision making. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages and challenges when looking at the potential for increases in profitability and returns. Defining an organization by what it produces and who it satisfies are major steps towards creating a sound and stable mission statement. Setting a company apart from the competition is probably one of the biggest advantages. Whats the benefit of a mission or vision statement? What is a mission statement? According to Bain Company, mission statements are one of the most frequently used management tools. Organizations spend thousands of hours and dollars developing mission statements and then more resources again on public relations to unfold them to their stakeholders. This is not surprising when you review the often-stated benefits of mission statements: To communicate the direction of the organization. To help make day-to-day operating decisions. To keep the organization focused. To motivate employees. Many authors have a variety of beliefs of what should be included in a mission statement. Ireland and Hill (1992) state that the mission statement should include the organizations goals, purpose, product and market scope and philosophical views. Davies and Glaister (1997) believe that it should include the organizations statement of purpose and inspirational view for the future. While Jamieson and Justice (1999) state that the framework for the development of a mission statement should begin with the organizations primary purpose, target market, core products or services, critical values and measures of success. One of the better practical definitions has been provided by Bartkus, Glassman and McAfee (2000) who basically state a mission statement is a statement to communicate a description of the firm to its current and prospective stakeholders to determine if they want to be involved with it. The reality is, there is no one agreed definition of what should and should not be included in a mission statement. We believe a mission statement is a simple, short statement that clearly communicates the purpose of the organization to its stakeholders. Nothing more, nothing less. For practical purposes, many of the other aspects of mission statements cited above are actually found in other sections of an organizations planning documents. What is a vision statement? The delineation between vision and mission statements is far from clear. This is understandable when many of the benefits attributed to mission statements are also attributed to vision statements. Like mission statements, there are many definitions for vision statements. Warren Bennis describes a vision as something youll never forget. Tom Peters, in his book Thriving on Chaos, describes a vision statement as inspiring, clear and challenging, makes sense to the marketplace, stable but challenged, a beacon and control, empowering, prepares for the future, honors the past and is lived in the details. Both are useful definitions. We like to describe a vision statement as a picture of the future. While a mission statement talks about the organizations purpose, (i.e. direction), a vision statement talks about what the organization would like to be. The easiest and most practical way of simply delineating between a mission and vision is to describe the mission as the journey and the vision as the destination. How useful are these definitions? Although we have found these definitions to be simple and practical, there are two points to remember when discussing mission and vision statements during your strategic planning process: 1. There is no one accepted definition. 2. Agreement on the definition you use is more important than the definition itself. Do you really need a mission and vision statement? It depends. What you do need is to ensure that the organization has a direction and goal(s), that your key stakeholders support that direction and goal(s), and that your structure, resources and skills are aligned to facilitate moving in that direction and maximize your opportunity to achieve those goals. If you believe you need a mission and/or vision statement, then you probably do. However, just having a mission and/or vision statement, even if they are included in a planning document, posted on a plaque on the wall or provided to employees on business cards certainly does not, unto itself, ensure success. Mission and vision statements are management tools that if used appropriately, have the potential to help improve your organizations probability of success. However, its important to keep in mind, that these are only two of the many tools available to your organization in the development of your strategy. Many small business owners never take the time out to explore their reasons for being in business. They are so caught up in day-to-day activities they fail to see the big picture. So what are the benefits of having an articulated Vision, Mission and Objectives for your business? Actually, it all starts one step removed from this. It really starts with establishing your core values. Lots of people in their middle years instinctively know what their core values are but they cannot tell you what they are when questioned about it. Core values are what get you up out of bed in the morning; a strong work ethic; a desire to contribute; the need to support your family; respect for your fellow workers or subordinates. They are the driving force in your life. They are immutable and do not change over time. Once you have gleaned what your core values are, then you can move on to establish what your Vision is. Your Vision is your long term goal. It can embrace your business and your personal life. It may be something like building your business into a $10 million asset that you can sell aged 60 and retire to a beach house in Florida. It could be to create something of value that you can pass on to your children. It might even be to create something that offers benefits to your community that will outlive you. It can be deeply personal. Your Mission flows from your Vision. Your Mission is a written statement that provides a clear sense of direction to all of the stakeholders in your business. It embraces the commitment of the company to staff, customers, and the community at large. It may articulate the company ethos, core beliefs of the owners, service levels, quality, excellence, training and commitment. It should be a shared set of standards and beliefs that all of your staff buy into and live every day. Setting objectives is the next stage of the process. It is all about how you deliver on the promises made by your Mission. If you have clarity in both your Vision and Mission, it is easy to decide on the objectives. Objectives may be set for each key area of your business along with a time-line for completion. They may be corporate, product, market, sales, financial, operations, or staff related or any combination of these. As you can see, this is a trickle down system with higher level aspirations that flow down to every level of the business and become the glue that holds everything together. The benefits are clear and unambiguous. It is a team building exercise that creates focus and commitment that can drive a business forward. Every step you take is in pursuit of your articulated end game. In just over a decade, CN Rail has gone from money-losing crown corporation to one of the top railroads in North America. Employees follow a strong company culture incorporating five values that revolve around customer service, balancing service with cost control, and the safety and development of its employees. Not surprisingly, corporate culture starts with president and CEO Hunter Harrison and works its way down through the companys 22,000 employees. In the 2006 Canadian Corporate Culture Study conducted by executive search firm Waterstone Human Capital, 92% of executives defined corporate culture as the behaviours of people and the values of the organization. The leaders of these major Canadian corporations almost universally agreed that a healthy corporate culture is critical to success and that culture has an impact on organizational health and financial performance. In our last article we wrote about the three-stage process of defining that corporate culture. In this weeks article well look at the importance of aligning your corporate culture with your business strategy and how to communicate that throughout your entire organization. At CN, values are a core part of the companys corporate culture. These values, along with behaviours such as passion and integrity, run throughout the organization and CN regularly communicates them to all its employees. One way Harrison did this was by publishing How We Work and Why, a hardcover distributed to all employees two years ago. The railroad also regularly runs three-day motivational retreats for executives called Hunter Camps. Led by Harrison and Les Dakens, SVP people, the Hunter Camps not only teach leadership skills and reward managers for a job well done, but they also serve to reinforce the companys values and employee behaviour. The goal, says Dakens, is to have 2,000 employees go through these camps by the end of 2008. In addition, CN last year introduced performance scorecards for all its employees. The performance appraisal recognized and evaluated employees against the companys values. A lot of these people have never had this formal kind of written recognition that they do a good job, says Dakens. According to the Corporate Culture study, 51% of organizations surveyed use everything from company events and town hall meetings to intranets and informal gather

Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe The theme of "man’s relationship to God and the universe" presented in Epistle 1 of Alexander Pope’s "An Essay on Man" complements Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe is an inconsistent character who turns to God whenever he is in need, yet fails to maintain respect for nature and for his fellow man. In the first year of Robinson Crusoe’s solitary life on the island, he falls ill and has a terrifying dream that alters his awareness of his place in the universe and God’s control of it. This experience leads him to contemplate his past ingratitude and to embark on a life of piety, reading the Bible daily, though without a drastic or permanent change in his character. Throughout his adventures in the novel, Crusoe has moments of awareness and appreciation of God, yet each moment of faith fades as he regains control over his situation. The ideals presented in the last three sections of Epistle 1 — that life exists in a "chain of being" and is interdependent, that the spirit of God exists in all things, and that man should accept existence as good — speak directly to the understanding that Crusoe comes to as a result of his illness and the life he leads throughout the novel. Crusoe wakes up from the nightmare that he has during his illness and realizes that surviving each of his adventures has been in the hands of God, and that he has been ungrateful and unaware of this power. Section 8 of Epistle 1 in the "Essay on Man" states that all things in the chain of being are interdependent and that man in his pride should not strive to break this order. Robinson Crusoe is a very independent character and has traveled for eight years without "having the least sens... ...rly in his life, he claims Friday as a servant rather than a companion; and he is as materialistic after he is marooned on the island as he was before this misfortune. Pope and Crusoe both feel that God is in control of what happens in life and of what they understand of their experiences, although Crusoe does not maintain an awareness of God unless he is, or has recently been, in danger or in need. The relationship with God, nature, and fellow man that Pope describes in his essay powerfully articulates the weakness, pride, and independence that Crusoe grapples with throughout his narration. Works Cited Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. Ed. Michael Shinagel. Norton: New York, 1975. Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." in Eighteenth-Century English Literature. Eds. Geoffrey Tillotson, Paul Fussell, Jr. and Marshall Waingrow. New York: Harcourt, 1969. 635-51. Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe The theme of "man’s relationship to God and the universe" presented in Epistle 1 of Alexander Pope’s "An Essay on Man" complements Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe is an inconsistent character who turns to God whenever he is in need, yet fails to maintain respect for nature and for his fellow man. In the first year of Robinson Crusoe’s solitary life on the island, he falls ill and has a terrifying dream that alters his awareness of his place in the universe and God’s control of it. This experience leads him to contemplate his past ingratitude and to embark on a life of piety, reading the Bible daily, though without a drastic or permanent change in his character. Throughout his adventures in the novel, Crusoe has moments of awareness and appreciation of God, yet each moment of faith fades as he regains control over his situation. The ideals presented in the last three sections of Epistle 1 — that life exists in a "chain of being" and is interdependent, that the spirit of God exists in all things, and that man should accept existence as good — speak directly to the understanding that Crusoe comes to as a result of his illness and the life he leads throughout the novel. Crusoe wakes up from the nightmare that he has during his illness and realizes that surviving each of his adventures has been in the hands of God, and that he has been ungrateful and unaware of this power. Section 8 of Epistle 1 in the "Essay on Man" states that all things in the chain of being are interdependent and that man in his pride should not strive to break this order. Robinson Crusoe is a very independent character and has traveled for eight years without "having the least sens... ...rly in his life, he claims Friday as a servant rather than a companion; and he is as materialistic after he is marooned on the island as he was before this misfortune. Pope and Crusoe both feel that God is in control of what happens in life and of what they understand of their experiences, although Crusoe does not maintain an awareness of God unless he is, or has recently been, in danger or in need. The relationship with God, nature, and fellow man that Pope describes in his essay powerfully articulates the weakness, pride, and independence that Crusoe grapples with throughout his narration. Works Cited Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. Ed. Michael Shinagel. Norton: New York, 1975. Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." in Eighteenth-Century English Literature. Eds. Geoffrey Tillotson, Paul Fussell, Jr. and Marshall Waingrow. New York: Harcourt, 1969. 635-51.

My favorate stock :: essays research papers

Stock name: ADVANCED NEUROMODULATION SYSTEMS INC. Stock symbol: AISI.O SECTOR: Healthcare INDUSTRY: Medical Equipment & Supplies Overview Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. (ANSI), designs, develops, manufactures and markets advanced implantable neuromodulation devices that improve the quality of life for people suffering from chronic pain. Neuromodulation devices include implantable neurostimulation devices, which deliver electric current directly to targeted nerves, and implantable drug pumps, which deliver small, precisely controlled doses of drugs directly to targeted sites within the body. GROWTH RATES   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 Year  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 Years  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 Years Sales %  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32.57  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  47.12  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  27.54 EPS %  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  33.80  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  103.45  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.06 Dividend %  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM REVENUE Quarters  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2003  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2004 MAR  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8,341  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11,473  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19,671  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  26,633 JUN  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9,205  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13,423  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  22,324  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  30,488 SEP  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9,900  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14,328  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  23,419  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  31,330 DEC  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  10,470  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  18,148  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  25,668  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32,293 Totals  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  37,916  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  57,372  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  91,082  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  120,744 Note: Units in Thousands of U.S. Dollars EARNINGS PER SHARE Quarters  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2003  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2004 MAR  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.000  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.053  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.133  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.190 JUN  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.027  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.090  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.140  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.210 SEP  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.033  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.100  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.190  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.230 DEC  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.047  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.127  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.180  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.240 Totals  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.107  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.370  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.643  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.870 Note: Units in U.S. Dollars Quick Financial Synopsis Advanced Neuromodulation Systems designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable neuromodulation for chronic back pain or nervous system disorders. For the FY ended 12/31/04, revenues rose 33% to $120.7M. Net income rose 37% to $18.2M. Revenues reflect increased unit sales from Neuro Products and O.E.M. business segments. Net income also reflects increased operating margin as well as increased investment income. Actual revenue and EPS for the latest fiscal year Actual revenue: $US 120.7 millions Recent share price and date $US 27.23 March 29, 2005 Month of the company ¡Ã‚ ¯s fiscal year end December Indicate annual dividend per share 0.00 Valuation Valuation Ratios RATIO COMPARISON Valuation Ratios  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S&P 500 P/E Ratio (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32.54  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  33.55  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  28.97  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  21.43 P/E High - Last 5 Yrs.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  60.54  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  50.30  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  42.31 P/E Low - Last 5 Yrs.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  20.88  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  22.65  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19.88  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.75 Price to Sales (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4.89  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4.94  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5.21  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.87 Price to Book (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.55  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5.53  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4.99  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.92 Price to Tangible Book (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.04  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13.94  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11.83  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  7.15 Price to Cash Flow (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  23.55  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24.93  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  21.91  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14.76 Price to Free Cash Flow (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  367.76  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32.72  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  30.18  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  25.30 % Owned Institutions  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  95.00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  28.56  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  47.26  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  65.58   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dividends Dividends  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S&P 500 Dividend Yield  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NA  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.79  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.17  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.12 Dividend Yield - 5 Year Avg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.45  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.04  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.58 Dividend 5 Year Growth Rate  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  10.54  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11.37  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9.06 Payout Ratio (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.02  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  29.38  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  29.26   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Growth Rates Growth Rates (%)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S&P 500 Sales (MRQ) vs. Qtr. 1 Yr. Ago  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  25.81  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19.33  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.07  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  17.60 Sales (TTM) vs TTM 1 Yr. Ago  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  32.57  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  22.67  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16.33  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.81 Sales - 5 Yr. Growth Rate  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  27.54  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.88  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16.01  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9.76 EPS (MRQ) vs Qtr. 1 Yr. Ago  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  36.72  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13.87  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.47  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16.59 EPS (TTM) vs TTM 1 Yr. Ago  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  34.01  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24.50  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9.68  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24.79 EPS - 5 Yr. Growth Rate  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.06  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  27.20  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16.01  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13.64 Capital Spending - 5 Yr. Growth Rate  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24.42  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  13.33  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11.59  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.15   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Financial Strength Financial Strength  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S&P 500 Quick Ratio (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15.84  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.99  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.94  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.20 Current Ratio (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  18.78  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.79  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.54  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.69 LT Debt to Equity (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.38  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.37  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.63 Total Debt to Equity (MRQ)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.44  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.44  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.79 Interest Coverage (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NM  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  17.38  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  10.81  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  11.87   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Profitability Ratios Profitability Ratios (%)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sector  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S&P 500 Gross Margin (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  73.42  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  63.67  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  68.92  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  46.09 Gross Margin - 5 Yr. Avg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  64.02  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  62.12  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  68.29  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  45.61 EBITD Margin (TTM)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  23.87  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  23.66  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  24.68  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  21.60 EBITD - 5 Yr.

America Needs More Gay Rights and Tolerance Essay -- Persuasive Essay,

Change is a constant something that I am always told and it’s a fact truth, but another key concept to remember is that change is slow it is glacial. Meaning change is very slow but despite the speed of change it is still change and the significant point is that change does occur. For the past 40 years the change for the gay society has been steady and constant the events of the stonewall riots gave the gay movement a voice and has allowed reasons for change. Gays are given rights that were once denied and violence against gays is considered illegal society is leaning towards gay rights and the word tolerance meaning to be socially and lawfully recognized and accepted is being understood by society to the fullest. But are these assumptions mere claims, has gay tolerance increased in the past 40 years? Religious institution are accepting Homosexual, popular social figures are accepted by the media and all and all gay rights have been improving both on a state and nat ional level. It is the recognition of these facts that allows one to conclude that Society has become more tolerant towards homosexual in the past 40 years the proof is in the evidence and is hard to be disputed. Let’s start by exploring the specific to the earlier claim that gay tolerance has increased within the past 40 years. In 1948 Harry Hay a gay communist started the first gay rights movement his radical decision lead to the stonewall movement over 20 years later in 1969 which official started the gay rights movement a riot that spread from the bars of New York to the streets of California. This riot is at the forefront of the gay movement and has long stood for the symbol of change for many in the Gay community (Adiatu). The stonewall movement has ... ...nspiring and all we as open minded individual can hope for is more change Gay tolerance has increased and it can be seen all throughout society individuals don’t have to look far to see the countless amount of gays getting married and the copious amount of gay being kept safe by the law enforcement and laws passed by the government. Homosexual has come along way and if society continues to stay open minded the Tolerations of gays will only increase to the point where gays are fully accepted by all. Works Cited Adaitu Dayo. Stonewall Riots: The beginning of the LGBT Movement. 22. June. Web. 7. Dec. 2009 National Conference of State Legislatures. www.Ncsl.org 01. JAN. 2009. Web. 10. Dec. 2009 Religious Tolerance. www. Religious Tolerance.org 10. Jul. 2007. Web. 14 Dec. 2009 Sadd Lydia. www. Gallup.com, 29. May. 2009. 12. Dec.2009 America Needs More Gay Rights and Tolerance Essay -- Persuasive Essay, Change is a constant something that I am always told and it’s a fact truth, but another key concept to remember is that change is slow it is glacial. Meaning change is very slow but despite the speed of change it is still change and the significant point is that change does occur. For the past 40 years the change for the gay society has been steady and constant the events of the stonewall riots gave the gay movement a voice and has allowed reasons for change. Gays are given rights that were once denied and violence against gays is considered illegal society is leaning towards gay rights and the word tolerance meaning to be socially and lawfully recognized and accepted is being understood by society to the fullest. But are these assumptions mere claims, has gay tolerance increased in the past 40 years? Religious institution are accepting Homosexual, popular social figures are accepted by the media and all and all gay rights have been improving both on a state and nat ional level. It is the recognition of these facts that allows one to conclude that Society has become more tolerant towards homosexual in the past 40 years the proof is in the evidence and is hard to be disputed. Let’s start by exploring the specific to the earlier claim that gay tolerance has increased within the past 40 years. In 1948 Harry Hay a gay communist started the first gay rights movement his radical decision lead to the stonewall movement over 20 years later in 1969 which official started the gay rights movement a riot that spread from the bars of New York to the streets of California. This riot is at the forefront of the gay movement and has long stood for the symbol of change for many in the Gay community (Adiatu). The stonewall movement has ... ...nspiring and all we as open minded individual can hope for is more change Gay tolerance has increased and it can be seen all throughout society individuals don’t have to look far to see the countless amount of gays getting married and the copious amount of gay being kept safe by the law enforcement and laws passed by the government. Homosexual has come along way and if society continues to stay open minded the Tolerations of gays will only increase to the point where gays are fully accepted by all. Works Cited Adaitu Dayo. Stonewall Riots: The beginning of the LGBT Movement. 22. June. Web. 7. Dec. 2009 National Conference of State Legislatures. www.Ncsl.org 01. JAN. 2009. Web. 10. Dec. 2009 Religious Tolerance. www. Religious Tolerance.org 10. Jul. 2007. Web. 14 Dec. 2009 Sadd Lydia. www. Gallup.com, 29. May. 2009. 12. Dec.2009

Primary School Art Teaching Mission Statement

Mission Statement My main aims with teaching art to primary grades can be broken down to the following points: ) Experimentation (teaching them to overcome any fear of unfamiliar materials) b) Imagination (teaching them that the mind has no limits, allowing them to dream) c) Individualism (teaching them to think ‘ outside the box’ ) d) Freedom of expression (teaching them to not be afraid to show feelings and to do it in their own personal style) e) Problem solving (teaching them that there are no mistakes in art; that any error can be fixed if you go about it cleverly) f) Self-esteem (teaching them to be proud of their work and to never insult the work of others) g) Sharing (teaching them to share materials and ideas with the rest of the class) h) Recycling (teaching them to use, re-use and recycle objects one would normally throw away) i) Patience (teaching them that no good work of art can be rushed and that one has to follow a process and see it through to the end) j ) Respect (teaching them to have respect for the teacher, their classmates, materials and the opinions of others) My aim is to try and create a disciplined space for the children to work in.Art is often a subject that requires the teacher to allow the children a certain amount of fun and freedom, however, fun turns into chaos if it has no ordered structure and discipline. I try and allow the children to follow their own instincts, so the result becomes secondary to individual expression. I do not believe in â€Å"paint by numbers†, nor do I force the children to follow a formula. There are formal elements like colour, composition etc. that is imperative, but sometimes the formal elements have to be sacrificed to allow the child to freely create. The process is often more important than the end product. Through art, children learn a lot about themselves. Their inner discovery is more important than a â€Å"good† work of art.

Closely Examine the Character of Melanie in Hitchcock’s the Birds

The Birds is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It centres around Melanie, a young city girl, who journeys into danger into a small coastal town called Bodega Bay to play a practical joke on a potential lover, Mitch. A series of unfortunate Bird attacks follow her and wreck havoc on the town and its inhabitants. As the film progresses, Melanie tries, on several occasions, to go against the social norm of women of the 1950’s; every time she does she gets punished and gradually destroyed until she becomes the dominant ideology.At the start of the film, Melanie seems strong and independent. From the offset she is seen as an individualist. In the first scene she is first seen walking down a street in a fitted jacket and pencil skirt, this was seen as too provocative and was not the usual dress code for a 1950’s woman; the norm would be a dress with either a swing skirt or a poodle skirt. Along with the fitted clothes, Melanie has perfectly groomed hair a nd perfectly painted fingernails; these are signs of her emotional state and will change throughout the film.Also in this scene the audience can hear a wolf whistle from a man directed at Melanie, she turns and smiles, telling the audience that she enjoys male attention and is comfortable and confident in the city environment. In the next scene, Melanie is in a bird shop. This is when Mitch is first seen; when Melanie first sees Mitch she immediately becomes flirtatious and thinks that she is in control of what is happening, when really Mitch is in control as he knows exactly who Melanie is while she does not know who he is.After Mitch plays a practical joke on Melanie in the bird shop, Melanie sets out to speak to him again, and when she finds out that he is not staying in his home in the city but in a small town up the coast, Bodega Bay, she sets out on her own little practical joke. This journey will take her out of her comfort zone, the city, and put her in unknown surroundings and ultimately danger. During the drive, Melanie looks very smug but is unaware that she is journeying into danger.The actions of the two love birds in their cage and the speed of the car are deliberately made to look fake as to lull the audience in to a false sense of security and to mask the danger to come, this ties into the genre of deceit that is seen throughout the film. When Melanie reaches Bodega Bay, it is quite obvious that she is out of place; all the town’s citizens are casually dressed which contrasts with Melanie’s immaculate hair and nails and her fitted clothes. Melanie is treated as novelty by the citizens that she encounters.After she plays her practical joke on Mitch at his house, she races him back to Bodega Bay but he beats her and stands waiting for her. The mood is very light hearted as both characters are smiling but the mood changes to become very serious as Melanie is struck by a seagull on the head. This is the first bird attack and the first time, of many, that Mitch is there to rescue her from danger. After the attack Melanie is composed once again but her gloves are blood stained and she does not wear them again, symbolising that her first layer of protection is gone.This first attack is the start of Melanie’s confident and independent exterior being pecked away by the birds. After the attack Melanie goes back to Mitch’s and meets his mother, a very demanding and controlling woman. In these few scenes where they are together Melanie is seen with high angle camera shots, showing that she is weak and powerless in their home, whilst Lydia is seen with low angle camera shots, demonstrating her power and dominance over the family and Melanie.In their next encounter their roles in the household switch: Lydia becoming frail and helpless whereas Melanie is now dominant and in control. The next significant change in Melanie’s character and emotional state is during the bird attack on the petrol station. M elanie shows an act of independence and defiance by taking shelter in a Telephone Box, away from the security of Mitch and other men, but when she tries to get out again she is attacked by the birds, eventually the glass panels of the Telephone box shatter, representing her fragility.High angle shows, once again, that Melanie is weak and powerless. The paint on her fingernails is still intact but her hair is not as groomed as it started out, signifying that her emotional state and independence has been damaged again and she has been punished for her act of defiance. For the second time, Mitch has to come and rescue Melanie from the birds, showing that she is becoming more and more dependable on the security of men, especially Mitch. During the penultimate attack by the birds Melanie’s state of mind changes nce again: she has regained her strength and has taken over the role of mother of the family. This is shown by low angle camera shots and in her actions. When Mitch’ s sister, Cathy, gets sick, it is Melanie, not the mother, that takes her to the kitchen. However, these moments of defiance are short lived, for after the birds appear to have left the house, Melanie hears bird sounds coming from the attic and climbs the stairs, on her own, to see what it is.She hesitates at the door of the attic, there is a close up of her hand and her nails are still intact, and when she does open the door, she does so only to find a flock of birds which attack her mercilessly. This, her last act of independence, ends in disaster and her destruction as an independent woman. For the final time Mitch comes to rescue Melanie from the birds. Melanie’s destruction is symbolised by her looking dishevelled and wrapped up in bandages. Mitch then carries Melanie to the car, demonstrating Melanie’s total dependence on Mitch.Melanie’s destruction is finally symbolised by an extreme close up of her nails, which are completely broken and chipped. The ways in which Melanie changes over the course of The Birds, her frame of mind could be compared to a yo-yo. At the start she was completely independent and self sufficient, but during different parts of the film she either lost some of her independence or gained some. By the end of the film, Melanie ends up being the polar-opposite of what she started out to be. At the end she was totally dependent on Mitch and had lost all independence. Making her the dominant ideology of a woman of the 1950’s.