How are human diets leading animals to extinction and polluting the Essay

How are human diets leading animals to extinction and polluting the environment - Essay Example Consequently, the environment has not been spared by this trend. Combined with the ever changing nature of human diets across the globe, the enormous demand for animals to meet human diet needs is increasingly leading to the extinction of animal species, alongside causing environmental pollution in the process. The social aspect of the global population is characterized by differentiated lifestyles, all of which account for some given form of diet practices. The coexistence of carnivores, vegans, and vegetarians has given rise to myriad human diets, all of which pressure the environment in one way or another. Demand for animal products is always rising, an aspect that continues to threaten the continuity of animal life. Over and above this, diet management has often being ignored by a significant proportion of the human race all over the world. In this respect, a critical component of human diets relies on animals, land, and most importantly the environment. This observation has trig gered the action and reaction of different people, agencies, and government across the globe. For instance, the sustainable development by Sheikh Zayed earned him the Gold Panda award (Todorova, 2011). A direct observation from this is that human activities, and especially diets, have had critical implications on both animal life and environmental welfare. Therefore, the situation needs to be managed by targeting influential factors such as human diet practices. While human diets continue to result in animal extinction and pollution of environment, it is fundamental to consider all the contributing factors to the observed scenario. Population growth around the world has continued to increase at an alarming rate, especially in less developed and developing countries. The implication of this trend has spread to the diet aspect and demand for food. Increase in the global population directly translates to an increase in the demand for food. The global population, having been comprised o f carnivores, vegans, and vegetarians, obtain its food from differentiated sources. In the process, both red and white meats have become a fundamental component of human diets across the globe (O'Sullivan, 2011). As a result, overfishing, excessive hunting, and killing of animals have been realized. Consequently, the environment has suffered immense pressure, thus lacking adequate time to regenerate for the purpose of sustaining global needs; human diets included. As much as human diets need to be changed and/or managed in favor of animal life and the environment, there is a critical need to manage the global population trend. As changes and shifts continue to be realized in regard to human diets, the issue of genetically modified (GM) food has emerged (Detrie, 2011). GM food continues to receive mixed reactions and actions from different people, agencies, and governments around the world. While some parties argue in favor of GM food, others remain against this kind of food. On the same note, there are some parties that continue to be indifferent about the GM food issue. Although, GM food is increasingly taking strong grounds in some countries, health and environmental concerns continue to pertinent issues that need to be addressed. On the same note, striking a balance between science, morals, and ethics has been a challenge in the implementation of GM food around the world (Malek, 2011). The reluctance and resistance facing GM food has

How has HSBC Chosen to Improve its Knowledge of Customers and Case Study

How has HSBC Chosen to Improve its Knowledge of Customers and Therefore its Decision Making - Case Study Example From this paper it is clear that by implementing a DSS the management will be more easy as all the information will be stored at one central database. The organization will be quite effective as data will be stored in a proper manner with not much redundant information. Last but not the least implementing a DSS in the organization will give HSBC an edge and will improve future decision making processes. The solution chosen by HSBC was quite optimal i.e. learning from its past experienced of Subprime mortgage crisis the availability and classification of vital data and information in a timely manner was necessary. Going for the implementation of a DSS will prove quite vital as it will help the managers in the future and provide them with information in concise and to the point manner with relation to the strategic goals of the company hence making the decision making process easier and more reliable. Does this Web site provide opportunities for HSBC to gather data about its customers? Describe the customer data collected at the Web site and explain how that data can be used to improve its business performance. Would you redesign the Web site to increase interactions with customers? The website can prove as a vital source for collecting data of HSBC customers. Firstly from the main website we can collect data that which customers prefer internet banking over conventional banking. Next customers of which country visit the main website in majority. Which specialist service of HSBC attracts most score of visitors. Average amount of time a user spends on the website to get his task done. Which news was found most interesting by the customers.

Organisational Culture of Etisalat

Organisational Culture of Etisalat Etisalat – Organizational Culture Executive Summary: The below discussion is a research into the organizational culture aspect of the company Etisalat. In this respect we could say that the discussion gives an idea of the concept of organizational culture and a company brief of Etisalat. Next the discussion reveals the organizational culture of the company Etisalat and explains the same and draws an alignment of organizational culture of the company with the Hofstede theory. Next the discussion discusses the positive aspects of the company culture. The conclusion draws one’s attention to the negative impact of the Etisalat organizational culture and finally the discussion ends with recommendations for better performance of the company in future Introduction: The aspect of organizational culture comprises a very important aspect of the management studies of the current times. In fact the feature of organizational culture also reveal a considerable portion of the organization work ambience and the strategic approaches that the company will be having in dealing the various situations. In other words the organizational culture represents the views, beliefs, values and the opinions of the members of the organization, both the employees and the management of the company. Etisalat or the Emirates telecommunications Corporations is the largest telecom company of the region. The company was initially a British company which was later bought out by the government of the nation of UAE and nearly 60% of the shares was retained by the government of the nation and the rest of the 40% of the shares were made available for the general masses. In the following discussion we will be illustrating certain aspects of the organizational culture of the company Etisalat – the global telecom giant, which has a organizational culture much hued by the inherent beliefs of the Islam society. Body of the Discussion: In this part of the discussion we will be looking at the various aspects of the organizational culture that prevails in the context of the company Etisalat. Etisalat Organizational Culture: The company Etisalat or the Emirates telecommunication Corporation was initially incepted to provide a world class telecommunication system to the UAE. However in the coming times the company did expand in the other parts of the Middle East and also parts of Asia. Currently the company is operating in nearly 18 countries all over the world and has a client base of more than 150 million users. In the course of its growth we see that the company has maintained a very employee oriented approach. One of the most initial and crucial aspect to which the management of the company has paid detailed attention is the development of its employees. The element of employee dynamism and its enhancement does comprise to be an essential feature of the company’s internal dynamics. Once again we see that the element of ethics again is a very important criterion for the company of Etisalat. As an essential feature of the organizational culture both the management and the employees of the company do have very positive attitude towards the feature of training and development. In this case we see that the management of the company do have a very positive and keen attitude towards training its employees so that they come up with better and innovative ideas in the future that would be elemental in the development of the company. Once again we see that the organizational culture of the company does reflect that the management of the company is quite forward looking and progressive in nature and is interested in an aggressive marketing endeavour as per which the company is making emergence in new companies and is also strengthening its position through acquisitions and mergers. Again the company culture seems to be pretty much in sync with the commercially progressive culture of the nation of the United Arab Emirates. Since we see that the company in its endeavour to enter new markets are also not hesitant to make some considerable investment into the genre of market and brand building. In addition to the same we see that the job responsibility of all the elements and the members of the company are treated with an equal amount of importance and significance. In this case we see that the managers and the team leads of the company do like to pay a close level of attention to the performance standards of all the team members. Favouritism is not fostered in the Company as the same could lead to some very serious consequences. In this connection one could explain that a collective performance stands as imperative as per the culture of the company. On the other hand we also observe that the company tries to rise above the gender bias that is but a marked feature of the United Arab Emirates society. We do observe that some of the senior and the significant positions are again chaired by the female employees of the firm and the firm also encourages a larger recruitment of the female candidates irrespective of the position. Truly in the current times as per the tides of globalization, the company has raised much above the Middle Eastern values and has rightfully become a global organization in terms of the organizational culture. Organizational Culture Theories: One of the very old and often used theories that is applied to explain the concept of Organizational Culture is that of the Hofstede theory. Hofstede in his theory of organizational culture has been pressing on the factor that different geographical regions and nations does contribute to the fabrication of the organizational culture. The element of organization culture does reflect the facet of mental programs and thinking patterns and the process of social actions. In this respect it needs to be said that element of organizational culture also does greatly depend on the facet of the ethics and the culture of the society and the nation as a whole in which the company is operational. In the scope of the theory we can see that Hofstede has reflected on certain facets that will help a company to have a progressive and forward looking organizational culture. In this case we see that the noted scholar did happen to press on the facts that the power distance or the distance between the several layers of the organization has to be minimized. Once again the company has to learn to avoid uncertainty that might arise in the future. The company culture has concentrate on both the elements of individualism as well as that of collectivism. The company must also rise above the facets of feminism and Masculinity and must also be having both Long term and Short term orientation. In this respect we can say that the organization Etisalat is quite in alignment with the belief and the theories of the concept that was propagated by Hofstede. To illustrate the same we can explain the following points: The element of power distance is kept in mind and is followed by the management of the company Etisalat. We see that within the company in order to get better and innovative ideas from the elements of the company from all the layers of the hierarchical system, consolidation and centralization of power is generally discouraged and an open and cordial forum is maintained as per which the various employees of the company can come up with various ideas and concepts. In terms of uncertainty avoidance we see that the company looks forward to try only those ideas and concepts that seem quite tangible and what the employees of the company pull through. The company again tries to serve and deliver results to both its employees as well as the customers alike. Once again in the case of collectivism and individualism we see that the company do maintain a fine balance as per which the performance of all the individual employees are kept in mind and that the performance of the teams are pondered upon which together balances collectivism and also individualism. Although the society of the nation UAE do have a bias towards the male elements of the society as per which we see that the best options in all the fields are kept aside for the males of the society, yet in the case of Etisalat we see that the company does give a fair chance to the female employees who are also working in some of the most significant positions of the company. From the last aspect we see that the in terms of the long term orientations the eastern countries are given a preference than the short term western countries. Positive and negative impacts: It has often been cited that the feature of organizational culture often plays a very important role in the development of the organization and also the various operational and strategic styles and patterns that the same incorporates. In this case we can hence conclude that the element of organizational culture has a prominent role in the success or the failure of the company. In fact the decisive decisions that the management often takes are quite regularly influenced by the organizational culture of the company. In the case of the company Etisalat we see that the situation is certainly no different. In this case we observe that the organizational culture has a number of positive impacts on the company. They are as follows: The organizational culture helps the employees of the company to come up with new ideas as a result of which we see that the company always has some new idea up its sleeve that the management tries out for the better performance of the company in the future. It also enhances the personal skills and the confidence of the company. The working ambience of the company turns out to be a rather positive one and we see that the company and its employees have a positive attitude that helps them proceed towards growth and success. Quintessentially we see that the organizational culture does have a strong influence on the agenda of the company going global. It could be said that the forward moving attitude of the company’s internal elements finally gave the Company and its management the impetus to move ahead and move into the foreign and the maiden markets of the other countries in the Middle East, Africa and now in Asia. Once again we also see that the company has a presence in the nations of the UK and the USA. We also see that the company other than the telecommunication industry also is operational in the other industries such as the internet industry and the industry of voice trafficking. This diversification which is again an important element in the current times of stiff competition is a product of the organizational culture that has given rise to innovative ideas. The company again has made some very unique contributions to the up gradation of the female employees and has given career options to several woman of the nation. This has also helped the image of the company on the global scenario. Conclusion: On a concluding note it could be said that the element of organizational culture does play a very important role in the development and the growth of a country. This is one aspect that has been made evident from the case of the Company Emirates telecommunication Corporation or the brand Etisalat. However we can say that the organizational culture of the company has led the company to rest a comparatively low emphasis on the marketing of its products in the western world such as the US and the European markets. However these markets could prove to be rather important to the profit and the interest of the company in the longer run. In this case we see that the company could might as well think of options and plans that will help the firm to get a proper and strong introduction in the western market. Recommendation: The company in its endeavour to get an introduction in the western market could look forward to come up with aggressive marketing endeavours so that the company could have a noted and a marked entry into the markets of the UK and the US. Once again the company since is already quite a big name in the Middle East and the African region could start by giving some rebates or introductory offers on its connections. Moreover we also see that the company is operational in just the communication or the service part of the business, with a passing phase the company could also get into the business of manufacturing handsets that could also be introduced to the markets in different parts of the globe.

Continental Carriers, Inc. :: Finance Advanced Financial Management

Continental Carriers, Inc. (This is not an essay. This paper responds to each of the comments raised by the five members of the board.) Continental Carriers, Inc. (CCI) should take on the long-term debt to finance the acquisition of Midland Freight, Inc. for a few reasons. The company is heavy on assets, the debt ratio will only grow to 0.40 with the added $50M in debt. Also, the firm will benefit from an added $2M in a tax shield and be able to return $12.7M a year to its stockholders and investors, instead of $8.9M if equity is raised to finance the acquisition. Lastly, the stock price and earnings per share will increase to $3.87 in comparison to an equity-financed acquisition of $2.72 per share. CCI would be taking a somewhat high risk by issuing additional stock due to the uncertainty about the offering price. Having a low P/E ratio with respect to the rest of the market, and the replacement cost of the firm being greater than its book value (argument 3), there is a good chance that the current stock price and the proposed offering prices are too low. Although long-term debt is a better financing choice a few of the drawbacks are pointed out. Debt holders claim profit before equity holders, so the chance that profits may be lower than expected, increases risk to equity may reduce or impede stock value. However, in extreme financial situations such as a recession period, CCI would still be able to increase its cash during a recession period with all debt capital structure. Also, there is a remaining 12.5 million that would have to be paid at the expiration of the bonds, but that could be paid off by issuing new bonds or additional equity at that time. Five members of the board raised comments that have been addressed as follows: 1. The argument of the debt financing being a risky venture since the proposition was to pay out to a sinking fund does not make sense. Over the course of the next seven years, CCI had a historical growth in revenue of 9%. This growth along with the $2M tax shelter would easily pay for the sinking fund. In addition, by buying back bonds annually, the interest expense is further decreased, thus creating less of a burden on the cash flow. In contrast, an equity-financed acquisition would spread the net income out over 3 million more shares, thereby reducing the dividend pay-out to shareholders. 2. Another director argued that with equity financing, the shareholders will yield a 10% EBIT of $5M. Furthermore, this director posited that 3 million shares at $1.

Islamic Studies Essay

What is a Sufi and what do they contribute to our world today? How do they affect people especially the Muslim practices? What contributions did they have to the belief about God? How are they different or how are they the same? Citing 2 of the major Sufi figures, we would be able to learn what how their teachings are the same and how they are different from one another. We would also find out how these two imparted their knowledge on the people and how they contributed to the life of the Muslim believers. â€Å"Sufi† is derived from an Arabic word â€Å"suf† which means wool. This was used to call the Muslim ascetics and mystics because the Sufi’s dress is made out of this material. Sufis are actually human beings who have exceptional devotions to God or to Allah that they forget their very own selves because of the thought that their soul is absorbed into God. They engage themselves in devotional practices that raise them higher until they reached the point that they believe that they are one with God. Their belief and actions are usually subjects of suspicion by Muslim theologians and lawyers because their actions are near blasphemous but the Sufi’s desire is to teach happiness and that we should separate ourselves from the worldly things and discover God in our hearts. They seek illumination and they what they see is harmony. A Sufi’s belief is that there is more to life than just experiencing the physical things. They also consider having a much greater mission why we are alive and that they also believe that one’s own self is not a barrier to the illusions that they were able to see (Khan). Examining the life and teachings of two Major Sufi Figures, we can see how they differ in their teachings and how similar their mystical pronouncements are. Abu Hamid al Ghazali was one of the exceptional scholars and Sufi in Islam. His life and his works are still studied by theologians, of jurisprudence and philosophy and mysticism. Al Ghazali started learning when his father left him and his brother under the care of a Sufi friend before he died. His father left them money with a request that the Sufi must see to it that they will be taught how to read and write. When the funds ran out they were sent to school where Ghazali excelled in Islam studies, he became a teacher but with his decision, he stopped teaching because of a Sufi belief that his motivation for teaching is not for Allah. As he was following a Sufi path which has prerequisites that you should give up everything and loose yourself and do everything for the sake of Allah (Cole). Ghazali spent the rest of his lives going on a spiritual journey for 11 years and went back to Tus, he taught for awhile and then he stayed for another 9 years until his death. What were Al Ghazali’s thoughts that influenced the Muslims? Al Ghazali’s techniques were adopted from the Aristotelian logic and the Neoplatonic procedures. Al Ghazali wants to prove God’s existence from the creation to Ash’arite proof. Ghazali believes that God’s attributes are something different from, yet added to, God’s essence. That he believes that God has attributes like humans that is knowledgeable, has life and his own will, can see, can hear and can talk He also believed that whatever happened from creation until now, with the changes that are happening in this world is just a result of God’s knowledge, His own will and his power (Nakamura). Al Ghazali as well believes that there are two powers affecting human acts, that is of God and the human’s power in him. This belief of Al Ghazali implicates that human action is both God’s will and that it is at the same time acquired by that human from God and this is what Al Ghazali wants to harmonize, God’s Omnipotence and the person’s responsibility for his chosen action (Nakamura). Al Ghazali believes that God can place any obligations that he wishes upon humans, that He gives rewards and punishments according to the person’s faithfulness to God and that God’s acts are beyond human’s judgment. The thought that God created all creatures; he cannot be unjust (Nakamura). Ghazali, as one of the greatest theologians really have a deep and lasting influence. His teachings spread to Europe, influenced the Jewish and the Christian Scholasticism even adopted by St. Thomas Aquinas. With his strong argument in favor of religion, he was accused of damaging the cause of philosophy (Averros). Another Sufi figure is Shayk Ahmad al-Ansa’i who is a native of Eastern Arabia. He is under the protection of the princes of Qajar who were responsible for the restoration of Shi’ism as the state religion of Iran. Little is known about Shayk Ahmad but his usage of the symbolic language and the controversial mystical Shayki order that was established after his name was known only after his death (Cole). What are the teachings and the influences of Shayk Ansa’I to the Muslims and the belief about God? Shayk Ahmad put studied this saying from a prophet: â€Å"God wrote a Text (kitabah) two thousand years before He created the universe, on a myrtle leaf that He caused to grow. He placed it upon the Throne, then called out: `O community of Muhammad–peace be upon him and his House–My compassion transcends My wrath. I have given to you before you even asked, and forgiven you before you sought forgiveness. Whoso among you bears witness that there is no God but Me, and that Muhammad is My servant and messenger, I shall usher him into paradise by reason of my compassion (Cole). † Shayk Ansa’I believes that the text, took form of a Leaf which are made up of lines which then God shaped the world (Cole). He believes that God as the Universal intellect and as the Universal soul. He explains that God called the Muslims before he even created the world. That Muslims even before asking may have the gift that they would ask for. Thus these Muslims would depend on their devotion to God. Shayk Ansa’I compared the human existence to a leaf that like the lines in a leaf, human beings are the embodiments of that pre existing text on earth. Shayk Ahmad quotes, in his mystical and his theological anthology, from â€Å"one of the learned† about how the Tree of Certainty was created by God. The passage says that there is a bloom of Muhammad in a shape of a peacock, which would praise God for seventy thousand years. That this peacock bowed to God five times thus where the 5 daily of Islam originated. From the light from Muhammad, the spirits of the believers were created they then became the Muslims. These two beliefs and teachings from two major Sufi figures display a difference in their teachings. One difference that they have is that the belief of the creation of the world. In the belief of Al Ghazali, that human were created as a result of God’s knowledge, His own will and his power. This implicates that this was the choice of God to create human beings and other creatures. That it is God’s will that human beings be made and not just an accidental circumstance. Unlike the belief of Shayk Ahmad that Muslims were chosen even before the creation of the world and that they are the chosen ones. The belief that through the light of Muhammad the souls of the followers were made is a different belief to what Al Ghazali stated. Another difference that has been cited is that, Al Ghazali believes that a person is responsible for his own action. The reward and punishment given by God depends on the person’s obedience and disobedience. This means that there would be a just distribution of the graces and punishments depending on how one lives his life. This may mean that a person is responsible for his own life. Unlike the belief of Shayk Ahmad, that since Muslims were chosen by God before the creation, they were given the graces before they ask of it. They just depend on their devotional practices in order to praise God and receive the graces that they are longing for. Another difference that these two Sufi figures have is the belief of Al Ghazali that human beings have their own free will and that they are the ones responsible for living their own lives. What would happen to them would be affected by God’s power and the consequence of their own action. Shayk Ahmad’s belief on this one is that Muslims, the chosen ones will be blessed. No matter how they live their lives they will be given the graces they seek. They just have to practice their daily devotions for them to have their graces even before they ask of it. However they are not at all different. They also have the same attributes. One same belief both of these Sufi figures have is that human beings were created by one Supreme Being. They are created by God, however different they may be in presenting how creatures came to life, but they are still from one God. Another is that, they both believe that there is one Supreme Being that they need to look up to and give praise for what we have in this world. They both believe that there is a God that we have to thank for our very own lives and for our everyday existence. Another thing that they are the same is that they both believe God gives us graces. How different their beliefs is on how they are given by God, they are in an agreement that God gives human beings blessings that they need. We can see as we have compared the two major Sufi figures, we were able to see how the same and how different their teachings can be. The teachings that they imparted on the Muslims affected their beliefs and divided them into different sects. It is the person’s choice now of whom to believe in order to live their life following what that Supreme Being expects of His creations. As we can see, no matter whom we follow, no matter what belief we have, the guidance of that one Supreme Being is very important to each one of us. There is neither exact religion nor sect which would say that this is the right one for us, but what is important that we have our own beliefs. We have our own rights to practice what we believe in order for us to have that life that God wanted us to have. All we have to keep in mind now is how to live a life that may be harmonious with others, that we would be decreasing conflicts with other believers. One practice that one may do, help Christians to be good Christians or help Muslims to be good Muslims, no matter what religion you are, you are a creation of God. Works Cited: Cole, Juan R. I. Individualism and the Spiritual Path in Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i.Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i Studies No. 4 (September, 1997). http://www. h-net. org/~bahai/bhpapers/ahsaind. htm Cole, Juan R. I. Cosmologies of Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i. The World as Text: Cosmologies of Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i. (1994) http://www-personal. umich.edu/~jrcole/ahsai2. htm Khan, Hidayat Inayat. What is a Sufi? The International Sufi Movement. (June 2005) http://www. sufimovement. org/whatsufiis. htm http://www. ghazali. org/articles/gz1. htm http://www. h-net. org/~bahai/areprint/ahsai/ahsai. htm.

Modern Technology vs Books Essay

One of the most important marvels of modern technology is the Internet, which has not just revolutionized the process of information retrieval, but also, dramatically changed the way people seek information. If in the past, people often had to spend so much time and energy going through many pages or sheets of printed media only to seek for specific information, now with the aid of the internet; information retrieval can be much easier and time-saving. The revolutionary way which the internet offers triggers an intriguing question whether it will replace books or printed media as the main source of information. From my observation, I tend to believe that it will. My main reason is because it has so many advantages over printed media, which make the former (the internet) more preferable, more interesting, more attractive, and even more reliable than the latter (printed media). As a result, more and more people turn to the internet every time they need to seek for information. Here are some of the advantages which I can list to support my belief. First, the kinds of information which the internet provides are almost unlimited. We can find almost any topics from a single computer equipped with a good connection to the internet, while it is impossible to find such a large number of topics only from a single book or a single newspaper. As a result, when people need almost any information, ranging from the latest news, house rentals, car sales, to public transport schedules and fares, they rely on the internet rather than printed media. Second, the information stored in the internet can be updated at very short intervals, enabling its users to always get the latest progress or development. This kind of updating can’t be applied to printed media and thus, printed media always lags behind the internet. Third, the internet also provides other facilities that printed media can’t provide. For example, it enables its users to perform multitasking or interactivity, so that they can communicate with other people, play online games, download or upload pictures, and so on, while seeking for  information. Fourth, the optimization of internet usage can reduce paper consumption significantly. Since the environmental awareness is on the rise, people are encouraged to reduce paper consumption. More paper consumption can lead to more deforestation because the raw materials for making paper basically come from forests. As a result, paperless office and â€Å"going paperless† are being intensively promoted, and here in this context, the internet has proved to be supportive. Looking at the rapidly widespread use of the internet and people’s increasing reliance on it, I believe that someday the internet will triumph over printed media. The first signs of it have shown. For example, the number of internet users is increasing so dramatically, while the sale of printed media is decreasing.

Social Networking and Online security Identity Theft in the Virtual World. Beware the Thieves

Social Networking and Online security Identity Theft in the Virtual World. Beware the Thieves Introduction: The Effects of Social Networking: At the Dawn of the New Era Over the past few years, the importance of live communication seems to have dropped, while the use of social networks has increased several times. Indeed, with the help of social networking, a lot of communication issues vanish without a trace. To start with, social networks serve as a kind of a bridge between countries and continents, linking the most remote places on the Earth together and allowing people from different corners of the world talk without any tangible problems.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networking and Online security: Identity Theft in the Virtual World. Beware the Thieves specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, in the recent social networking history, the infringements of users’ rights have been spotted. Since in most social networks, users are to specify their actual personal information, starting from the date of birth to the place of residence, the people who have become a part of social networking become extremely vulnerable to the attacks of hackers. Taking into account the recent increase in the cases of account breach, one must admit that the security of social networks leaves much to be desired, and can possibly cause its virtual users a lot of real problems. Concerning the Knowledge Deficit It is necessary to mention that the given sphere has not been researched well enough. Through the pros and cons of using social networks have been studied long enough, such an obvious negative feature as fraud in social networking has not been yet studied quite well. According to Dupont, Bailey and Shearing have explored the aspect of the network multilateralization (Dupont 76); however, the researchers did not explore exactly the instances of online fraud. Hence, the problem of online identity theft needs to be considered closer. It is necessary to mention that several researches have been written on the given issue. For instance, Dupont, Lehrman and Powell touch upon the given issue. It is important to mention that at present, the state of knowledge has been improved; however, there is still a considerable knowledge deficit in the given sphere. To be more exact, the fact that social networking can pose a threat to one’s personal data has been stated. However, none of the existing solutions have been offered to handle the situation. While Dupont offers a statement about the conceptualization of security in the age of networks, Lehrman explains in details what kind of threats one can face when using social networks – blackmailing, to be exact – and Powell shows in a rather graphic way how far the insecurity of social networking has gone, none of the authors actually suggest a one-hundred-percent efficient means to solve the problem, which is an obvious knowledge gap in the given sphere. Social Networking and Privacy Issues: Concerning the Secu rity Indicating their private data in the fields required for filling in when signing up for another social network, the user, therefore, makes the above-mentioned data available for online hackers. It cannot be doubted that the developers of the online networking systems do their best to provide the maximum security, yet a 100% guaranteed protection from account breaking is practically impossible. Thus, privacy issues arise in most of the social networks.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Indeed, the mechanism of account breaking and stealing one’s personal data is rather simple. According to what Lehrman says, â€Å"unless the company has a clear plan and mandated training and retraining of all employees, a determined attacker can gain access to highly sensitive information by simply asking for it† (Lehrman 64). However, when it comes to revealing t he actual causes of online security breach, the human factor appears to be the weakest link in the wall of defense that social network developers build around the profiles of the users. As Lehrman explains, â€Å"treating security as a purely technological problem virtually guarantees that these organizations will suffer a security breach, as they have overlooked the weakest link in the chain of security- the human factor† (Lehrman 64). What Happens When the Account Is Broken: Insecurity At first it seems that the problem of account breaking should be referred to the technical issues and, therefore, dealt with as an issue of technical sphere. Making the computer software, such as the anti-virus programs, more user-friendly and detecting spam messages in a faster and more reliable is, doubtlessly, one of the musts in the process of fighting the social network insecurity. However, as it has been mentioned above, there is always the human factor that makes even the most advanced software helpless in front of online attacks. The Existing Ways of Protection: Against Online Identity Thieves It goes without saying that the flaws in the online security of the existing social networking sites definitely are the scourge of the online communication. However, according to the existing data, there is a way to protect online users from hackers and, therefore, keep the users’ private information intact. When dealing with the protection issues, it is necessary to specify the guidelines for the private users and the employees of a certain company. As Dinerman offers, the company officials can keep with the following regulations: â€Å"Alternatively, the company could (and should) have an Acceptable Use Policy, a document that details how these applications and the Internet in general can be used. The policy also defines consequences for failure to comply† (Dinerman 5). However, the above-mentioned strategy is designed for the office employees’ secur ity and, therefore, might not be enough for the rest of the users. According to what Dupont says, the fact that social networks usually involve people from all over the world or at least a certain region, which makes the process of searching for the online criminals all the more complicated: â€Å"Existing regulatory means are usually focused on the actions of single organizations or individuals operating in well-defined sectors or domains, but do not appear to be properly equipped to deal with coalitions of interest transcending these boundaries† (Dupont 83).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networking and Online security: Identity Theft in the Virtual World. Beware the Thieves specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Dinerman, there is a way to protect a natural person as well as a legal one. With the help of reinforced preventive measures, one can develop a sophisticated system of security. Desp ite the fact that it is impossible to take into account all the actions of an online user, there are still general safety measures which can guarantee a decent level of protection: In order to protect their privacy, and themselves, users should be encouraged to have as little personal information as possible publicly available [†¦]Users should not make their profiles available to everyone, and should avoid accepting friend requests from unknown sources. Strangers online should be treated like strangers offline – maintaining requisite politeness and distance (Lehrman 69). Therefore, it can be considered that the safety rules are rather clear. However, they are at the same time extremely vague. While Lehrman describes a general strategy, he does not offer any specific rules, nor does he provide specific examples. Hence, the threat remains in its place. Why Identity Theft Happens: Into the Mind of the Criminal Nevertheless, even with the security levels as high as possible, there is still a possibility of someone hijacking one’s account and stealing the information. As Professor Evans, one of the leading experts on social networking and security issues, claims, â€Å"Any complex system has vulnerabilities in it. Its just the nature of building something above a certain level of complexity† (Collins, para.8). When the Devil is not as Black as It Is Painted: Social Networking Safety It must be admitted that the problem of online security has recently spawned not only considerable discussions, but also a number of lawsuits. According to what Powell says, the official verdict was passed in favor of the person whose account has been broken: â€Å"Granting the injunction, the court held that the precedent, as cited and skillfully argued in The Right to Privacy, recognized the principle protected in each of the cases was the right to privacy† (Powell 152). The above-mentioned allows to suggest that there has been suggested a solution to the issue in question. However, it is still worth noting that the given legal case was one of the few complaints that were actually filed after the account of the plaintiff had been hacked. Therefore, there are certain reasons to suggest that the court cases on social network profile violation are still considered as something out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, this means that the rights of social network users are likely to be violated in the future.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A Possible Solution for the Problem: Guaranteed Online Security Taking the above-mentioned into account, one might suggest that the safety of one’ privacy in the online world is impossible. Indeed, controlling the actions of people in virtual reality is extremely hard. However, it seems that there is a solution for the people who are willing to keep their private data from online hackers. According to the research conducted by Cutillo and Molva, a new social network called Safebook offers the security which no other social network can, since it allows to â€Å"easily share information with selected contacts or the public, for  either professional or personal purposes† (Cutillo and Molva). According to the authors, splitting the network into a business area and the area where people can make online friends provides enough security: In the first case, the OSN is used as a facility geared toward career management or business goals; hence, SNS with a more serious image, like XING and LinkedIn, are chosen [†¦]. In the case of more private use, they share more personal information like contact data, personal pictures, or videos (Cutillo and Molva 94). Conclusion: When Things Can Actually Get Right. Taking Another Chance Therefore, it can be considered that, in terms of privacy issues, social networking is far from being the most secure place in the entire virtual world. No matter what reasons the online hackers have to support their actions, social networking profiles are still broken on a regular basis, which means that social networking, where one has to name his/her actual personal data, is rather an unsafe place. It must be admitted that sufficient measures to provide the users’ safety are taken by the developers of the above-mentioned networking; however, no matter how solid and useful the innovations are, the means of breaking the social network accounts will always be one step ahead, with their sophisticated traps. It can be argued , though, that the safety of the users depends considerably on the users themselves. Nevertheless, one cannot deny that there will always be the threat of the leakage of private information, which means that there is a lot about the current social networking that needs improvement. Collins, Brendan. â€Å"Privacy and Security Issues in Social Networking.† Fastcompany 3 October 2008. Web. Cutillo, Leucio Antonio and Refik Molva. â€Å"Safebook:  A  Privacy-Preserving Online  Social  Network  Leveraging  on Real-Life  Trust.† Consumer Communications and Networking December 2009: 94-101. Web. Dinerman, Brad n. d., Social Networking and Security Risks. Web. Dupont, Benoit. â€Å"Security in the Age of Networks.† Policing Security 14.1 (2004): 76-91. Print. Lehrman, Yosef. â€Å"The Weakest Link: The Risks Associated with Social Networking Websites.† Journal of Strategic Security 3.2 (2010): 63-71. Print. Powell, Connie Davis. â€Å"‘You Already Have Zero Privacy. Get Over It!’ Would Warren and Brandeis Argue for Privacy for Social Networking?† Pace Law Review 31.1 (2011): 146-181. Print.

Individualized Education Plan Goals for Place Value

Individualized Education Plan Goals for Place Value Learning place value is critical for expanding mathematical understanding past single-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division- even for students who are on an individual education plan, or  IEP. Understanding ones, tens, hundreds, thousands as well as tenths, hundredths, etc.- also referred to as the  base 10  system- will help IEP students manipulate and use large numbers. Base 10 is also the foundation of the U.S. monetary system, and the metric measurement system. Read on to find examples of IEP goals for place value that align to the  Common Core State Standards. The Common Core State Standards Before you can write IEP goals for place value/the base-10 system, its important to understand what the Common Core State Standards require for this skill. The standards, developed by a federal panel and adopted by 42 states, require that students- whether they are on an IEP or mainstream students in the general education population- must: Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones. (They must also be able to):Count within 1,000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s.Read and write numbers to 1,000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. IEP Goals for the Place Value Regardless of whether your student is eight or 18, she stills  need to master these skills. The following IEP goals would be considered appropriate for that purpose. Feel free to use these suggested goals as you write your IEP. Note that you would replace Johnny Student with the name of your student. When given a two-digit number, Johnny Student will model the number using place value rods and blocks, with 90 percent accuracy in four out of five trials administered over a one-week period as measured by teacher-charted data and work samples.When presented with three-digit numbers, Johnny Student will correctly identify the digit in the ones, tens, and hundreds places with 90 percent accuracy in four out of five trials administered over a one-week period as measured by teacher-charted data and work samples. Specific and Measurable Remember that to be legally acceptable,  IEP goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-limited. In the previous examples, the teacher would track the students progress, over a one-week period, and document progress via data and work samples demonstrating the student can perform the skill with 90-percent accuracy. You can also write place-value goals in a way that measures the number of correct student responses, rather the percentage of accuracy, such as: In a classroom setting, when given a missing numbers chart with numbers up to 100, Johnny Student will write nine out of 10 correct numbers in three out of four consecutive trials over a one-month period as measured by teacher and staff observation as well as work samples.When presented with a three-digit number between 100 and 1,000, Johnny Student will count up by 10s in nine out of 10 trials over a one-month period as measured by teacher and staff observation as well as work samples. By writing the goals in this manner, you can track student progress through simple worksheets that allow the student to count by 10s. This makes  tracking student progress  in using the base-10 system much easier.

Making Small Talk for English Learners

Making Small Talk for English Learners The ability to make small talk is highly valued. In fact, many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar structures - and rightly so! Small talk gets friendships started and breaks the ice before important business meetings and other events. What Is Small Talk? Small talk is pleasant conversation about common interests. Why Is Small Talk Difficult for Some English Learners? First of all, making small talk is not difficult only for English learners, but also for many native speakers of English. However, small talk can be especially difficult for some learners because making small talk means talking about almost anything - and that means having a wide vocabulary that can cover most topics. Most English learners have excellent vocabulary in specific areas, but may have difficulties discussing topics they are unfamiliar with because of a lack of appropriate vocabulary. This lack of vocabulary leads to some students blocking. They slow down or stop speaking completely because of a lack of self-confidence. How to Improve Small Talk Skills Now that we understand the problem, the next step is to improve the situation. Here are some tips to improve small talk skills. Of course, making effective small talk means lots of practice, but keeping these tips in mind should improve overall conversational skills. Do Some Research​ Spend time on the internet, reading magazines, or watching TV specials about the type of people you are going to meet. For example, if you are taking a class with students from other countries, take time after the first few days of class to do some research. They will appreciate your effort and your conversations will be much more interesting. Stay Away From Religion or Strong Political Beliefs While you may believe in something very strongly, beginning conversations and making small talk about your own personal convictions may abruptly end the conversation. Keep it light, dont try to convince the other person that you have the correct information about a higher being, political system, or other belief system. Use the Internet to Gain Specific Vocabulary​ This is related to doing research about other people. If you have a business gathering  or are meeting people who share a common interest (a basketball team, a tour group interested in art, etc.), take advantage of the internet to learn specific vocabulary. Almost all businesses and interest groups have glossaries on the internet explaining the most important jargon related to their business or activity. Ask Yourself About Your Culture​ Take time to make a list of common interests that are discussed when making small talk in your own culture. You can do this in your own language, but check to make sure that you have the English vocabulary to make small talk about those subjects. Find Common Interests​ Once you have a subject that interests both of you, keep to it! You can do this in a number of ways: talking about travel, talking about the school or friend you have in common, talking about the differences between your culture and the new culture (just be careful to make comparisons and not judgments, e.g., The food in our country is better than the food here in England). Listen This is very important. Dont get so worried about being able to communicate that you dont listen. Listening carefully will help you understand and encourage those speaking to you. You might be nervous, but letting others state their opinions will improve the quality of the discussion - and give you time to think of an answer! Common Small Talk Subjects Here is a list of common small talk subjects. If you have difficulties speaking about any of these topics, try to improve your vocabulary by using the resources available to you (Internet, magazines, teachers at school, etc.) Sports - current matches or games, favorite teams, etc.HobbiesWeather - boring, but can get the ball rolling!Family - general questions, not questions about private mattersMedia - films, books, magazines, etc.Holidays - where, when, etc. but NOT how much!Home town - where do you come from, how is it different/similar to this townJob - once again, general questions not too specificLatest fashion and trendsCelebrities - any gossip you may have! Here is a list of topics that probably arent very good for small talk. Of course, if you are meeting a close friend these topics may be excellent. Just remember that small talk is generally discussion with people you dont know very well. Salary - how much do you make? - Thats none of your business!Politics - wait until you get to know the person betterIntimate relationships - only for you and your partner, or maybe your best friendReligion - tolerance is the key!Death - we need to face it, but not the first time we meet someone newFinancial - related to salary above, most people prefer to keep financial information to themselvesSales - Dont try to sell something to someone you have just met.

Mens Rea Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mens Rea - Personal Statement Example He was perhaps in his early thirties medium height and bearded face. What stood out to me at the moment was that he wore well fitted tan suit. I presumed that he was a business man of some sort. Like most in this particular coffee shop, he sat on his chair busily minding his lap top and scribbling on his note pad. He next began talking to himself. I privately concluded that he was a journalist preparing for an interview. My notion was dashed when I noticed a bewildered expression cross his features. He glanced around, panic stricken with eyes darting about. It was almost as if he did not realize where he was. I spent a minute watching him look about like a caged animal and found myself compelled to assist him. Standing with latte in hand, I strode over to assist and en route asked "Are you ok" "Do you need help with something" He stood, the same animal, now cowering but yelling "YOU'RE TRESPASSING, YOU'RE IN MY SPACE". I quickly apologized and left the caf. I consoled myself noting that this man in the nice suit needed some serious couch time. Maybe he was in the middle of a panic attack, I surmised. Yet I wondered was I trespassing If a police officer had been in the caf, would I have been charged I was only trying to help so why did he use that specific legal termtrespassing. Determined to not have my day ruined, I chalked up the experience to a gross misunderstanding by a tortured soul and proceeded about my business. Putting the episode behind me I strolled south on Boston street when suddenly some greenish hued paper caught my eye. To my delight there was a five dollar bill lying on the ground utterly abandoned. I took a moment and looked around me to see if perhaps there was someone searching for it. Nope, the money was mine. I smiled knowing that karma was now on my side and leaned down to pick it up. Suddenly, this screeching voice hurled an accusation and I found myself confronted by flip flops commandeered by toes in desperate need of a pedicure. "You took my Money"!!! My stomach lurched, not again! What is going on today I rose to a tall woman maybe in her middle twenties with black hair wearing blue short shorts and a tank top and flip flops standing there. Setting aside for a moment the fact that she had absolutely no business wearing short shorts, I was being yelled at by this crazy woman with her perfectly lacquered talons waving in my face. Transfixed and trapped by the talons, I quickly returned the five dollars to her muttering an apology. I didn't want any trouble. The woman screamed, "You're lucky you gave it back, I can still call the cops!" I sensed her aggression and replied with, "so sorry ma'am". I could not believe this was happening. If I didn't know better I'd swear I was on candid camera. I wondered what was happening and praying that it would change. I turned around to make my exit and trotted towards the park. It's peaceful there, I concluded. Eyes forward because now I am convinced that the whole town thinks that I am a criminal and I am horrified to see the looks on their faces, I continue my trot. I remind myself that the park is a safe place, a happy place, a peaceful place. Yes, only good things happen in the park and dammit I left my latte back with Ms. Shorty shorts. Should I get another Nah, better just get to the park. I had about three more blocks to go before I reached the park. The whole time I kept repeating positive affirmations

The fierce competetion between the conventional and islamic banks at Case Study

The fierce competetion between the conventional and islamic banks at the Kuwait finance bank in Bahrain - Case Study Example This has resulted in the process of tremendous competition in the marketplace. In an effort to sustain in the well connected and highly competitive global marketplace, companies around the world are significantly asking for large loan amounts in order to fuel their organizational growth needs. On the other hand, the consumers in an attempt to maintain a suitable lifestyle are focusing on the process of acquiring financial support for the purpose of acquiring homes, vehicles and other necessary products and services. This is triggering the need for financial support services from banking institutions around the world. However, the banks in an attempt to maintain profits are providing loans on competitive and attractive interest rates. However, talking on this note, it can be said that the effect of macroeconomic factors like slowdown of productivity in the developed countries, credit crunch and Euro Zone crisis are playing significant roles in the process of determining the rate of in terest on the financial loans in banking systems around the world. ... With the growth of business operation in the Middle Kingdom, a particular style of banking was introduced in an attempt to fund the large scale business operations of that time. During those early days of banking, the financial institutions used to charge riba. The riba in various Arabic and Middle East religions dialects is represented and meant as a bite to the pain inflicted upon the debtor (Ahmed 2011) . Riba in simple terms represents the interest rates on a loan (Bakar, â€Å"Riba and Islamic Banking And Finance†). However, with regards to the Islamic Law which is referred as Shari’aa, Muslims were not allowed to deal in riba and it was declared as a highly prohibited action, which will attract sin. As a result of this, when the Europeans of those times focused on developing the trade channels with the Ottoman Empire by doing business through the interest based loan and banking system, the local business community rejected the offers. This led to the formation of a culture among the Muslim community to avoid loans altogether. In the recent times, a lot of development has happened with regards to the initiative taken King Faisal of Saudi Arabia in 1974 to develop a banking system, which follows the Islamic law (Rahman 2010). The years after that followed a generation of a significant amount of interest for the purpose of building and developing a more sophisticated and modernized version of the pre-existing methods related to Islamic banking. It can be said also highlighted in these regards that the process of re-emergence of the Islamic banking system was to some extent fuelled by the desire of the Muslim communities to stay clear of any kind of financial

Financial Health of Al Rayan Bank of Britain Term Paper

Financial Health of Al Rayan Bank of Britain - Term Paper Example The bank offers high standard services (Report: Qatar, 2008). The bank has employed highly qualified personnel who are ready to serve their customers genuinely and acting with utmost good faith. This is the basis of their retail banking operations.The bank ventured in unique investment type. It invests n developing different types of infrastructure and human resource. The main objective of this kind of investment is to provide a unique state of the art of product to its clients.The bank has a strong asset base. Since it became a part of Masraf Al Rayan banks of Qatar it increased its asset size making money bank available for its customers. This means that the bank offers more products to its clients and can do more investment activities.WeaknessThe bank is faced with a big debt (Cornell, 2007). This debt accrues a lot of interest hence even if there is a lot of cash inflow realized there is still a huge amount of cash outflow that the bank therefore not realizing big returns from th e activitiesExisting credit risks affect the bank negatively. This arises from those customers who fail to meet their obligations. It may also arise from their counterparties. This hence affects adversely the banks financial condition, results and future prospects.The bank should expand in other geographic areas both locally and internationally to add up opportunities for the bank. It can introduce mobile banking to enhance efficiency and come up software application for android and IOS devices.

What are your thoughts on present day religious ideologies Are they Essay

What are your thoughts on present day religious ideologies Are they much different from Greek and Roman religious beliefs Explain - Essay Example In the ancient times, the Greeks and Romans were identified by their worship of â€Å"many gods† and goddesses (Mikalson, 2010, p. 224).1 The present day Christians, Jews, and Muslims only recognize one God. It is however worth noting that Hindus have many gods whereas atheists believe in none. The aspect of believing in multiple gods for the ancient Greeks and Romans as compared to one God for the present day religions is the largest distinctive factor between the two kind of religious ideologies. However, there are a couple of other differences and some similarities too that can be identified between the two groups. Firstly, the present day religions believe that God is unanimously powerful and he is able to control every aspect of life by Himself. On the other hand, Greeks and Romans appreciated the fact that the gods were powerful but they associated each god with a specific area of power. For instance, Zeus was the god of the skies, earthquakes, storms, lightning, and so on.2 Similarly, present day religious ideologies tend to describe God as good, morally pure and blameless. Contrary, the Romans and Greeks believed that the gods had similar personalities to the human beings. They believed that the gods too did wrongs, felt jealous and rage as much as they felt mercy and compassion. The present day Christian ideologies tend explain that people can talk directly to God through prayers and that their prayers would be answered appropriately.3 This is however not the case for the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed that although gods would sometimes listen to prayers, especially if the individual has offered a sacrifice, the person that offered a better sacrifice will most likely get the help from the gods. Ultimately, even though the present day religious ideologies and the Greek and Romans religious beliefs have some

Gentiva Health Services Financial Analysis Report Term Paper

Gentiva Health Services Financial Analysis Report - Term Paper Example The paper is divided into the following sections: background information, revenue analysis, financial analysis and management. Finally, the last section gives a conclusion based on the author’s point of view on the soundness of the company’s activities. Outline Outline 3 Background Information 4 Operating Revenue 5 Financial Management 7 Sources of capital 8 Capital Expenditure Management 9 Financial management analysis 9 Conclusion 11 Background Information Gentiva health services provider is one of the largest health care and hospice providers in the majority of the states in America. In 1971, Gentiva launched its home healthcare business and under the umbrella of Olsten Corporation, a split took place in March 2000 separating Olsten and Gentiva Health services, which is now one of the largest health service providers in the nation and ranked among the ten largest after acquiring The Health field Group, Inc., in 2006. Gentiva Health Services provides hospice services throughout 420 locations and at least forty-one states. These services include skilled nursing, hospice services, nutrition, social work, and disease management education. The company also takes part in assisting needy people in their daily living activities. The proposed introduction of the health services reform that requires health service providers to cut down service charges has tremendously affected the organization’s business. In response to the proposed regulation, the organization sold thirty-four of its branches in 2011 and has sold another bunch of ten branches in 2012. As a result of these sales, there are short lived and long-term effects on the expenditures and revenues earned by the company (financial performance). The effects of the recent acquisitions and dispositions on short term securities are evident on the balance sheet totals. These dispositions have reduced the short term securities owned by the company. Part of the accrued benefits from the sale of it s branches has been directed to make strategic acquisitions in pursuant of increased fixed assets portfolio. Following the closure of some branches, there is a reduction in accounts receivables as a result of reduction in numbers of customers served by the closed branches. Newly acquired branches may take time before they build a substantial number of customers. Gentiva company endeavors to venture into new market niches, this implies an increase in the inventory of the company. Overall cost of running the company may immensely reduce as a result of the reduction in the workload due to closure of some branches. Closed branches will reduce accrued revenue and expenses for the company. New business ventures require new employees; initially this may raise the running expenses especially due to training costs. With the expansion, the company will reduce operational costs and expenses and claim a high market niche. To retain its relevance in the presence of the reduced health service cha rges as indicated by the health reform, each service provider must engage extra efforts; else, most of the service providers may find it difficult to cope with the incorporation of the new law. This paper gives an analysis of the activities of Gentiva Health services in relation to revenue management, financial analysis and financial management with an aim to evaluate the soundness of the organization’

The absorption and contribution income statements Essay

The absorption and contribution income statements - Essay Example Companies tend to have a need to produce different income statements since different details accrue on each of the statements. In other scenarios, the activities of a business entity may prompt the production of multiple income statements. The reason may be due to the kind of sourcing of the funds and the types of activities and programs that the company undertakes. The user of different income statements is also dependent on the immediate goal of the income statement. Some of the objectives that lead to different losses in profit accounts are the different goals the company may target. They include stablishing the past performance of the business entity, assisting in the future prediction of the future performance of the company or the assessment of the future capability of performance of a particular business entity.  The break-even analysis explains the point in time whereby an operation or a business activity generates no profit and incurs no loss. The analysis is important in establishing the earning impact that a particular marketing activity creates in a specific business activity. An example is the carrying out a break-even analysis after the advertisements of a particular commodity after prior entrance in the market. The analysis can show the differences in periods of supply and the improvement, stagnation or the successive failure of the product advertisement venture. The analysis thus helps managers to establish the diversities that attribute the relationship between sales, costs plus the resulting profits.     

Gentiva Health Services Financial Analysis Report Term Paper

Gentiva Health Services Financial Analysis Report - Term Paper Example The paper is divided into the following sections: background information, revenue analysis, financial analysis and management. Finally, the last section gives a conclusion based on the author’s point of view on the soundness of the company’s activities. Outline Outline 3 Background Information 4 Operating Revenue 5 Financial Management 7 Sources of capital 8 Capital Expenditure Management 9 Financial management analysis 9 Conclusion 11 Background Information Gentiva health services provider is one of the largest health care and hospice providers in the majority of the states in America. In 1971, Gentiva launched its home healthcare business and under the umbrella of Olsten Corporation, a split took place in March 2000 separating Olsten and Gentiva Health services, which is now one of the largest health service providers in the nation and ranked among the ten largest after acquiring The Health field Group, Inc., in 2006. Gentiva Health Services provides hospice services throughout 420 locations and at least forty-one states. These services include skilled nursing, hospice services, nutrition, social work, and disease management education. The company also takes part in assisting needy people in their daily living activities. The proposed introduction of the health services reform that requires health service providers to cut down service charges has tremendously affected the organization’s business. In response to the proposed regulation, the organization sold thirty-four of its branches in 2011 and has sold another bunch of ten branches in 2012. As a result of these sales, there are short lived and long-term effects on the expenditures and revenues earned by the company (financial performance). The effects of the recent acquisitions and dispositions on short term securities are evident on the balance sheet totals. These dispositions have reduced the short term securities owned by the company. Part of the accrued benefits from the sale of it s branches has been directed to make strategic acquisitions in pursuant of increased fixed assets portfolio. Following the closure of some branches, there is a reduction in accounts receivables as a result of reduction in numbers of customers served by the closed branches. Newly acquired branches may take time before they build a substantial number of customers. Gentiva company endeavors to venture into new market niches, this implies an increase in the inventory of the company. Overall cost of running the company may immensely reduce as a result of the reduction in the workload due to closure of some branches. Closed branches will reduce accrued revenue and expenses for the company. New business ventures require new employees; initially this may raise the running expenses especially due to training costs. With the expansion, the company will reduce operational costs and expenses and claim a high market niche. To retain its relevance in the presence of the reduced health service cha rges as indicated by the health reform, each service provider must engage extra efforts; else, most of the service providers may find it difficult to cope with the incorporation of the new law. This paper gives an analysis of the activities of Gentiva Health services in relation to revenue management, financial analysis and financial management with an aim to evaluate the soundness of the organization’

Mabalacat Pampanga Essay Example for Free

Mabalacat Pampanga Essay Is a former municipality, the third city in Pampanga converted because of a referendum on July 21,2012. According to the last 2010 consensus, Mabalacat has a population of 215,610 people. Economy and Livelihood -Mabalacat is a major transportation hub here in Pampanga connecting NLEX, SCTEX , and the McArthur Hi-Way. -Mabalacat is a highly urbanized city. It consists of different business establishments. A lot of this includes iron works, ceramics, car accessories and different hotels and restaurants. -Mabalacat also gets some tax contributed income from the Clark Freeport Zone. -Delicacies include tocino del cielo and pastillas. Cultural Profiles: Festivals: Caragan Festival: This is a Festival in Mabalacat which the Mabalacat people celebrates its roots and ancestry and to honor the town’s first Aeta chieftain. City Fiesta: Every February 2, the city Fiesta is celebrated in honor of the statue of a Virgin Mary with a baby Jesus on her lap that was found by Cabezang Laureanas workers, This statue was presented to Caragan as a gift by Padre Maximilian Manuguid, the priest of early Mabalacat church. Customs -Mabalacat people are religious and diligent. They put the family time and church activities as one of their priorities. -Mabalacat people follow the holy week traditions carefully and still practices Penitensya.* *as cited by residents Traditions -Mabalacat people still follows pastorella, even though all other places in Pampanga have stopped celebrating it. -Mabalacat people majority still follow the â€Å"penitensya† during the Holy Week. -People of Mabalacat always spend quality time with each other especially family. -The People of Mabalacat has a family first kind of principle.* *as cited by Residents. Prominent Local Figures: Mayor MORALES, BOKINGVice-Mayor HALILI, CHRISTIANLydia de Vega a famous runnerMelanie Marquez is a former beauty queen and model who won the 1979 Miss International beauty pageant.Joey Marquez is an actor and politician.

Diageo Marketing Strategy

Diageo Marketing Strategy Introduction Diageo began as a world leader in branded foods and drinks, formed in December 1997 through a merger of Guinness PLC and alcohol and Grand Metropolitan plc (The Gale Group Inc, 2006). In 2000 2002, a strategic decision by Diageo was made to exit the companys food interests by divesting its food companies and exclusively focusing on premium alcohol. A detailed history of Diageo plc up to and immediately after its creation is set out in Figure : Our Business Diageo History Family Tree Diageo is currently the worlds largest drinks company by volume, net sales and operating profit (Diageo PLC, 2012) with a large collection of brands which include spirits, beer and wine. There are currently 14 brands which Diageo identifies as global priority brands. These are: Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka Crown Royal whisky Ciroc vodka JB whisky Ketel One vodka Windsor Captain Morgan rum Buchanans whiskey Jose Cuervo tequila Bushmills whiskey Tanqueray gin Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2008) Diageos Current Business Strategies Diageo owns seven of the worlds top 20 spirits brands. Diageos beer brands include the only global stout brand, Guinness, and together these beer brands account for approximately 20% of net sales while Diageos wine brands represent approximately 5% of Diageos net sales. This means that Diageos size provides for scale efficiencies in production, selling and marketing. This enables cost efficiencies and the dissemination of best practices in business operations across markets and brands allowing Diageo to serve its customers and consumers better. From 2005 to the end of financial year 2011 (ending 30 June 2011), Diageo managed its operations by four regions: Europe, North America, International and Asia Pacific. In financial year 2012 (FY 2012) the International region was split into Africa and Latin America sections, producing five geographical regions globally. This general structure brought about good results. Analysis of Diageos annual reports from 2007 to 2012 shows that gross sales rose from  £ 9,704,000 to  £14,594,000, an annual average increase of 7%. Due to the level of continued change in global markets and the requisite innovation necessary, it has Diageo completed an operating review in 2011 which recommended changes in structure and focus, and this resulted in a net movement of personnel from developed market regions to emerging market regions. The changes are expected to be fully implemented by 30 June 2013 (Diageo PLC, 2011) (Diageo PLC, 2012) . This restructuring should allow Diageo to improve its effectiveness and the productivity of its operations and to position resources nearer to the market and to the geographical regions where there is a great potential for growth. Read through and differentiate the different strategies under headings .i.e. Business strategy- Generic strategies (Diageo uses focused and differentiation) and Interactive strategies. Put everything under headings Competitive Strategies (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 199) define competitive strategy as being concerned with how a strategic business unit achieves competitive advantage in its domain of activity. Therefore a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) creates competitive advantage when it creates value for its users where the cost effectiveness of supplying it is superior to that of rival SBUs. (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) further add that Porter defines three generic strategies which create competitive advantage for a company are; differentiation, cost leadership and focus strategies. This report has seen that Diageo uses both Focused and Differentiation strategies when pushing its products to its target market. This is because Diageo focuses on premium liquor that is targeted to a particular market. Tools: advertising (localisation), vertical integration, premiumisation, seasonal pricing strategy, first-mover advantage, employee training SABMiller. Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012). Production and supply Diageos supply organization is responsible for producing, distilling, brewing, bottling, packaging and distributing its brands. It is committed to efficient, sustainable production. Diageo has created a competitive advantage in both its cost base and in the first class customer service it delivers. Investment in production facilities is focused on building capacity for the production of scotch, beer and rum, with both high speed and high volume, cost efficient production lines and with flexible production facilities to create an industry leading supply chain for innovation, especially in luxury products. The business recognizes that it operates in a world where natural resources are limited. Diageo has set itself challenging environmental targets covering water efficiency; increasing use of sustainable packaging and reduction in pollution, carbon emissions and waste-to landfill (Diageo PLC, 2012). Differentiation strategy Products For a company to use this strategy it should prove unique products for which their customers will be prepared to pay a premium price. This is seen in Diageos recent launches which focused on the consumers wish for luxury, the tastes and increasing affluence of the emerging middle class consumer which ultimately increased the accessibility of spirits through flavor extensions and packaging and drink formats (Diageo PLC, 2012). Premiumisation [jubilee scotch] innovation around RTD products, adult progressive drinks. Customer care and Retention When it comes to customer care and sale of its products, Diageo works in collaboration with its customers to drive profitable category growth, by building partnerships with retailers and on-premise customers. The Diageo Way of Selling program equips both Diageo and its customers with the tools to be the best sales force in the industry and to create commercial and strategic value for all parties. The European Customer Collaboration Centre provides a state of the art facility to bring consumer, shopper, retailer and distributor insights together to facilitate integrated planning with customers. These tools enable Diageo to realize its ambition to become an indispensable business partner to its customers (Diageo PLC, 2012). This means that when the customers go to buy their products its a fulfilling experience and they get all their questions or suggestions met and this works well with Diageo as they use this as feedback. Environmental and socially responsible Diageo being the socially and environmental responsible company, it has a history of being a sustainable and responsible company dating from Arthur Guinness who was responsible for philanthropic community programs and through the 1930s when its predecessor companies marketed their brands in a responsible manner. Diageo understands the social, environmental and economic impact of its activities and has adopted a structured approach to manage these impacts, to build engagement across stakeholders, to create value, especially in emerging markets; and to protect Diageos license to operate (Diageo PLC, 2012). Balance of alcohol in the community (Diageo PLC, 2012) states that the company is not all about profits and losses, it ensures that even the employees are proud of the responsible manner in which its brands are marketed and the role that moderate consumption of its brands can play as part of the balanced lifestyle for millions of people. Diageo seeks to be at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking and works with key stakeholders to combat alcohol misuse. Eco-friendly technology Diageos production teams have created award winning technologies to meet these targets with the aim of reducing Diageos environmental footprint, delivering business efficiencies and securing supply into the future. Diageo is committed to generating prosperity in the communities in which it operates, especially in the emerging markets by integrating its supply chain into the local community and via direct community initiatives such as Learning for Life and Water of Life (Diageo PLC, 2012). Development of the workforce Diageo believes that industry leading performance will be delivered through a talented and diverse workforce and great leadership. The company has active programs that ensure the development of its management and leaders. Great leadership combined with a culture of good governance and ethics protects Diageos reputation and supports the sustainable efficient growth of the business (Diageo PLC, 2012). Focus Strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) state that focus strategy focuses on a particular segment of market and modifies its products and services to fulfill the needs of that exact segment while excluding others. In terms of relationships with distributors and suppliers Diageo has strong routes to market which leverage local expertise. In the United States Diageo is required by law to operate via a three-tier distribution system which separates suppliers, distributors and retailers. Diageo works with distributors who provide a substantial dedicated sales team of over 2,900 people. Outside of the United States Diageo owns and controls the route to market in many markets, and where Diageo has not established its own subsidiary, the route to market is through joint ventures, associates and third party distributors (Diageo PLC, 2012). This kind of command on distributorship and supply is why Diageo is known for its quality products and this ensures customers get what they pay for. The Strategy process Intended Strategy Development Strategic Leadership: the role of vision and command In 2000, the newly appointed CEO of Diageo, Paul Walsh, embarked on a strategic review of all operations and was determined to recreate Diageo as the worlds leading premium drinks business (Davidson, 2004). By selling off the companys food concerns and concentrating on the marketing and innovation of its core premium drinks brands, Paul Walsh refocused and reenergized the company (Encyclopedia of Business, 2012). Walshs leadership gravitates towards the visionary style since it more closely follows one that motivates others, helps create the shared beliefs, and shapes more detailed strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 400). Strategic Planning Four key pillars of the formulated strategic plans can be identified as: Promotion of the global strategic brands Vertical integration Cost reduction Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Exploring new territories Promotion of global strategic brands Strategic brands (formerly global priority brands) have always been a key pillar of its strategy. In 2007 there were eight of these Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka JB whisky Captain Morgan rum Tanqueray gin Jose Cuervo tequila Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2007) These are brands which Diageo considers to have the greatest current and future earnings potential (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 9). By 2012 the number of brands in this category had risen to 14 as set out in Table . Although the company was structured into four distinct geographical regions, the global priority brands took precedence over the regional divisions. ref Since the eight brands constituted the lions share of earnings, it was considered important to manage these products at the highest level. Growth strategy and promotion was engineered at the corporate level. However that did not mean that regional business units were spoon-fed material from corporate level. There was a great deal of localisation in promoting these products. An example of a major long-running campaign which has been progressively adapted to different regions is the Walk with Giants campaign which in FY 2012 featured the respected long distance Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie in an Africa campaign. Vertical integration Diageo has taken considerable control of the supply chain, being involved in developing, brewing, distilling, bottling, packaging, distributing, and marketing. It has physical plant which covers the previously listed activities as well as specialised functions such as malting, packaging plants, vineyards, maturation warehouses, cooperages, distribution warehouses, and bottle manufacturers (Diageo PLC, 2007). In Kenya the process goes as far as involvement in the growing of input cereals to brewing ref. In the USA, total vertical integration is moderated by law, which states that there should be three levels of supply: manufacturing, distribution and retail. In that market therefore, Diageo works to identify solid partners in distribution, usually only one partner per state. Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Strategic acquisition and sale of unfocussed business units was in Diageos business genes, as it was formed from a succession of such moves. It has continued to be a key part of its growth. Since 2000 the organic growth of th Exploring new territories Although Diageo had possession of many of the worlds strongest liquor brands, and could have been satisfied with continuing to depend on this cash cow business, it has as a company been quite adventurous and curious in enacting a deliberate policy of exploring emerging markets. Part of Diageos growth strategy includes expanding its business in certain countries where consumer spending in general, and spending on Diageos products in particular, has not historically been as great but where there are prospects for growth (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 17). This arm of the business was only delivering 20% of the revenue in 2007, despite representing considerable complexity in management. Emerging markets can be difficult to manage due to the relatively low purchasing power, poor infrastructure, and traditional local involvement in distribution channels. However this persistence has clearly paid off for the company. From a small but hopeful difference in growth compared to developed country market s in 2007, the emerging markets have increased in strength and importance, until in 2012 they represented 40% of revenue, which is expected to reach 50% by . Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012) Emergent Strategy Development Logical incrementalism PESTEL reactions Advertising in US about spirits on TV product change Levels of distribution. 2008 credit crunch emerging market growth smarter at localised promotion? Diageo hiding behind EABL my country my beer. Managing Strategy Development [figure with the five regions and amended brand strategy] Reconfigured structure concentrating more on emerging markets. Overall growth highlighted graph showing growth. Evaluation of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practices Diageo is always innovative and this is in its strategies all through the company. All the stakeholders know what is expected of them and there is always something new that Diageo is coming up with. Below are some of the new ideas that have been rocking Diageo: Innovation unlocks growth in developed markets. In Ireland, for example, we have introduced new dispense technology to bring perfect cocktails to bars which do not usually serve cocktails. Smirnoff Mojito is available in over 600 Irish outlets which are now selling a total of nearly 40,000 cocktails a week (Diageo, 2012). Diageo entered the Indian made foreign liquor segment (IMFL) with the launch of Rowsons Reserve, a premium IMFL whisky. It is a blend of selected premium Indian whiskies and reserve stocks of the finest aged Scotch whisky matured in American oak casks that are mellowed to give a rich smooth finish. It has a well-rounded and balance flavour profile, with a soft, lingering aftertaste. Its distinctly superior liquid and premium packaging allows it to stand out as a premium offering (Diageo, 2012). Smirnoff, the worlds number one vodka, revealed an exciting new flavour variant, exclusive to travel retail. Smirnoff Gold Collection with the luxury of gold in every drop is unique, cinnamon spiced vodka. Gold cues feature prominently in all executions and the gold etched bottle itself showcases a flurry of real, edible gold leaf flakes, magically suspended in this truly indulgent vodka (Diageo, 2012). Guinness Black Lager has the refreshing taste of lager, but all the character of Guinness which consumers love. We take immense pride in the quality of our product and ensured that we built on the Guinness legacy. The refreshing taste is locked in by the bespoke amber Guinness bottle. The contemporary packaging design combines premium, detailed silver and blue colour with hallmark symbols of Guinness brewing provenance and heritage (Diageo, 2012). This March saw the launch of Orijin, the latest drinks innovation from Guinness Cameroon. Perfect for all social occasions, this authentic ready to drink alcoholic beverage ,an alternative to beer, is made from a blend of traditional African herbs such as kola nuts, ginger and cloves, and sweet tropical fruits, giving it a refined, bitter-sweet and uplifting taste (Diageo, 2012). We need to offer more choices to female consumers. In Kenya, we launched Snapp. Women there told us they didnt like drinking beer, particularly in the on trade because both the packaging and the liquid were viewed as too masculine. Snapp is a premium, crisp apple tasting drink that provides women with a more stylish and sophisticated alternative to beer (Diageo, 2012). As a darker, spiced rum from Captain Morgan, Captain Morgan Black Spiced expands the brands footprint into the bolder, more masculine whiskey occasion. The brand honors the legend of the real Captain Morgan, whose spirit is said to still roam the waters of the Caribbean today. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is best enjoyed on the rocks, but is also delicious as the key ingredient in edgy, new twists on classic cocktails, such as Henry Morgans Old Fashioned (Diageo, 2012). The new frozen Ready to Serve pouch format from Parrot Bay offers consumers an easy and affordable way to enjoy the drinks they love. Parrot Bay frozen tropical drinks are your favourite tropical drinks perfectly mixed every time, available in Pià ±a Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, and Mango Daiquiri. Just freeze, squeeze and enjoy (Diageo, 2012). Offering a credible, exciting new alternative to beer for British males, Jeremiah Weed Brews is a range of two products Mash and Root Brew. The combination of an authentic American brand, independent positioning, simple design and a unique jam jar serve over ice has helped deliver the masculine credibility of beer with an enjoyable taste. Jeremiah Weed has now been rolled out to 7,000 on trade outlets in Great Britain (Diageo, 2012). Harp Lime is Nigerias first flavoured beer. With a clean and crisp taste, and just a hint of lime, it is uniquely refreshing. Harp Lime has been well received, with distribution growing steadily, and the distinctive Harp Lime advertising impacting positively on the Harp Trademark equity. Harp Lime is available in both sleek 30cl bottles and cans (Diageo, 2012). The Tusker brand has been enjoyed in Kenya since 1922, and now new Tusker Lite keeps the brand innovative and relevant by addressing todays consumers balanced lifestyle choices with a refreshing low calorie beer. Tusker Lite is positioned within the same mainstream segment as the parent brand Tusker Lager (Diageo, 2012). This years Asian Festive season gifting design was inspired by the characteristic big, bold flavors of the Johnnie Walker brand. The packs were launched in stages, from India for Diwali and then across Asia Pacific for Chinese New Year. The eye-catching limited edition gift boxes boast a beautiful design that allows each variant to stand out on shelves, with impressive and refined packaging including an embossed box and gold foiling (Diageo, 2012).

Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development Essay

Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development Many psychologists have studied and researched into how we acquire language. Some have concluded that the ability to learn language is a genetically inherited skill. Others believe that language is learned following birth and is due to environmental factors. This is part of the nature vs. nurture debate. One of the main psychologists who supported the nurture side was B.F Skinner. Skinner is an empiricist. He put forward the idea that children learn language because of the influence of the environment. Skinner believed that parents would provide more attention and pleasurable reactions when the infant made correct sounds or utterances. This way the child would gradually learn to speak and use language. The child would respond to the smiles and approval of the parents. Skinner explained this as operant conditioning; the reinforcement of a random response by a reward. By trial and error the child would learn to communicate. The child would repeat verbal behaviour that was rewarded and drop sounds or speech that did not work in terms of getting a pleasurable response. This is selective reinforcement. Pavlov and his dogs were and excellent example of operant conditioning. Pavlov rang a bell when it was time for the dogs to eat; eventually the dogs associated the bell with food. Each time the bell rang the dogs salivated. On the other hand, N.Chomsky who was a nativist argued that children are born with a language acquisition device (LAD). This meant that humans have a built in mechanism to help them recognise and speak language. Chomsky believed that children simply neede... ...rmal language acquisition early in life. q Sachs reported the case of Jim, whose parents deaf but who was surrounded by spoken language from the television and radio in the hope that he would learn normal language. Jim showed no signs of learning language until a speech therapist took up his case at the age of three. Without the human interaction with the speech therapist there was no sign that Jim would have learned to speak. He needed the interaction before his language ability could develop. q If language development was innate, surely it would develop soon after we are able to control our voices, which is soon after one year of age. It does not explain why language takes a few years to develop. q Chomsky's theory also doesn't explain why there are such large variations in the rate children learn language. Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development Essay Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development Many psychologists have studied and researched into how we acquire language. Some have concluded that the ability to learn language is a genetically inherited skill. Others believe that language is learned following birth and is due to environmental factors. This is part of the nature vs. nurture debate. One of the main psychologists who supported the nurture side was B.F Skinner. Skinner is an empiricist. He put forward the idea that children learn language because of the influence of the environment. Skinner believed that parents would provide more attention and pleasurable reactions when the infant made correct sounds or utterances. This way the child would gradually learn to speak and use language. The child would respond to the smiles and approval of the parents. Skinner explained this as operant conditioning; the reinforcement of a random response by a reward. By trial and error the child would learn to communicate. The child would repeat verbal behaviour that was rewarded and drop sounds or speech that did not work in terms of getting a pleasurable response. This is selective reinforcement. Pavlov and his dogs were and excellent example of operant conditioning. Pavlov rang a bell when it was time for the dogs to eat; eventually the dogs associated the bell with food. Each time the bell rang the dogs salivated. On the other hand, N.Chomsky who was a nativist argued that children are born with a language acquisition device (LAD). This meant that humans have a built in mechanism to help them recognise and speak language. Chomsky believed that children simply neede... ...rmal language acquisition early in life. q Sachs reported the case of Jim, whose parents deaf but who was surrounded by spoken language from the television and radio in the hope that he would learn normal language. Jim showed no signs of learning language until a speech therapist took up his case at the age of three. Without the human interaction with the speech therapist there was no sign that Jim would have learned to speak. He needed the interaction before his language ability could develop. q If language development was innate, surely it would develop soon after we are able to control our voices, which is soon after one year of age. It does not explain why language takes a few years to develop. q Chomsky's theory also doesn't explain why there are such large variations in the rate children learn language.