Ife, Efe, and Space Matrix of Coca-Cola Essay

INTRODUCTION Coca-Cola, the product that has given the world its best known taste was born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 8, 1886. Coca-Cola Company is the world’s leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce nearly 400 beverage brands. They have a strong management and marketing team, and they produce products that people want and in some cases need. Examples of well-known brands they own include Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Vitamin Water, Minute Maid, Bonaqua and Powerade. Although, even a successful company can come tumbling down, and in order to stay ahead of the competition and to continue revenue growth, we would advise the company to seek out additional business strategies in which will explain in depth in the following sections (our company, 2014). CURRENT MISSION, GOALS AND STRATGIES: Coke’s mission is to, â€Å"refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism and happiness, and to create value and make a difference.† Coca-Cola believe that they main responsibility is providing customers with refreshing beverages including soft drinks, water, energy drinks, juice and tea to fit any occasion in their daily lives. Coca-Cola signature product, Coke, is a favorite around the world and a wide variety of products are sold in over 200 countries. They use the only the most sophisticated equipment to process and make the products to ensure each glass of coke product it as good as always. Besides, employees are fairly compensated and we practice fair trade in all markets we compete. Coca-Cola values their responsibility to all communities to serve and support many educational programs. Furthermore, The Company’s goals include maximizing growth and profitability to increase shareholders’ wealth and to be globally known as a business that conducts business responsibility and ethically and to accelerate sustainable growth to operate in tomorrow’s world. The strategies that The Coca-Cola Company is currently pursuing to achieve these goals include: product innovation; creating well planned packaging and pricing schemes; and increasing operating efficiencies. The Company often reviews and evaluates their business plans and performance to improve their earnings and analyze their  competitive positioning the market. They make decisions in realigning their business models to match the objectives of the Company by using strategies and tactics in the analysis of their performance (our company, 2014). INTERNAL ANALYSIS: (See attached IFEM) The Coca-Cola Company has an IFEM score of 2.82, which is an indication of a strong internal position. It can also be observed that there are much more internal strengths than the weakness which is why also the company has a strong internal position. FINANCE: Coca-Cola has consistent financial operating results and compared to their competition, they are much better financial shape. For the year ending 2013, the company generated a whopping $48 billion in revenue, an increase over the past two years. According to the company’s 2013 Income Statement, net income, operating income, and gross profit resulted in a positive year-over-year percent change. Coca-Cola has a Quick Ratio of 0.92% and a Current Ratio of 1.03%, thus having a low projected risk of delinquency and a low risk of failure. Coca-Cola has the total debt to asset ratio of 41.17 and profit margin of 18.22%. The company meets its goal of maximizing shareholders’ wealth as the company’s stock (KO) price plus reinvested dividends continue to trend upwards. MANAGEMENT: There are a lot to say for a company that is been in business for 127 years and it’s evident that the management structure is strong, the company also has a global employee workforce of 150,900 that contributes to the overall success of the organization. The company strives to make a positive impact in the world and intends for their core values to display not only inward but also outward toward the customer. Some of those core values are: diversity, collaboration, passion, accountability, and integrity. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: With the proper qualitative research, the company can gauge what type of beverage the consumers want and whether or not their products taste good to the consumer. The company offers over 91 products worldwide, but in order to stay ahead of competition, the development of new products, product packaging, and product diversification is essential. MARKETING: Coca-Cola is a marketing giant, which proves to be an internal strength for the organization. Through effective marketing strategies, 98% of the world’s population recognizes the famous white and red Coca-Cola logo. Over the years, Coca-Cola has had many creative slogans such as â€Å"Open Happiness† and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It’s the real thing†. Consumers also enjoy the yearly Coca-Cola Super Bowl commercials that often promote happiness with the Clydesdale horses or Polar Bears. In addition, Coca-Cola is taking advantage of social media sites to communicate with their customers. In summary, The Coca-Cola Company yielded a positive internal analysis. The company is in good financial shape and continues to improve and produce positive year-over-year profits. As long as the company can keep its debt under control, they will continue to be in good financial health. The management team and global workforce at Coca-Cola are strong and their core values reflect positively though their commitment to social responsibility. The company should continue to research what type of beverages best suit consumer’s needs in order to stay ahead of the competition. Lastly, the company excels with their marketing campaigns and should continue with aggressive and creative marketing to maintain market share. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS (See attached EFEM) Company Coca-Cola appears to be competing in a hostile environment as indicated by the EFEM score of 2.39. It can be seen in the External Factor Evaluation matrix that the industry is facing more threats than the opportunities and the priority of the threats are also more than the opportunities. This means that the industry is more vulnerable to the effects of threats than opportunities. DEMOGRAPHIC: Coca-Cola is the most well-known product throughout the world. The demographics used to segment those users of Coca-Cola located in the United States are as follows: age, race, income, education, employment, household size, gender and lifestyle. Coca-Cola was originally created as syrup to be sold to soda fountains, where it would be mixed with soda water and served to patrons, typically teenagers and young adults. And just as it was created for the younger generation, that’s where it’s popularity has remained, with the 18-24 year-old age demographic. However, Coca-Cola’s volume potential is highest for 25-34 year-olds. In the adult population, Coca-Cola is most popular among men, and more specifically, single men. However, there is significant volume potential for married persons, and Coca-Cola could therefore prospectively increase their sales volume by marketing more towards married persons ages 25-34. COMPETITION: Existing Rivalry in the soft drinks  industry is between Coca Cola PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple. However, Coca Col a remains to be the market leader and has maintained the leadership through its intensive marketing campaigns, innovation in introducing brands which captures the evolving customer needs and the wider presence of its brands in many countries across the world. This combined by the significant market experience for the many years the business has been in the industry gives the Coca Cola a competitive edge over competitors. New entrant’s new entrants: Coca cola as the leading soft drink sel ler in the industry has a large network which gives it economies of scale and wide presence all over the world. The economies of scale makes Coca Cola’s average cost to be too low for new entrants to be able to enter the market since they cannot afford to produce at such low cost hence the market has low entrant. The cost of entering the soft drinks industry is also high due to the much research needed for the brands development, equipment and expertise involved which also keeps away many potential entrants in the market. This gives Coca Cola a competitive edge against any potential entrants. ECONOMIC: Inflation rate rise which is the general rise of the price level reduces the consumer’s purchasing power reducing demand for the business’s products while its reduction increases purchasing power increasing demand. Next, Emerging markets are increasing business operations in international market l. This can be demonstrated by the significant performance of the company with the earnings before interest in markets outside US representing 80% of the company earnings. Interest r ate determines the cost of borrowing for investors in the market. Thus a rise of the rate increases the cost of investment which reduces competition in the market while a fall of the rate reduces the cost of capital increasing competition in the market. Unemployment rise affects the amount of disposable income available to the consumers with its rise reducing the income hence reducing demand. On the contrary, an increase in employment increases the disposable income increasing demand for goods boosting the business performance. Economic growth rate and performance determines the level of income in the economy which determines the aggregate demand in the market. Thus a positive economic growth increases demand in the market while a negative growth reduces demand. SOCIAL: Lifestyle change in the market changes demand for products, calling for the business to introduce products that meet the new  demand while phasing out the old products with no demand; this has promoted innovation of the company in introducing relevant products like the diet brands and low or Zero calories brands. Aging population and population composition change and diversified products preference in the market as different age groups have different tastes and preferences, with the elderly becoming more concerned with their health hence having their demand change to healthy products reducing demand for some of the businesses products. The consumers health concern and age preferences has resulted to Carbonated drinks being much preferred by and commanding a large youthful market segment who care less about carbon health effect which has been the concern. There has also been a significant growth of healthier soft drinks due to their branding image that they are natural but the carbonated brands consumption among the children and the adults has reduced. STRATEGIC OPTION ANALYSIS: See the I/E, SPACE, TOWS and QSPM I/E MATRIX: The I&E Matrix plot depicts a strategy area of 2.56 which indicates that the company should â€Å"hold and maintain. Suggested strategies for this position on the I&E Matrix are market penetration, market development, and product development. This is not a large problem for the company as they are in a very strong financial position to hold and maintain the current market position. Elimination of the major problems of Coca-Cola in term of production and marketing will strengthen the company internally and facilitate the adoption of a broader range of strategies. Coca-Cola must also consider to creating products for market niches in order to make it less vulnerable to competition (Product Development).One of the threat in the market is customer are changing health-consciousness attitude, the company have to develop products that can satisfy the need of customer and that are perceived as being clearly superior to the competition. SPACE MATRIX: The SPACE matrix shows a borderline plot in the AGGRESSIVE quadrant, which correlates with the result from the IE matrix as well. The plot ensure the company’s strong financial position (FS+5) with a great competitive advantage (CA-1.50). The industry itself is strong (IP+5.2) but the Coca-Cola finds itself in an unfavourable environment (CP-1.80). Due to  these factors, it is best that Coca-Cola be aggressive and cautious at the same time. The plot suggests that Coca-Cola needs to use their internal strengths to develop a market penetration and market development strategies to stay ahead of the competition. Some of the factors that afforded Coca-Cola with a competitive rating are their large percentage of market share, consumer loyalty to the brand, and their high-quality product offerings. TOWS MATRIX: The TOWS Matrix Yielded Ten Strategies. Two of the strategies were functional strategies and the remaining eight were Business/Corporate strategies. These functional strategies deal with the organization structure and sales force of Coca-Cola. Ten distinct B/C strategies were identified to include product development, concentric diversification, market penetration, horizontal integration, management, market development and joint venture. The QSPM and the QSPM score Summary Sheet: The eight distinct B/C strategies were evaluated by the QSPM. The tentative priorities established in the analysis of the BMS matrix were somewhat revised based on QSPM scores. All scores were at least moderate-above 50% of Max Possible Score (MPS) overall. Strategy #2 had a high overall score- 80% with an extremely high external argument score of 79%. It appears that the strategic thrust inferred in the I/E and BMS analyses and their supporting strategies are generally sustained by the QSPM analysis. RECOMMENDED STRATEGIC THRUST AND SUPPORTING STRATEGIES Coca-Cola should adopt a strategic thrust, which is aimed at positioning the company as a company that owns the innovative products. Aside from that, Coca-Cola should become a creative and memorable leader in the food and beverage industry. Coca-Cola should seek to at least maintain, but preferably increase its market share. Major emphasis should be placed on further penetrating foreign markets, with emphases on our marketing which able to tap into the psyche of the public, especially the teenagers (Hoistein, 2014). It should, as soon as possible, enter the teenagers market  by bringing the wonderful products that could catch the teenager’s mind. Coca-Cola must make its products more attractive and tasty to fulfill the customer’s expectation. FUNCTIONAL STRATEGIES The following functional strategies should be carried out in the time frames indicated. F/MG: Create new department to research and develop nutrition products. Product life cycles are shortening because of the people’s preference and trends are changing rapidly. Develop a â€Å"Market need† products for consumers in order to compete with other competitor. For instance, Coca-Cola must develop the right pricing and packaging, with small packs, large packs, or take-home packs (Hoistein, 2011). This need is pressing and paramount. SHORT RANGE, but will be an ongoing need. F/MG: Develop talent human capital in sales team. The organization’s structure must be redesigned to be more responsive to the field and unpredictable nature of the competitive environment. A talented sale leaded is needed to lead their team in order to provide the best in town services for the customers. SHORT-MID-LONG RANGES. B/C (BUSINESS/CORPORATE STRATEGIES) SHORT RANGE-INITIATE IMMEDIATELY AND IN PRIORITY: Strategy #2 and #3 – Research and development to create innovative products that appeal to the health conscious consumers and Capitalize on their strong brand name and expand operations to include food (SO) and (WO): Coca-Cola should employ more creative and innovative worker and gain several new attractions for the products Hire more creative and innovative worker able to generate more new ideas for Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola could increase the level of satisfaction of customers. For instance, Coca-Cola must understand the culture of every country before enter into the international market in order to increase the competitive advantage. For example, Coca-Cola has announced plans to launch a new version of its best-selling soft drink with a third less sugar and a third fewer calories in the market (Smithers, 2014). New green cans and bottle labels will feature alongside its range of drinks from the iconic 330ml red tins with 139 calories to Coke Light and Zero with no calories (Sayid, 2014). It can help Coca-Cola increase the  market share. Both strategies have the highest priority. Strategy #4 – Increase marketing efforts for bottled drinks (WO): Coca-Cola should do research on the bottled drinks. Coca-Cola has to make the bottled drinks that the customer feels attractive and purchase us. According to Fox (2014) Coca-Cola will personalize its bottled drinks with 250 of the nation’s most popular names among teens and millennial. Nowadays, most of the people likes fresh and new the products, which able to grab their attention. This trend had brought an opportunity for Coca-Cola to generate more customers. MID RANGE – BEGIN PLANNING IMMEDIATELY FOR IMPLEMENTATYION IN 2 TO 3 YEARS Strategy #1 – Improve environment awareness with community involvement (SO): To achieve environmental awareness Coca-Cola should organize seminars for the public in order to share the information and knowledge of the company. Aside from that, every bottled drink should print the information about environmental awareness to remind the customer regards the crucial of it. LONG RANGE-BEGIN PLANNING NOW FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 4 TO 5 YEARS. Strategy #5 Increase advertising to maintain competitive edge (ST): Concentrate on every single advertisement able to maintain a competitive edge. Coca-Cola should target all audiences when advertise for its products. If the advertisement able to grab the attentions of consumer it means the advertisement was a good advertisement. Zmuda (2014) said increase the effectiveness of our marketing investment by transforming our marketing and commercial model to redeploy resources into more consumer facing marketing investments to accelerate growth. It proves that a good marketing will plan a good advertisement and it could maintain the competitive advantage. Strategy #6 – Acquire Golden Enterprises (GLDC) to help diversify the product line (ST): Coca-Cola should diversify its product line for market development and GLDC is required for this strategy. Coca-Cola must do research and development to achieve this goal. NOT RECOMMENDED: Strategy #8 – Advertising on encourages consumers to lead a healthy lifestyle (WT): Coca-Cola should not advertise a healthy lifestyle advertisement, products of Coca-Cola not a drink that can drink for healthy purpose. It  seems to increase the risk of failure if advertise healthy lifestyle advertisement. References (2014), Our Company. Retrieved from http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/ David, F. (2013). Strategic Management A Competitive Advantage Approach. 14th ed Pearson Education, Inc. Fox. (2014). Why you may see your name on a bottle of Coca-Cola. Retrieved from http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/25742524/why-you-may-see-your-name-on-a-bottle-of-coca-cola Hoistein, W. J. (2011). How Coca-Cola Manages 90 Emerging Markets. Retrieved from http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00093?pg=all Ruddick, G. (2014). Coca-Cola to launch new stevia-flavored drink. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10890702/Coca-Cola-to-launch-new-stevia-flavoured-drink.html Sayid, R. (2014). Coca-Cola Life to launch in UK as new low calorie alternative to classic brand. Retrieved from http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coca-cola-life-launch-uk-3672697 Smithers, R. (2014). Coca-Cola Life: Coke with fewer calories and less sugar to tackle obesity. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/11/coca-cola-fewer-calories-less-sugar Zmuda, N. (2014). Coca-Cola Boosts Media Spending as Demand Slows, CEO Muhtar Kent Defends the Importance of Marketing. Retrieved from http://adage.com/article/news/coca-cola-boosts-marketing-spend-demand-slows/291747/

Employee Motivation at FMC Green River and Other Organizations Essay

Organizational behavior theories are known to differ as to what motivates employees, not because the essential characteristics of all employees are varied across organizations and industries. Rather, the motivational needs of employees differ from organization to organization because separate work situations, ethics and settings, in addition to their interaction with individual personalities, teams, and managements call for different employee needs to be prioritized. Employee motivation is simply referred to as an organizational method to satisfy employees in areas where they feel unsatisfied. Whereas poor health and safety conditions might be the Number One challenge to encounter in Company ABC, it is possible that the employees of FMC Green River would be more motivated by higher salaries. Moreover, the employees of FMC Green River may hold a collective opinion that their working conditions are the best in the industry. Hence, the management of FMC Green River would not be as focused on improving health and safety conditions as Company ABC should be. Given that job performance is a function of ability and motivation, it is appropriate to inquire into the specific needs of the workers in order to employ the correct mix of employee motivation strategies to boost job performance, company-wide (â€Å"Employee Motivation,† 2007). As an example, the employees of the Piketon Research and Extension Center and Enterprise Center were asked about the main motivating factors at their particular workplace. According to the research findings, the employees believed themselves to be motivated by the following, in the order of importance: â€Å"a) interesting work, (b) good wages, (c) full appreciation of work done, (d) job security, (e) good working conditions, (f) promotions and growth in the organization, (g) feeling of being in on things, (h) personal loyalty to employees, (i) tactful discipline, and (j) sympathetic help with personal problems (Lindner, 1998). Contrary to these findings, a peer reviewed study on employee motivation found that most employees across various organizations believe the following to be the chief motivators at the workplace: â€Å"enjoyment of the work; work/life balance; pay satisfaction; link between pay and performance;† and â€Å"adequate staffing levels† (Katcher). Thus, it appears essential to increase employee motivation only after inquiring into the main motivators in a specific organization. Also within a single organization, the blue collar workers are expected to be more motivated by an increase in pay, while the white collar employees might believe that enjoyment of work is more important. In this case, the organization would have to divide up its employees in two separate groups to inquire into the particular motivators for the blue collar workers as opposed to the white collar employees. It is best, therefore, for employee motivation strategies to be based on group by group studies, although organizations may also apply the rule of generalization. In that event, Company ABC would believe that it could effectively use the motivators of FMC Green River’s employees to improve the job performance of its own workers.

Legal Research on the laws, which impose caps or limits on punitive Paper

Legal on the laws, which impose caps or limits on punitive damages for tort recovery in all the states of USA - Research Paper Example Alabama Alabama Code S. 6-5-410 (a) states that punitive damages can be levied for unfair actions, negligence or omission of any individual or company. Upon proving negligence, the above section allows to claim for punitive damages. S 6-11-20(a) permits for punitive damages in civil cases where it has been demonstrated that â€Å"the defendant wantonly or consciously involved in fraud, malice or fraud.† For proving malice and fraud, there should be a presence of an intentional act. Alabama State proscribes the award of punitive damages in litigation against a master when a case is filed under vicarious liability or against state agencies. Alaska Sec.09.17.020 of Alaska statute permits to claim punitive damages.As per this section , the punitive damages for outrageous , reckless acts will be awarded either of the following, and it should not exceed the greater of ; Three times of compensatory damages levied to the claimant. â€Å"A sum of $ 500,000.† There are separate limits for employees who have been injured by the action of employers. If a claimant is awarded punitive damages, then the court will insist that half of the punitive damages awarded shall have to be paid into general fund of the state. If the punitive damages is covered by an insurance policy , then the insurer will have to pay the punitive damages to the claimant on behalf of the defendant unless if there is any exclusion clause for the coverage of PD.PD. Christopher T.Stidvent , Tort Reform in Alaska : Much Ado about Nothing? , 16 Alaska L.Rev. 61 (1999) (March 30, 2012), http://www.lexis.com 3 Arizona There is no statute setting cap on punitive damages under tort in Arizona. However , there exists case laws on the subject. In Hyatt Regency Phoenix Hotel Co. v Winston & Strawn , it was held that for recovering punitive damages under Arizona’s law , the claimant has to demonstrate that defendant involved in outrageous and aggravated demeanor with an ‘evil mind’. The same view was held in some Arizona cases like Rawlings v Apodaca , Thompson v Better-Bit Aluminums Prod. Co also. In†Gurule v Illinois Mutual Life & Cas. Co.† , it was held that if a defendant acts with the required evil mind , thereby by defrauding , injuring or intentionally mediating with the privileges of others , by disrespecting the risk of poignant harm to them. Bruce C .King and Carol J.Patterson, Ethics, 25 Construction Lawyer Journal. 5, (2005) (March 30, 2012), http://www.lexis.com 4 Arkansas Under ARK CODE ANN  § 16-55-207 as amended in 2010 , a claimant should convince the onus of evidence demanded under  § 16-55-206 by obvious and convincing proof so as to recover punitive damages

Why has mental health policy been neglected Essay

Why has mental health policy been neglected - Essay Example onomically handicapped countries would rise to problematic proportions if measures are not adopted to give ample attention to these ill people and treat them too. If the Government is deaf and blind to the needs of the mentally ill, the chances are that the problem is going to be blown out of proportions. The mentally ill are looked after by relatives who can ill-afford the cost of treatment apart from arranging the care. Mental ill health also has an impact on the other physical illnesses that a human can have (BBC News, 2007). This finally will result in a situation where medical help, social support and therapy do not reach the ill person for want of resources. There is an opinion saying that (Tabish, 2005, p. 34). The well being of a person is dependent on all the three together but the crucial component is undoubtedly mental health. Mental well-being includes the behaviours which provide an atmosphere of confidence and satisfaction. This person with good mental health would exhibit enhanced self efficacy, autonomy, general competence, intergenerational dependence and emotional intelligence. Like any physiological illness, mental ill-health is the consequence of the interaction between the biological, psychological and social factors (Tabish, 2005, p. 34). Neuroendocrine and immune functioning act through one pathway and health behaviour as a second pathway contribute to mental health. Social factors like uncontrolled urbanization, poverty and rapid technological innovation are significantly bothering mental health. Mental ill health is seen in about 25% of people at some time in their lives. The illness affects all types of people in all countries, men and women, and children, the rich and the poor, urban and rural alike. This universal nature causes a heavy economic impact on societies. 20% of patients in the primary health centre are coming under the umbrella of mental illness with one or more mental illnesses (Tabish, 2005, p. 34). Four families would

Managing Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Managing Diversity - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is diversity management that has attracted not only a lot of interest but also debates all over the world. Many countries are now making improvements in their diversity management strategies in order to accommodate the increasingly diverse labour market. Diversity management entails various actions by organisations aimed at maximising the inclusion of workers from a diverse background. These employees are recruited into not only formal but also the informal structures of the various organisations by use of deliberate policies. The recruitment may also be done through deliberate programs, specifically designed for promoting diversity management. As a way of countering the increasingly diverse working population all over the world, many organisations have put in place particular measures aimed at appropriate recruitment of employees, their inclusion, as well as the retention of these employees. Focus has been put on those employees from underprivilege d or minority groups within various societies. Various organisations in Europe have instituted laws that promote equal right, as well as policies aimed at enhancing affirmative action, so as to assist the less privileged groups to get jobs in both familiar and unfamiliar labour territories. It has been discovered that the exclusion of such workers from influential positions has seriously contributed to their limited contribution to the well being of their respective organisations. This has in turn given them very little chances to gain from these organisations maximally. (Subeliani and Tsogas 2005, p. 838). The various policies and initiatives for diversity management have been proven to have created conducive working environment in these organisations, especially to the underprivileged groups. It has indeed worked positively in recruiting individuals who are getting jobs for the first time, and those that are occupying higher positions for the first time too (Mathis and Jackson 201 0, p.200). The emergence of a global economy and that of multinational organisations has taken diversity management considerations beyond just the dynamic nature of labour market in a specific nation, but that across nations. The management of diversity of labour force in a national context is known as â€Å"intra-national diversity management. On the other hand, managing labour in an organisation with citizens from different nations is referred to as cross-national diversity management. In this sense, a company may be operating in different countries and as such, needs policies and programs, for diversity management, to be applied not only in its headquarters but also in its branches in the various countries. Moreover, cross-national diversity management policies work better when organisations put into consideration laws and culture of the countries in which they operate (Arredondo and Arredondo 1996, p. 178). According to Thomas (2005), diversity management goes beyond the simple consideration of the less privileged groups. It also considers differences and similarities within a workforce. He argues that diversity management entails handling the employee dynamics within the whole workforce, and not just a particular section of the workforce (Klarsfeld 2010, p.325). The European Union has shown its almost unrivalled commitment to promote equality in its labour market through

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Analysis Report - Case Study Example The total sales of the company in terms of delivering food as well as meal services through online sources accounted for US$ 2, 670, 686 in 2012 (Good Jobs First, 2013). FreshDirect offers 5000 perishable goods that accounted for 75% of sales and 3000 packaged products amounting to 25% of the entire sales. The organization has been encountering a lower margin of net profits which has accounted for only 1to 2% of revenues. FreshDirect with flexibility in information control, automated order fulfillment and reduction in costs in real estate could receive operational margins of 10% as compared to 3 to 4% in traditional markets. In relation to events, FreshDirect has integrated various components in its system along with making an incorporation of state of the art production centre with expert personnel. Other events include quality management achieved through SAP software which controls the operations of the facility and is used for clean and healthy packaged food products to customers (Good Jobs First, 2013). SWOT Analysis The strengths of Fresh Direct can be underlined as: FreshDirect ascertains extreme high standard with regard to health, safety and cleanliness. The approach of the organization is quite innovative. It is a reputed brand of online grocery that offers high quality products at lower prices. One of the strengths of FreshDirect is its warehouses which comprise 12 separate zones of temperature ensuring that each food product is kept at optimal temperature. FreshDirect uses SAP software system that controls every aspect of operations (Scribd Inc., 2013). The key weaknesses of FreshDirect entail: FreshDirect sells only perishable products, which is its specialty and it has not put emphasis on non-perishable products. The organization has only focused on selected zip areas of New York, which can be accounted as their weakness. Another recognized weakness is constant alteration in senior management which is hampering the work efficiency and progress of t he organization (Scribd Inc., 2013). The opportunities prevalent to FreshDirect include: There would be an opportunity for FreshDirect to expand its business in national as well as in international level. In the near future, it would be possible for FreshDirect to sell non-perishable goods along with perishable products. FreshDirect possesses opportunities in terms of ascertaining competitiveness differentiation regarding offering of food products (DemandTec, n.d.). The threats to FreshDirect entail: Whole Foods, Fairway and Trader Joe in Manhattan area are extensively competitive and are creating considerable extent of threats for FreshDirect. Rivalry regarding online grocery segment can be considered as one of the biggest treats for FreshDirect. A significant extent of threat can emerge from competitors of FreshDirect adopting new food technology software that could be detrimental for the organization in executing its operations (Middletonss, 2012). SWOT Matrix Porter’s Fiv e Forces Model Threat of New Entrants Threat of New Entrants is moderate as such kind of online grocery retail segments are coming up in the industry significantly, however long-term sustainability and success of them are quite uncertain (Dess, Lumpkin, & Eisner, 2012). Bargaining Power of Buyers With reference to buyer power, it can be stated that with online facility, it would be poss

Frito Lay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Frito Lay - Essay Example Some of the features of the sales job that made it appropriate for a results based approach to job performance are that the number of sales that the employees make determines the amount of profits that the company will make. Secondly is that the payment mode of the job is on a commission basis depending on the number of sales that an individual makes. 2. One of the advantages that accrue to Frito Lay in defining the performance of its route sales employees in terms of its behaviour is that it is able to concentrate on areas that will increase the sales depending on the route. However, a major disadvantage of this method in defining behaviour is that it makes it difficult to shift employees from one route to another due to the different behaviours that are required to make sale. In order to address these issues, a commission pay system should be modified to include a system of payment that is dependent on the timeliness of arrival for the high-volume route employees and the ability of low-volume route employees to negotiate for the ideal shelf space. 3. Frito Lay emphasized on behaviour of the route employees in its research to increase its sales, however there are other dimensions that are equally important, such as the different abilities and educational levels of the employees, as they will determine how effectively they will be able to handle their duties. Overlooking these aspects of performance is bound to make the route employees unable to meet their targets, which lead to low pay, and the company will record low profits. Indonesia- Asia stumbling giant 1. The poor economic performance that has been experienced in Indonesia has been because of political and economic factors. Some of the political factors that contributed to the poor economic performance include the rule of Dictator Suharto that left the country with huge debts to pay, in addition, the levels of corruption and lack of political goodwill has led to the stagnation of the economy. The economi c factors that have contributed to the poor economic performance include the reduction in foreign direct investments, the bureaucratic process that takes up to 151 days in order for a person to get a license to operate a business have also contributed to the low economic performance of Indonesia (Lewis, 91). These two factors are related since the political class, who have embezzled public funds and failed to formulate policies to spur economic growth has created the poor economic environment in the country. 2. Some of the reasons that might have led to foreign firms leaving Indonesia in the early 2000’s include the corruption levels in the country and bureaucratic processes; this meant a decline in GDP since there was no revenue generated by the firms any more. In order to reverse this trend, the levels of corruption and bureaucratic processes should be addressed. 3. Corruption in Indonesia is a challenge since the political class lack the goodwill to eradicate it, as they a re also involved, this has made foreign investors shy away from investing in the country. 4. A major risk that foreign firms in Indonesia face is jailing of their employees or their operation licenses not being renewed due to failure to give bribes to the authorities. To reduce these risks, these firms should lobby the government to create a favourable business environment for foreign firms. Japan’s economic malaise 1. The Japanese economy has stagnated because after the economic depression that the country faced, the country has been unable to spur economic growth again despite the government efforts. 2. The downward trend in the Japanese economy

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Opening Labor Markets On A Global Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Opening Labor Markets On A Global Scale - Essay Example The main characteristic of globalization is enhanced free trade between countries, the easier passage of the capital between country's borders, an enormous increase in foreign direct investment. This increases efficiency, and this is one benefit that is readily identifiable. As a result, many countries in with open labor markets, growth for both small firms and multinational companies, can now access new markets across the world. Due to this effect in the economy, there has been increased transport and communication between nations and continents. When economy sells the same product worldwide due to the efficiency, an individual company can Purchase its raw materials in bulk, in the long run, saving the firm thousands of dollars per year (Loayza & Serven, 2010 p., 123). Due to these illustrations, it is quickly established that firms in the opened market tend to be more competitive and efficient. Since open labor markets assist in the maintenance costs down for companies. For instanc e, companies have been able to get rid of surplus workers. This can assist these companies to avoid being bankrupt and in the long run protect jobs. Arguably with globalization, it is becoming more and more essential for companies to remain competitive within any global economy. This is achievable through open labor market strategies (Dao & Dao, 2008 p., 151). Opening labor market benefits for economies and consumers. Consumers are able to enjoy a greater choice of foreign goods and services since they are offered for them to buy.

Internet Broadcasting In China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Internet Broadcasting In China - Research Paper Example The internet broadcasting is also a great influence on the interest of monopoly thus being a factor in the political economy of China. The Chinese people have extensively relied on the use of the internet to pass information and share ideas on current issues (Lei, 2011). Chinese people have used the internet broadcasting channel to share ideas on the political and economic state of their country. Being a global power, the internet broadcasting in China also influences the state of world politics and economy. Internet broadcasting mainly occurs through social media and this makes it a great tool of communication and information flow in China. The Chinese political setup is directly related to the way the country conducts is local and global economic affairs. The government is the supreme organ entitled to control the flow of information relating to economic matters particularly those touching on the international community. Local business people are expected to operate online business in line with the country’s laws and policies that regulate access and sharing information through the mass media. Accessibility of information on the internet has enabled the Chinese citizens to keep track for their country’s state of economy and politics. Such information influences the people’s perception of the government particularly in the manner in which it handles the economy (Sima, 2011). Politics and the economy are closely tied in China and a change in one influences the other.

Benefits of Nuclear Weapons Essay Example for Free

Benefits of Nuclear Weapons Essay World tensions have created power struggles throughout different countries in the 1900s to today. These power struggles have fueled the start of several wars between nations. The two biggest nations during these power struggles were the USSR and United States of America. Throughout the cold war, nuclear buildup created a deterrence that has spilled over into other countries harnessing the power of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons have assisted in an uneasy peace with many countries despite the fact that nuclear weapons could end civilization or the lives of millions at any particular moment. A brief look into Cold War beliefs, whether or not nuclear weapons deter conflict, how nuclear weapons provide a military and political function, and why some states believe in nuclear armaments will demonstrate how effective the use of the most dangerous weapons in history can assist in the activities of peaceful cohabitation and coexistence. Nuclear Weapons: The Cold War Example The actions throughout the Cold War demonstrate the ideas of offensive weapons used for defensive purposes. The activities and positions of the United States and the Soviets during the mid-1980s demonstrate how nuclear buildup was the answer to ensuring an uneasy peace between the two countries. During this time, the United States: Sought only to restore a stable military balance, assure deterrence and reduce the risk of war. It found unacceptable a perpetuation of the present situation, in which it was compelled to maintain a large strategic arsenal, and [favored] a more stable strategic balance at much lower levels of armaments. (Nuclear Arms: Positions of, 1984, p. 12) The USA position on the problem was that more weapons were needed in order to maintain a sense of status quo with the Soviets who were commencing a nuclear buildup of their own throughout the 1980s decade. (Nuclear Arms: Positions of, 1984, p. 12) The idea behind these buildups is actually a continuation of a previous form of military and political ideology. The United States and the Soviet Union both believed that as long as they concentrated on building nuclear weapons, they would not actually concentrate on destroying each other. (Nuclear Arms: Positions of, 1984, p. 12) Evidence has been presented that the Soviets would have used nuclear weapons had war broken out in Europe, which tends to show that nuclear weapons during the Cold War era had a stabilizing effect on world peace. (Schneider, 2004, p. 55) This peace lasted throughout the Cold War, and illustrates how effective nuclear weapons are in establishing and prolonging a peace between two countries. Nuclear Weapons and Deterrence The question as to whether or not nuclear weapons provide a deterrence function can be investigated in many instances. First, the more recent actions of President George W. Bush in the early 2000’s demonstrates how deterrence is effective, but must be followed to strict specifications in order to fully work. For example, President Bush in 2001 adopted a policy of unilateralism when dealing with the American nuclear arsenal that would attempt to ignore all of the nuclear weapons treaties. (Hartung, 2001, p. 4) These treaties were formed in the attempt at nuclear war deterrence, and have been effective at creating a mutual destruction peace. (Hartung, 2001, p. 4) However, President Bush attempted to destroy the peace and create an environment where nuclear weapons could be used again in the future by attempting to shift the balances throughout the world and threaten other nations. (Hartung, 2001, p. 4) These activities of President Bush indicate that nuclear weapons do promote diplomacy and deterrence, but only if provisions and agreements about their use and creation are followed. Deterrence can never be established through unilateralism. Thomas C. Schelling, an expert on deterrence, has suggested in the face of growing unease as more countries acquire or threaten to acquire nuclear arms, he continues to believe that deterrence can be maintained and extended to cover the new players. (Garwin, Skolnikoff, Panofsky Jeanloz, 2007, p. 5) However, Schelling â€Å"rightly points out that that will not happen without policies, especially U. S. policies that demonstrate the case for continued abhorrence of their use. † (Garwin, Skolnikoff, Panofsky Jeanloz, 2007, p. 5) Mr. Schelling also believes that education of the harms of nuclear weapons cannot be viable to countries that do not possess the technology. (Garwin, Skolnikoff, Panofsky Jeanloz, 2007, p. 5) Schelling’s suggestion is that a country without nuclear weapons will be too frightened by the threat of nuclear use that they will not fully respect deterrence theories unless they too have a nuclear arsenal of some type.

Child Cognitive Development Observation Study

Child Cognitive Development Observation Study Childs Name: Allira Date: 17/03/2015 Childs age: 3 years 11 months Time: various Setting: outdoor setting Name of observer: Thi Pham (Sammi) Learning story: This morning Allira showed her interest in exploring a sand volcano- a natural phenomenon and feeling the rain during a physical activity. At 10 oclock, the weather was a little bit cloudy with gust of wind. Allira was still excited to engage in physical activity with her friends, they took turn to play the slide together. She held the ladder properly by her two hands. Then she put her right feet on the first stair, pushed her body forward then put her left feet on the next stair and climbed up to the slide. When Allira was on the top and ready to slide down, she stretched her wide arms, smiled happily and said Look! Im ready! yeah Then she ran quickly to the end of the line to wait for her turn. Suddenly, a strong wind blew her hair and it started to rain lightly. Its going to rain Allira said. Then she opened her palms to feel drops of rain touching her two little hands and her face. Together with other children, Allira was trying herself to put the raincoat on; she finished by doing a zipper skillfully. After that, she took a sand of bucket, ran to the sandpit to join the activity with others. One by one took turn to build a mound in the sand by shovels when it became bigger and higher. Look, its a volcano Allira said aloud. She looked like a scientist in a blue raincoat. They made a hole in the top and filled with water. All children were excited to see the water overflowing the hole. Allira pretended to be very scared, she opened her big eyes and yelled loudly Bum Bum Bum. Bum Bum Bum other children followed each other. Analysis: There is clear evidence in Alliras cognitive development when she showed her perceptual abilities via sensory experiences to explore the world. She felt and heard the sound of strong windy, touched the drops of rain and she know Its going to rain. She acknowledged cause and effect; the sound of volcano Bum Bum Bum during make-believe play. She get the information received from the environment to alter the way she interact and explore in the pretend play (Berk, 2013) There is a big process in Alliras physical development which has been seen clearly through this experience. Allira is able to keep balance to climb up the stairs with increasing agility and independently. Her fine gross motor skills have developed as she is able to use zipper herself; run confidently at speed to the sandpit with a heavy sand bucket without falling and build a volcano with a shovel. Her eye-body coordination was also addressed when she could coordinate her vision and body movement. Therefore, she has a strong sense of wellbeing Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing (outcome 3, DEEWR, 2009, p.32) Allira has great sense of confidence in her physical ability; demonstrated a good social relationship when she was energetic to enjoy, take turn to play independently with others, (DEEWR, 2009, p.21). Future learning opportunities To develop Alliras gross- fine motor skills and mental health by engaging her in dancing, pushing cart, obstacle course, threading beads, tracing her name. To support her cognitive development and enlarge her knowledge about natural phenomenon by exploring a real volcano experience in sensory play To build positive social-emotional development with her friends and educators by creating a warm and trusting relationship by engaging in activity which she needs to take turn, share and contribute to help each other (outcome 1, DEEWR, 2009). Provision: Physical environment: safe outdoor playing area such as set up a challenging and fun physical activity: pushing cart, climbing or jumping Access intensive teaching and learning opportunities as well as equipment that facilitates social-emotional interaction. Sustainable materials/equipment: sand, flour, cooking oil, liquid detergent, baking soda and vinegar, water, wheelbarrow, cart, dough play, beads or play door equipment Responding to Alliras cues by asking her questions to express her ideas and give her opinion. References: Berk, L. (2013). Child development. Boston: Pearson. Department of Education, employment and workplace relation (DEEWR) (2009). Belonging, Being Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra: DEEWR.

My Photo Album :: Writing Education Teaching Essays

My Photo Album Overheard at University College London: "Because when you write this way- with this pomp and circumstance covering for any substantive thought- you aren't fooling me"...... CRASH. "OUCH! Old son- you seem to have just thrown me out a window!" If I had been given this little lecture by Mr. Pomp and Circumstance, the previous scene is what would have been witnessed. I would have thrown him out a window for two reasons. First and foremost, he sounds like an obnoxious, holier than thou prick. Second and more importantly, everything he said is right on the mark. As they say, "the truth hurts." He seems to have the ability to see through my themes and realize that I am really not saying anything at all. I like the concept that our previous work is just like an old photograph. Needless to say, I have a few photographs in my collection which I might want to hide under the bed. As I page through my photo album from college, I notice that I seem to be wearing the same outfit in almost every picture. Let's just look at a few. "By becoming acquainted with the Pardoner in both the general prologue and the prologue to his tale, we become aware of his hypocritical nature. In his prologue, we find that the Pardoner is a very immoral person." Yep, that one was taken just outside of a class on Chaucer. Look at those nicely pressed khaki slacks and that perfectly ironed shirt. I can't believe I'm standing with my hand pressed to my chin deep in thought. I don't think I ever noticed those people from English 220 snickering in the background before. Here's another good one. Lanham would have a Paramedic field day with this one. "Lawrence Frederick Kohl's book, The Politics of Individualism is at once an account of America's political turmoil in the Jacksonian era and an interpretation of the relationship of these political views to the psychological nature of the American citizen during the era. In this account of the Jacksonian era, the reader is able to recognize the framework for the politics which will dominate the nineteenth century." I think this one was taken outside Gerry Schnabel's history class. That looks like my Chaucer outfit again. I used to wear that outfit for every occasion which I thought was important. I can't help but notice that it doesn't look like there is anything behind that outfit.

Orson Welles :: essays research papers

Orson Welles 	Orson Welles was an actor, producer, director, writer, and columnist who revolutionized the film industry by directing movies that depicted men and woman as real human beings. Throughout his writing career, Welles’ characters reflected his own personality and inspired others to write about human struggles, both good and bad. An innovative, dynamic individual, Welles spent his entire life experimenting with different mediums and bringing to the world his vision of man’s never ending struggle to conquer his own inner demons. Welles was a man whose life was one of paradox. His films reflected his inner conflicts and his attempt to assuage the two extremes of his own existence. 	"For thirty years people have been asking me how I reconcile X with Y! 		The truthful answer is that I don't. Everything about me is a 			contradiction and so is everything about everybody else. We are made 		out of oppositions; we live between two poles. There is a philistine and 		an aesthete in all of us, and a murderer and a saint. You don't reconcile 	the poles. You just recognize them." [To Kennety Tynan, 1967] 	Orson Welles is often referred to as a "Renaissance man", an individual who’s ambitious and concerned with revolutionizing multiple aspects of life. He was a prolific writer and talented actor who often appeared in his own productions. A gifted artist, Welles, coupled his abundant energy with an enthusiasm for life. He tried everything and was not afraid to take risks and to suffer the consequences of failures as well as the acclaims of success. 	While, some critics say that Welles could never top "Citizen Kane", such movies as "The Trial", "Touch of Evil", and "The Lady from Shanghai" are considered classics and monumental feats in cinema production. However, movies like "The Stranger", "Chimes at Midnights", and "Mr. Arkadin" were criticized as being "One-Man Band" shows where Welles glorified and engrandized himself. 	Welles’ films reflect his ambivalent vision of life. He organized the Mercury Theater as the result of a feud with the Federal Theater Project after its attempt to sensor his work. Welles refused to bow to their demands to make his pro-labor play, The Cradle Will Rock, less political. Throughout the rest of his life, he preferred ostracism to compromise and often endured ridicule and condemnation rather than give in to the demands of those in authority. 	Welles utilizes very distinctive images that are extravagant and dynamic to convey his unique prospective.

Social Concerns in the poems of Kamala Das Essay -- essays research pa

" He ( the poet) is responsible for humanity, even for the animals, he must see to it that his invention can be smelt, felt, heard." ( Arthur Rimbaud) From the queen of erotica to a poetic pilgrim, the critical nexus on Kamala Das?s poetry has oscillated between opposite poles. These varied critical stances reflect that the genius of the poet refuses to be strait-jacketed into a uniform notion. In this paper, I will attempt to reveal the social issues that imbue the oeuvre of her poetry. Kamala Das in her much discussed autobiography, My Story , pointed out: ? A poet?s raw material is not stone or clay, it is her personality.?1 In direct contradiction to Eliot?s theory of poetic creation, Mrs. Das asserts that her poetry is subjective and through it she voices forth her strains and stresses. This, however, does not imply a selfish preoccupation with the self but a melioristic vision that is shocked and disgusted at the plight of fellow mortals. Her sensitive soul is deeply affected by the maladies that lie deeply ingrained in the social matrix. In the poem Afterwards -- no intertextuality with Hardy?s poem -- written when the poet was in her teens, she questions the notions of scientific progress that has ushered the nuclear holocaust: ? Son of my womb, Ugly ... ... Works cited 1. Kamala Das-- My Story, DC Books, Kottayam, Aug. 2004. 2. Kamala Das-- Summer in Calcutta, DC Books, Kottayam, Nov.2004. 3. Kamala Das-- The Descendants, Writers? Workshop, Calcutta, 1991. 4. Kamala Das-- The Descendants, Writers? Workshop, Calcutta, 1991. 5. Kamala Das-- Collected Poems, Vol. I, Navkerala Printers, Trivandrum, 1984. 6. Al Harmony Vol.6, July-Sept,2005. 7. Anthony Perera-- ?Love India, love Sri Lanka?, Sunday Observer, April 29, 1984. 8. Kamala Das-- The Old Playhouse and Other Poems, Orient Longman, 1973. 9. Kamala Das-- Only the Soul Knows How to Sing, DC Books, Kottayam, 1999. 10.Kamala Das-- Only the Soul Knows How to Sing, DC Books, Kottayam, 1999. 11. Presented to the author by the poet as a manuscript.

My Papa S Waltz Final Draft

With his use Of pathos and ambiguity usually leaves the interpretation Of the poem up to the reader. Some people may consider this poem to describe an abusive relationship between a young boy and his father. On the contrary, some believe this poem reflects on fond memories between a father and son. In the first stanza, Reroute starts off by setting a sort of ominous tone. ‘ ‘The whiskey on your breath / Could make a small boy dizzy/' (1-2). Here he reveals to his readers that his father was drunk and the smell of his breath was unbearable.Subsequently, he goes on to describe the manner in which he was holding on to his father. â€Å"But hung on like death / Such waltzing was not easy† (3-4). The simile here shows the boy holding onto his father as tight as he possibly could. It was not an easy task for the child but he was determined not to let go. Now, if the reader portrays this in a negative fashion it can be interpreted as a drunken father coming home, reeking of whiskey, while the child tries as hard as he can to get through this current beating, or dance as he calls it.However, if the reader sees this in a more costive light, one can almost see the small boy standing on his feet, holding on so he won't fall, dancing around with his drunken father. Naturally, it would not be easy to maintain your balance while standing on the feet of another person. The second stanza sounds quite violent. â€Å"We romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf / My mothers countenance / Could not unfrozen itself' (5-8). Here, Reroute describes an almost chaotic scene, with pans falling to the floor caused by the movement of the two. The mother's look on her face clearly indicates that she is not happy with what is going on. Inning the word romp negatively, could imply the boy easily being tossed around the kitchen, pans crashing onto the floor as his father would chase him, and the clear displeasure on the mother's face. On the contrary, the use of romp can be used to describe an overly excited child and his father, carelessly dancing, running and jumping around the kitchen. Meanwhile, the mother could be annoyed at the mess the two are making. Reroute describes the roughness of his father's hands as well as his ear scratched ear in the third stanza. ‘The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle† (9-10).As his father held onto his wrist, the boy could see calloused and cuts prominent on one knuckle. From an optimistic standpoint we can see the boy notices his father's injured hand. The cut is assumed to come from the gardening work in the greenhouse in which the family owned. On the other hand the father's battered hands could be an indication of abuse. The cuts could have possibly occurred from previous altercations. Next, Reroute describes how the alcohol has made his father clumsy and every time his father stumbled the boys ear would scrape on the belt buckle. At every step you missed / My eight ear scraped a buckle† (1 1-12). The scraping of the boys ear could paint a picture of the drunken father stumbling around trying to hit the boy with the belt or it can be portrayed as a stumbling father dancing around with the boy on his feet. Because of the height difference, the boys ear is getting scraped. In the fourth and final stanza it becomes apparent it's the young boy's bed time. Once again Reroute describes his father's hands as rough and dirt stained, probably from the gardening work in the greenhouse. â€Å"You beat time on my head / With a palm caked hard by dirt† (13-14).Just like most children, he doesn't want to go and so he clings to his father; â€Å"Then waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt† (15-16). In a negative aspect, one can assume that this stanza is used to describe more physical abuse from the father. For example, the boy gets sent off to bed still holding on to his father's shirt as if he is protecting himself from further blows. On the other hand one could imply his father's dirty hands are simply imitating music in the same way one would beat on the kitchen table singing along to a song, as he father dances the boy to his bed.Clearly the child is having a good time and does not want it to end, so he holds on tightly to his father. Reroute uses pathos throughout the entire poem. With every written line, the reader's emotions are pulled into different directions. Reroute causes his audience to not just respond emotionally but to identity#y' with his point of view. In essence to feel what he is feeling. The most remarkable thing about his use of pathos, is that it is undefined in a sense. The reader's interpretations from his choice f words creates the emotional rise.When I was first introduced to this poem was in my late teens. Maybe it was my inexperience with life or just an immature mindset, but just like most people, too thought this poem was about an abusive father. With the contradictory terms he uses in this piece it is easy to see the negative undertones. However, as time passed and I grew, my outlook on life changed. Perhaps it was becoming a mother that helped me see this piece in a new light; but when I read it now smile at the thought of a young boy. Dancing around with his father.

American Literature Questions Essay

21. The leader of the Irish National Theater Movement in the early 20th century was ______. A. W. B. Yeats B. Lady Gregory C. J. M. Synge D. John Galworthy 22. T. S. Eliot’s most popular verse play is ______. A. Murder in the Cathedral B. The Cocktail Party C. The Family Reunion D. The Waste Land 23. The American writer ______ was awarded the Nobel Prize for the anti-racist In- truder in the Dust in 1950. A. Ernest Hemingway B. Gertrude Stein C. William Faulkner D. T. S. Eliot 24. Hemingway’s second big success is ______ , which wrote the epitaph to a decade and to the whole generation in the 1920s, in order to tell us a story about the tragic love affair of a wounded American soldier with a British nurse. A. For Whom the Bell Tolls B. A Farewell to Arms C. The Sun Also Rises D. The Old Man and the Sea 25. With the publication of ______ , Dreiser was launching himself upon a long career that would ultimately make him one of the most significant American writers of the school later known as literary naturalism. A. Sister Carrie B. The Titan C. The Genius D. The Stoic. 26. Henry James is generally regarded as the forerunner of the 20th -century â€Å"stream -of-consciousness†novels and the founder of ______. A. neoclassicism B. psychological realism C. psychoanalytical criticism D. surrealism 27. In 1849, Herman Melville published ______ ,a semi-autobiographical novel, con- cerning the sufferings of a genteel youth among brutal sailors. A. Omoo B. Mardi C. Redburn D. Typee 28. As a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,______ marks the climax of Mark Twain’s literary activity. A. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn B. Life on the Mississippi C. The Gilded Age D. Roughing It 29. Realism was a reaction against ______ or a move away from the bias towards romance and self- creating fictions, and paved the way to Modernism. A. Romanticism B. Rationalism C. Post-modernism D. Cynicism 30. When World War II broke out,______ began working for the Italian government, engaged in some radio broadcasts of anti- Semitism and pro- Fascism. A. Ezra Pound B. T. S. Eliot C. Henry James D. Robert Frost 31. In 1915 ______ became a naturalized British citizen, largely in protest against America’s failure to join England in the First World War. A. Henry James B. T. S. Eliot. C. W. D. Howells D. Ezra Pound 32. What Whitman prefers for his new subject and new poetic feelings is â€Å"______ ,† that is, poetry without a fixed beat or regular rhyme scheme. A. blank verse B. free rhythm C. balanced structure D. free verse 33. The American woman poet ______ wanted to live simply as a complete independent being, and so she did, as a spinster. A. Emily Shaw B. Anna Dickinson C. Emily Dickinson D. Anne Bret 34. The Birthmark drives home symbolically ______ point that evil is a man’s birthmark, something he was born with. A. Whitman’s B. Melville’s C. Hawthorne’s D. Emerson’s 35. The Financier ,The Titan and The Stoic written by ______ are called his â€Å"Trilogy of Desire†. A. Henry James B. Theodore Dreiser C. Mark Twain D. Herman Melville 36. Disregarding grammar and punctuation,______ always used â€Å"i† instead of â€Å"I† in his poems to show his protest against self-importance. A. Wallace Stevens B. Ezra Pound C. Robert Frost D. E. E. Cummings 37. Though Robert Frost is generally considered a regional poet whose subject matters mainly focus on the landscape and people in ______ , he wrote many poems that investigate the basic themes of man’s life in his long poetic career. A. the west B. the south C. New England D. Alaska 38. Most critics have agreed that Fitzgerald is both an insider and an outsider of ______ with a double vision. A. the Gilded Age B. the Rational Age C. the Jazz Age D. the Magic Age 39. In the American Romantic writings,______ came to function almost as a dramatic character that symbolized moral law. A. fire B. water C. trees D. wilderness 40. The desire for an escape from society and a return to ______ became a permanent convention of the American literature. A. the family life B. nature C. the ancient time D. fantasy of love 21. The Renaissance marks a transition from ______ to the modern world. A. the old English B. the medieval C. the feudalist D. the capitalist 22. The great political and social events in the English society of neoclassical period were the following EXCEPT ______. A. the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 B. the Great Plague of 1665 C. the Great London Fire in 1666 D. the Wars of Roses in 1689 23. With the scarlet letter A as the biggest symbol of all, ______ proves himself to be one of the best symbolists. A. Hawthorne B. Dreiser C. James D. Faulkner 24. The author of Leaves of Grass , a giant of American letters, is ______. A. Faulkner B. Dreiser C. James D. Whitman 25. In Tender is the Night, ______ traces the decline of a young American psychiatrist whose marriage to a beautiful and wealthy patient drains his personal energies and corrodes his professional career. A. Dreiser B. Faulkner C. Fitzgerald D. Jack London 26. Melville is best – known as the author of his mighty book, ________, which is one of the world’ s greatest masterpieces. A. Song of Myself B. Moby – Dick C. The Marble Faun D. Mosses from an Old Manse 27. The theme of Henry James’ essay â€Å"______† clearly indicates that the aim of the novel is to present life, so it is not surprising to find in his writings human experiences explored in every possible form. A. The American B. The Europeans C. The Art of Fiction D. The Golden Bowl 28. During WWI, ______ served as an honorable junior officer in the American Red Cross Ambulance Corps and in 1918 was severely wounded in both legs. A. Anderson B. Faulkner C. Hemingway D. Dreiser 29. In order to protest against America’ s failure to join England in WWI, ______ became a naturalized British citizen in 1915. A. William Faulkner B. Henry James C. Earnest Hemingway D. Ezra Pound 30. Robert Frost described ______as â€Å"a book of people,† which shows a brilliant insight into New England character and the background that formed it. A. North of Boston B. A Boy’s Will C. A Witness Tree D. A Further Range 31. We can easily find in Dreiser’ s fiction a world of jungle, and ______ found expression in almost every book he wrote. A. naturalism B. romanticism C. transcendentalism D. cubism 32. As an active participant of his age, Fitzgerald is often acclaimed literary spokesman of the ______. A. Jazz Age B. Age of Reason C. Lost Generation D. Beat Generation 33. From the first novel Sister Carrie on, Dreiser set himself to project the American values for what he had found them to be: ______ to the core. A. altruistic B. political C. religious D. materialistic 34. The 20th -century stream- of- consciousness technique was frequently and skillfully used by ______ to emphasize the reactions and inner musings of the narrator. A. Hemingway B. Frost C. Faulkner D. Whitman 35. With the help of his friends Phil Stone and Sherwood Anderson, ______ published a volume of poetry The Marble Faun and his first novel Soldiers’ Pay. A. Faulkner B. Hemingway C. Ezra Pound D. Fitzgerald 36. The Sun Also Rises casts light on a whole generation after WWI and the effects of the war by way of a vivid portrait of â€Å"______. † A. the Beat Generation B. the Lost Generation C. the Babybooming Age D. the Jazz Age 37. Within her little lyrics Dickinson addresses those issues that concern ______, which include religion, death, immorality, love and nature. A. the whole human beings B. the frontiers C. the African Americans D. her relatives 38. H. L. Mencken, a famous American critic, considered ______ â€Å"the true father of our national literature. † A. Hamlin Garland B. Joseph Kirkland C. Mark Twain D. Henry James 39. In his poetry, Whitman shows concern for ______ and the burgeoning life of cities. A. the colonists B. the capitalists C. the whole hard -working people D. the intellectuals 40. In 1837, ______ published Twice – Told Tales, a collection of short stories which attracted critical attention. A. Emerson B. Melville C. Whitman D. Hawthorne 21. The work ________ by William Blake is a lovely volume of poems, presenting a happy world, though not without its evils and sufferings. A. Songs of Innocence B. Songs of Experience C. Poetical Sketches D. Lyrical Ballads 22. The plays known as â€Å"the Lawrence trilogy† are all the following EXCEPT ________. A. A Collier’ s Friday Night B. Lady Chatterley’ s Lover C. The Daughter – in – Law D. The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyed 23. Greatly and permanently affected by the ________ experiences, Hemingway formed his own writing style, together with his theme and hero. A. mining B. farming C. war D. sailing 24. â€Å"The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one -eighth of it being above water. † This â€Å"iceberg† analogy about prose style was put forward by ________. A. William Faulkner B. Henry James C. Ernest Hemingway D. F ·Scott Fitzgerald. 25. In Go Down, Moses, ________ illuminates the problem of black and white in Southern society as a close- knit destiny of blood brotherhood. A. William Faulkner B. Jack London C. Herman Melville D. Nathaniel Hawthorne 26. In Death in the Afternoon ________ presents his philosophy about life and death through the depiction of the bullfight as a kind of microcosmic tragedy. A. William Faulkner B. Jack London C. Ernest Hemingway D. Mark Twain 27. William Faulkner once said that ________ is a story of â€Å"lost innocence,† which proves itself to be an intensification of the theme of imprisonment in the past. A. The Great Gatsby B. The Sound and the Fury C. Absalom, Absalom! D. Go Down, Moses 28. Walt Whitman believed, by means of â€Å"________,† he has turned poetry into an open field, an area of vital possibility where the reader can allow his own imagination to play. A. free verse B. strict verse C. regular rhyming D. standardized rhyming 29. Herman Melville’s second famous work, ________, was not published until 1924, 33 years after his death. A. Pierre B. Redburn C. Moby-Dick D. Billy Budd 30. In 1920, ________ published his first novel This Side of Paradise which was, to some extent, his own story. A. F ·Scott Fitzgerald B. Ernest Hemingway C. William Faulkner D. Emily Dickinson 31. Unlike his contemporaries in the early 20th century, ________ did not break up with the poetic tradition nor made any experiment on form. A. Walt Whitman B. Robert Frost C. Ezra Pound D. T. S. Eliot 32. While Mark Twain seemed to have paid more attention to the â€Å"life† of the Americans, ________ had apparently laid a greater emphasis on the â€Å"inner world† of man. A. William Howells B. Henry James C. Bret Harte D. Hamlin Garland 33. At the age of eighty -seven, ________ read his poetry at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. A. Robert Frost B. Walt Whitman C. Ezra Pound D. T. S. Eliot 34. Of all Herman Melville’s sea adventure stories, ________ proves to be the best. A. Typee B. Redburn C. Moby – DickD. Omoo 35. Man is a â€Å"victim of forces over which he has no control. † This is a notion held strongly by ________. A. Robert Frost B. Theodore Dreiser C. Henry James D. Hamlin Garland 36. With the publication of ________, Theodore Dreiser was launching himself upon a long career that would ultimately make him one of the most significant American writers of the school later known as literary naturalism. A. Sister Carrie B. The Titan C. An American Tragedy D. The Stoic 37. Nathaniel Hawthorne was affected by ________’s transcendentalist theory and struck up a very intimate relationship with him. A. H. W. Longfellow B. Walt Whitman C. R. W. Emerson D. Washington Irving 38. Among the following writers ________ is generally regarded as the forerunner of the 20th -century â€Å"stream – of – consciousness† novels and the founder of psychological realism. A. T. S. Eliot B. James Joyce C. William Faulkner D. Henry James 39. Walt Whitman wrote down a great many poems to air his sorrow for the death of President ______, and one of the famous is â€Å"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’ d. † A. Washington B. Lincoln C. Franklin D. Kennedy 40. The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a romance set in______, is concerned about the dark aberrations of the human spirit. A. France B. Spain C. England D. Italy [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]

Educating Rita-Characters Essay

Main characters Rita and Frank are the only two characters whom we see on stage, though other people are referred to by both of them. We hear about Denny, Rita’s husband, about Julia, Frank’s partner, and about Trish, Rita’s flatmate, who attempts to kill herself. But it is Rita and Frank whom the audience gets to know best. Rita: Rita is a working-class, twenty-six-year-old hairdresser who has taken the decisive step of enrolling on a literature course at the Open University. It has been a difficult decision as it means that she has to break away from the restrictions imposed on her by her husband and by the community in which she lives and works. Indeed, Rita’s choice is a stark one: it is between starting a family, which Denny wants, or studying. In deciding to study and become more educated and culturally aware, Rita changes her life completely. She gradually becomes absorbed by culture and literature. It is only after her flatmate attempts suicide that she begins to realise that art and literature cannot provide all the answers. However, she decides to continue as a student and finally passes her examination. Frank: Frank is a university lecturer in English Literature with a drink problem. He has had one failed marriage and his present relationship wit Julia is not an easy one. However, he does appear to have a comfortable middle-class lifestyle and has achieved some minor success as a poet. His job, nevertheless, bores him and, in fact, by the end of the play, he has been sent away to Australia by the university authorities because of his drunken behaviour. Rita breezes into his life like a breath of fresh air; the story of the play is the story of their developing and changing relationships both as teacher and student and on a more personal level.

Psychology of Homer Simpsons Essay

The Simpsons have been America’s phenomenal cartoon TV series that has a chilling resemblance to the typical family, if it would be viewed in a different angle removing the humour and exaggerations. The melodious opening song, Bart’s writing on the board, to the sofa antic just gives that tinge of spice to the expecting viewers. However, what usually catches the interest of the people is Homer. His credulous and sometimes sordid character ironically gives justice to the struggle of middle class families and perfectly depicts the role and challenges of a father who is facing the ordeals in the midst of a family crisis and his obligation as a citizen in the society.   A saying goes that the father is the home’s foundation. If that foundation would be weak, the family will collapse and disperse on the ground. He is the one that stands firm amongst difficult adversities a family faces and would be the source of their hope. Homer Simpsons heavy stature and obsession with Duff beer seems to exclude him from this description of this sturdy foundation. In Season 1, episode 3, Homer lost his job in front of his son in the Nuclear Plant. He became the common bum. He would lie on the sofa all day long, doing nothing and with a blank stare at the TV set, while Marge is working at a fast food chain on roller skates. He came to thirst for beer, since he was sober for a while due to lack of finances. With humour he searched for any kind of source for income including Bart’s piggy bank and going that low ,which wasn’t even worth it because it wasn’t even enough for one beer, he then came to a realization of what he has become. He decided on taking his own life by throwing himself in a watery grave. With a boulder around his neck he walked slowly towards the river. This action exhibited man’s reaction in time of weakness and lost of sight for ones purpose in life. However, he still managed to oil the fence upon going out, showing his compulsiveness of taking care of his own home. At the river, on the last minute he was about to throw away his life, his family came to the rescue. However, it turned out that it was Homer who would rescue them in the middle of the intersection from a speeding vehicle, and that is with a boulder hanging around his neck. The instinct of a father protecting his family came in stronger than his human weakness. Then, it dawned on him that the town needs someone to uphold safety around the place. He found his silver lining among the dark clouds. He went against even with his boss, Mr. Burns, just to be able to completely eradicate the town of danger. Mr. Burns even blackmailed Homer of giving his job back if he would just turn back on his own words about the plant’s safety. Homer almost gave in but his principles were as sturdy as his love for his family and community. Although, like water looking for its way back to the sea, Homer still got his job back and was still able to uphold his principle. He became the plant’s safety man. The seemingly ignorant and weakling personality of Homer turned out to be actually a shallow shroud that clothes his inner strength that brought hope and respect not only from his family but from his community as well. He secretly became a beacon to their hearts. He just needed that chance to bring it out of him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fathers have always been the icon of providing for his family. Since ancient times, these men are the ones that bring home the slaughtered meal after a dangerous and tedious hunt. Nothing has changed ever since except for the barbarism. Nowadays, the head of the families would still need to â€Å"hunt† for their income in order to provide for their pecuniary needs. Homer Simpsons is the kind of employee that slack-off during work, taking unscheduled doughnut breaks and seemingly doing his job but not actually serious about it. A provider, yes that he could be, but a good one is a dubious fact. In the first episode for season 1, a Christmas special of The Simpsons, Homer established the answer to this question. Mr. Burns joyously announced to the intercom that there is an increase in the safety of the plant but unfortunately no Holiday bonus for the mid-level workers. It saddened everyone, Homer on the other hand was still thankful because they had a â€Å"Christmas jar† that Marge has been keeping. But, little did he know that it was all spent on Bart’s surgery to remove the tattoo he just got. Upon entering the Simpsons home, he knew of the ordeal they are in. Marge had high hopes knowing that he had a Christmas bonus and Homer didn’t have the heart to break the news to his family, not with all those looks that are on tenterhooks. Homer, like our forefathers, hunted for a way to earn some extra income for his family, so that they won’t have to miss Christmas. He found one as a mall’s Santa Claus. He kept it a secret from his family in order to keep his family from worrying and his dignity as well. In a particular scene, it showed Homer going home from his Santa training exhausted and bad enough his sisters-in-law made a visit. Homer never did like them but because of his love for Marge, he still tried to be cou rteous and said his hellos. The gentleness, like any beast or man has, had been placed above the brute that he was. However, Bart discovered his clandestine accidentally but they made a bond not to speak of it. When pay day came Homer only got a measly $13. He got really disappointed but Barney asked him to try his luck on a dog race and take the chance of doubling his earnings. Homer refused for he didn’t want Bart to grow-up with that kind of values. It was Bart who encouraged his dad to take the risk because he believed that miracles happen to unfortunate kids especially in Christmastime. Thus, father and son embarked on the journey to try their luck. But fate made a twist on Bart’s little hope for miracle. The dog they made a bet on lost and so did their measly hope for their Christmas gifts. Broken hearted they went home. However , with a twist of event, the dog ironically named Santa’s little helper, was booted out by its owner and as fate smiled on both unfortunate souls, they found refuge in the arms of one another. Homer brought home the dog and it turned out to be the best Christmas they ever had. Homer indeed provided but not with mere money but with the gift of love for his family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A father is also a source of wisdom and guidance. He is not just the role model in a family but considered as his children’s hero. A father’s advice is treasured like nothing else and he is remembered with it even until his next life.   Homer’s clumsiness and ignorant responses are attitudes wherein a person won’t dare to ask or even take an advice from. He would even sometimes strangle Bart whenever he catches him with his smart alecks. However, that is just a part of his comic act for humour sake. On episode 2 and 5, Homer exhibited the support, love and guidance an ideal father gives in spite of his once-in-a while shallowness. He gave his children a strong arm they can run to and a shoulder they can cry on. Homer handed down his advice as carefully as our forefathers handed down their gift of wisdom to the generations next to them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Homer Simpsons is a comical proof of what human beings are in an ironic sense. Behind the humour and funny antics is the true father figure we have all known. He merely shows that there is always two sides of the coin, it could either be our bad or our good side. Homer Simpsons simply teaches us that we should never pass judgement to people by a mere look or by the way they talk, because their works and most of all their family might attest to their greatness above all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      References Groening, M et.al Burkes,J. , Simon,S. (Producers). Copyright 1990. Gracie Films. Twentieth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Century Fox Film Corp.(Distributor).

The Recovery and Investment Plan to Rebuild the American Economy after Essay

The Recovery and Investment Plan to Rebuild the American Economy after Recession - Essay Example The Boskin commission states that accurate measures in the costs of living are among the most useful and important data necessary to evaluate economic performance. The living cost change between two periods indicates how much income people would have needed in the previous period given the price of goods and services available then. For example if a family with $15,000 income in 2000 would have needed $45,000 in 1999, then the cost of living has dropped by two thirds. The commission argues that the complexity of the dynamicity of the economy should not be reasons to bemoan the difficulties in the construction of an accurate cost of living index.It highlighted sources of possible bias and further suggests improvements to the various official statistics currently used as proxies for changes in the cost of living like the consumer price index that measures the cost of purchasing a fixed market basket of goods and services. The CPI is calculated, while keeping the weights fixed through t ime, by attempting to measure changes from one month to another in prices of the same or quite closely related goods and services. But this weights would no longer reflect what consumers are actually purchasing because through consumption baskets change in part because of changes in the relative prices of goods and services. Where the purchases are made also do change just like consumers do change their purchases. The current methodology suffers from outlet substitution bias that insufficiently takes into account the shift to discount outlets. This occurs when shifts to lower price outlets are not properly handled.  

Organizational Change & Change Management Assignment

Organizational Change & Change Management - Assignment Example (Turner, 2011) This paper seeks to highlight how organizations manage change and strive hard to become more sustainable after implementing change because the condition of most of the organization becomes vulnerable after applying change. This paper also mentions some methods and techniques by which organizations can cope up in handling change successfully. Organizational change helps an organization in agreeing on a unified vision. Strong level of leadership is required for communicating the vision to each employee of the organization. Change can affect day to day strategies and activities of an organization. Moreover, a concrete plan is required to measure the degree of success of change. Monetary and social rewards are awarded to employees so as to encourage their new responsibilities and roles. (Turner, 2011) This paper seeks to highlight how organizations manage change and strive hard to become more sustainable after implementing change because the condition of most of the organization becomes vulnerable after applying change. This paper also mentions some methods and techniques by which organizations can cope up in handling change successfully. Organizational change helps an organization in agreeing on a unified vision. Strong level of leadership is required for communicating the vision to each employee of the organization. Change can affect day to day strategies and activities of an organization. Moreover, a concrete plan is required to measure the degree of success of change. Monetary and social rewards are awarded to employees so as to encourage their new responsibilities and roles. (Turner, 2011) 2. Briefly discuss methods & techniques to identify and solve problems and how it would affect after implementing the change.   Change doesn’t happen by change but in fact organiza tions invest huge amounts in research and development in order to determine if the change is necessary or not. Change comes along with many challenges and problems to tackle. In order to solve those problems, some wide range of applications is required. The most common problems and solution are mentioned in subsequent paragraphs. They include: Problems: Ineffective management of change can cause lower level of job satisfaction and confidence Organizations failing to manage change are four times high at the risk of losing talents Ineffective management of change adversely affect the ability of an organization to attract new talent Just less than half of the total employees feel confident in the change process of the organization Solutions: Organizations require to utilize assessment tools to measure the readiness of change among employees Leaders need to cultivate key behaviors which are required for managing change in an effective manner Leaders need to ensure that employee engageme nt is very high in the process of change management 3. Discuss how to develop a change strategy by using different types of methods and techniques.   3.1 Change methods in general. Countless techniques, models, theories and tools have been established in order to implement change in organizations in a successful manner. There is no hard and fast rule in implementing a specific theory, method or model because the internal structure, condition, financial position and culture of every organization differ from others. In this regard, it depends upon organization what method or technique is suitable as per the given condition of an organizatio

Pantheon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pantheon - Essay Example It was thought that this inscription referred to the present temple, but Agrippa's temple was destroyed and then restored several times by Domitian and Trajan. It was fully reconstructed by Hadrian around 125 A.D., but he preserved Agrippa's inscription. This new Pantheon has been attributed to the architect Apollodorus of Damascus, one of the most famous architects of the Ancient world. The Greek influences we can appreciate in the portico (very similar to the pronaos of the Greek temples) are due to the great admiration Hadrian felt for Greek culture. After the portico, we find a big circular cella or rotunda, covered with a semispherical dome with an oculus opened to the sky. The portico and the rotunda are linked by a polygonal structure. The dome rests on a cylindrical drum and it is decorated with coffers, which were designed to reduce the weight of the dome; it is the world's largest concrete dome. The walls of the temple have the same height as the radius of the dome and the total height is equal to the diameter, so a perfect imaginary sphere can be inscribed in the interior of the Pantheon. The structure of the Pantheon is very different from the conventional structure of the roman temples, which was very influenced by the preceding Etruscan and Greek models, so when it was built it represented an important innovation. Although we can find examples of domes resting in a cylindrical drum in some previous buildings, like the thermal baths of Agrippa or Caracalla, the dome of the Pantheon is the first one built with such big dimensions. The materials used in the Pantheon were also very innovative; the concrete applied to the construction of the dome and the marble, used in the floor, which was a symbol of magnificence and splendor. Agrippa's temple was smaller than the present temple and it was facing to the south (the actual Pantheon is facing to the north). It seems that the structure was very similar to the actual temple, and it was based in the architectural principles of Vitruvius. In the pronaos, now decorated with Corinthian columns, were erected the statues of Augusto and Agrippa as the promoters of the temple, so what people saw at first sight were the figures of the Emperors, as the developers of this magnificent architectural work. The geometry of the Pantheon has a deep symbolic meaning. According to the plane geometry and Vitruvius' ideas, the squared Greek portico represents the Earth and the circular rotunda the Heaven. The rotunda and the dome are linked by an octagon, by which the squaring of the circle is achieved; this will mean the indestructible union between matter and spirit. In the floor we can also find geometrical drawings of circles inscribed inside squares. Furthermore, the lower part of the drum's wall is drilled with niches, suggesting a continuity in the unlimited space. The columns that support these niches have been constructed as if they were not supporting the dome, so it seems to be floating in the air. The dome represents the vault of heaven and each of the five levels of coffers represents the five concentric spheres of the Ancient planetary system. The central oculus, which illuminates the interior of the temple, symbolizes the

Primary Drawbacks of Net Present Value as Capital Budgeting Technique Assignment

Primary Drawbacks of Net Present Value as Capital Budgeting Technique - Assignment Example This entire process has multiple loopholes, for instance the uncertainty that is prevailing when it comes to estimating future cash flows of that investment opportunity is high enough to put this technique under scrutiny. Next loophole is regarding the discount rate that is used to reach the present value of a cash flow. Again the accuracy of discount rate used is of critical importance in determining the correct value of the cash flow’s present value. This makes NPV value dependent or sensitive to the value of discount rate and forecasted cash flows. Third loophole that is pretty much evident from the assessment of this tool is that this tool takes into account information that is present at the time of decision making, thus it does not take into account changes in the initial conditions of an investment opportunity. The fourth loophole that can be seen is that this tool is only applicable when projects being assessed are tangible and quantifiable. And in reality firms undert ake certain projects that are aimed at enhancing the brand equity, such projects are out of the scope of NPV (Kent & English, 2011). Question # 2: Comparison of Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return: This tool or technique is another capital budgeting technique. IRR is the discount rate that turns the net present value of forecasted cash flows from an investment opportunity equal to zero. ... A decision regarding a particular investment opportunity that is based on NPV technique will find itself under scrutiny when assessed using IRR technique. While this fact is not true for independent projects where both techniques will yield similar results, but when it comes to mutually exclusive projects (one project or the other) these tools do not yield a consistent result. The reason behind this conflict is that the set of investment opportunity that is being assessed consists of projects that vary in their size and timings of their future cash flows (Helfert, 2004). So it is clear that if a company is deciding between two investment opportunities, it will encounter a problem when it is using NPV and IRR to assess the value of these investment opportunities for the company. In this conflicting situation the company shall have to decide whether it will make its decision based on NPP or IRR (Helfert, 2004). Question # 3: Avenues to raise equity for a Profit Driven Firm: A profit dr iven firm, if assumed to be a corporation, has multiple options at its disposal to raise new equity capital. The first option that it has is to go to its existing shareholder for additional capital. The second option it has is to add more shareholders into the company by offering new share in the primary market. The third option available to a profit driven firm is that it can seek help from a venture capitalist firm; again this will be in exchange for some portion of the company’s equity. The fourth option available to the company is that it asks a bank for a loan in return for interest payments. These mentioned options are most suited to meet the company’s short-term capital requirement

Need to be paraphrase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Need to be paraphrase - Essay Example This research paper provides how Value Stream mapping a lean tool can be used for the achievement of effective environmental waste management. Value Stream mapping techniques as a lean management tools is effective as it identifies the underlying issues or problem and maps out how it can be addressed both in the current and in the future. The application of this construction lean tool is investigated through the examination of the various construction projects taking out analysis on each stage. The findings in regard to these construction firms study are analysed determining its green lean approach and its environmental sustainability. INTRODUCTION The art of construction is one of the core pillars of any country economic growth. Despite of its importance this aspect of economic growth has its underlying problems attributed to it. It is notable that most construction works and operations results into production of waste commonly in areas where demolition work is in progress. Accordin g to Green (1999) in his research asserts that most of the stakeholders of the construction works do not take into account its implications to the environment before undertaking them. This aspect has led to the stakeholders applying lean management tools to mitigate the impacts and keeping the environment green. Green brings forward the concept of lean construction which mainly involves the incorporation of lean thinking in construction. Koskela (1992) adds that lean construction improves the reliability and quality. The research on lean manufacturing is essential in ensuring that construction works conform to the environmental conservation measures. As stated earlier that construction sector has been considered to be highly associated with poor management of pollution notably waste management and the general conservation of environment. This has been attributed by adoption of traditional management and sustainability concepts of construction. Thus, due to this deficiencies construc tion firms have shifted towards the adoption of lean construction and the overall sustainability practices in its construction projects (Smith, 2003).. The lead construction initiatives aiming sustainability are based on VSM techniques and the achievement of lean and green sustainability. This management approach of construction projects enhances stakeholder’s efforts in the implementation of sustainability strategies in the construction project stages. The effectiveness and the reliability of VSM techniques is that its system has been integrated with both the production and environmental sustainability (EPA, 2007a). Research on the implementation of the construction lean management techniques in construction work has not been done widely. Stakeholders have overemphasized the aspect of environmental conservation in the design phase instead of the crucial construction phase. Larger amount of waste is realized in the construction phase. This has resulted into intensive research towards the adoption of value stream mapping in the environmental conservation in construction sites. VSM is widely adopted in the manufacturing sector in the management of waste in the whole process and has proved to be effective. Effective adoption f this technique ensures that all the