Should Students Have Long Term Retention Of Course Material

There is significant amount of evidence that supports the idea that students have long-term retention of course material when they take more than one cumulative exam throughout the semester, as oppose to courses in which students have only one cumulative exam at the termination of the semester. The article, â€Å"Cumulative Exams in the Introductory Psychology Course,† by Natalie Lawrence, examines the importance of cumulative exams in impacting students’ long-term memory of material, if given more throughout the course. This is significant for both teachers and students to acknowledge when instructing or participating in a college course. The study consisted of 105 participants in which 59 were women and 46 men. Participants were students in†¦show more content†¦Though the control group does not receive any type of treatment and is randomly selected, they do play a crucial role when establishing if there was significance in the data collected as well as the re sults. The control group is what helps in determining if the experiment did have an effect and to which extent. The first exam for each section both consisted of 50 multiple-choice questions, they were indistinguishable. This being said, the change came about during the second exam and third exams when the cumulative section took exams consisting of 40 questions that were based on recently learned material with 10 questions based on information from previously learned material that were on earlier exams. Whereas, for the noncumulative section, the second and third exams were 50 questions that were only from recent material. The final exam was, however, was cumulative for both sections. There was one independent variable, which was the type of exams that were given throughout the semester. The independent variable had two levels, cumulative and non-cumulative exams. In order to test the retention of the information between the students, the professor gave students a follow-up exam two months after the semester finished. The test that was given consisted of 50 multiple-choice questions in which the professor made sure that none of the questions were on previous exams. She gave

Explain the Strengths and Weaknesses of Aquinas...

a) Explain the strengths and weaknesses of Aquinas’ cosmological arguments. The cosmological argument is an a posteriori argument based on the question of the relation of the universe’s existence and God’s existence. This argument focuses on the theory that if the universe exists then something must have caused it to existence, ie. A God or Creator. Supporters of this argument claim that to fully comprehend the existence of the universe, one must rely on a theory of a God however critics would say that due to the inability to prove God’s existence means that the universe cannot be fully explained. Many who don’t support the cosmological believe there doesn’t necessarily need to be an explanation for the universe’s existence as it†¦show more content†¦Everything in the universe is dependant on something else which means that once there was a time when nothing existed. This means that the being which created the universe must have been external to it and also must be a necessary being, aka, must have always e xisted. Aquinas continued to argue that this necessary being is God and that if God didn’t exist, nothing else would. This logically explains the existence of the universe without itShow MoreRelatedThe Question of Why God Exists595 Words   |  2 PagesGod exists. The Cosmological argument is an argument by the Christian, Theologian and Philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in an attempt to prove God’s existence. I will argue that the weaknesses of this argument outweigh its strengths, and therefore making the Cosmological argument a weak argument for the proof of God’s existence. The Cosmological argument is seen as a benchmark in the question of the existence of God. Meaning this is highly regarded as the strong argument for their claimRead MoreThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God A) The cosmological argument is to prove the existence of god. In this type of argument we are looking at cause and not design. This type of argument is an aposteriori argument because it is based upon experience. Thomas Aquinas puts the key ideas into 3 ways. First way is, motion/change. Nothing can move by itself or change itself. The first thing to have moved must have been moved by something else and Read MoreExamine the Key Features of the Teleological Argument?1491 Words   |  6 PagesExamine the key features of the Teleological argument. The word teleological comes from the Greek word ‘Telos’ which means purpose. The teleological argument is a posteriori and like the cosmological argument, attempts to prove the existence of God. It claims that certain phenomena within the universe appear to display features of design and are perfectly adapted to fulfil their function. Therefore, if features of the universe are so perfectly designed, for example the structure and function ofRead MoreThe Design Argument - as Level Essay examples3128 Words   |  13 Pagesa. Outline the Key Concepts of the Design Argument [21 marks] The design argument is also referred to at the Teleological Argument stemmed from the Greek work ‘Telos’ meaning end or purpose. It is an ‘A posterior’ argument (from experience) based on our empirical senses and it is synthetic meaning that it is from observation. The argument is also inductive meaning there a number of possible conclusions. The main basis of the Teleological argument is based on a designer commonly known as ‘the

The End of the Road Free Essays

â€Å"Hell, And How I Got Here† by Brenda Medina and â€Å"Puzzle Pieces† by Barbara Parsons Lane are two short stories from the book Couldn’t Keep It To Myself by Wally Lamb. Medina and Lane are two women who are serving time in a maximum security prison. Brenda Lane is serving time for homicide and Barbara Parsons Lane is serving time for manslaughter. We will write a custom essay sample on The End of the Road or any similar topic only for you Order Now Brenda was involved in a gang-related killing while Barbara was convicted of killing her abusive husband. Each of these women lived their lives being subjected to abuse, yet each woman portrayed themselves differently. Brenda was determined to gain power and not feel like an outsider in her own life. She was determined to take control and she was longer going to be the â€Å"odd girl out† (148). Barbara was living life as a victim and saw only one way to end the abuse. She was victimized in a way that made her feel as if she had no way of escaping her nightmare. Brenda found ways to empower herself in order to find a place in the world as Barbara was belittled to the point where she felt she was too weak to be able to walk away . In â€Å"Hell, And How I Got Here,† Brenda went through life finding ways to gain power. Brenda felt like an outsider for much of her childhood. She spent many unhappy years at a private school, feeling that she didn’t belong. It was not until her high school years, that she finally felt liberated. It was at this time of her life when Brenda started trying to find ways to empower herself and gain the status she was dreaming of. During high school, Brenda started dating Manny, a member of a local gang, The Unidad. Brenda recalled that from the age of fourteen until she went to prison at the age of seventeen, â€Å"Manny ran through my veins† (152). Even though her mother disapproved of Manny, Brenda dated Manny, the boy with the â€Å"outlaw aura. † Going against her mother’s wishes made Brenda feel powerful. She was going to run her own life from now on. As a child, Barbara was a lost little girl, just like Brenda. Her life was full of disappointments. At the age of four, Barbara was molested by a man she trusted, her grandfather. Looking for support and comfort, Barbara was finally able to find the strength to confide in her mother about what her grandfather had done to her. Instead of comfort, Barbara was told by her mother to never mention the molestation to anyone. â€Å"Don’t you ever say a word† (218). So she didn’t. Barbara became a quiet but a very angry little girl. Barbara’s mother was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and later hospitalized. Barbara was left to tend to the house she still shared with her alcoholic father and her two siblings. She had no one to go to and no one to talk to. Barbara resented her mother’s illness. She said the â€Å"illness had freed her brother and sister and made me a slave† (220). Barbara was the one left after her brother and sister moved out. Many years later, Barbara’s mother committed suicide. While dealing with her mother’s death, Barbara confided in her Aunt Ruth about her grandfather molesting her at a young age. Aunt Ruth told Barbara was molested by the same man, her father. Barbara did not understand why her mother just stood and watched while Barbara walked away, hand in hand, with the man she knew all too well. Two years before her mother took her own life, Barbara got married for the second time. She married a younger man named Mark. The disease she resented earlier in life was about to resurface and, once again, make her feel trapped. During their relationship, Manny grew to become controlling and abusive towards Brenda. He began to dictate the people she was allowed to see and what she could wear. Screaming at her after he ripped the skirt off of her, Manny yelled, â€Å"No girl of mine’s gonna strut herself like a little slut! † (161) Manny also became physically and started cheating on Brenda as well. Anytime Brenda threatened to break up with Manny, he begged and cried for her to stay. Brenda always stayed and she always forgave him. She loved to hear Manny tell her how much her loved and that he only wanted him for herself. Brenda loved the feeling she had by hearing Manny beg for to stay. She felt powerful. Feeling anything but powerful, Barbara was beginning to live a life of being controlled by an abusive husband. Mark became abusive emotionally and physically towards Barbara. The things he said to her were intended to make her feel insignificant and make her feel that she had no choice but to stay. â€Å"Some days he drinks from noon until late at night. If I challenge him or question him, I’m told I’m an ‘inconvenience’—his code for: watch out† (225). Being told she was an inconvenience by her husband happened on a regular basis. Mark was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, just like her mother. He drank alcohol in order to medicate himself and began having an affair with a fifteen year old girl. Mark openly talked about it to Barbara, adding to her feelings of inadequacy. She ended up having to quit her job because of the abuse and the unpredictability of her home life. Barbara was once again feeling imprisoned, just as she did as a hild. Brenda’s relationship with Manny was everything she was looking for. She had found her place in the world. However, Brenda was still feeling left out when it came to Manny, the gang, and their secrets. Brenda had never thought about joining a gang until she talked a â€Å"sister† of the gang. Erika persuaded Brenda to join because of the feeling of â€Å"family† the Unidad gave Erika. Brenda liked the idea and also knew she would no longer feel like an outsider. Brenda longed for the feeling of belonging and knew that her being a member of the gang would bring her and Manny closer. There would no longer be secrets between them. Barbara was living the life in which she was subjected to verbal and physical abuse from her husband. She had to listen to him talk about the affair he was having, being completely humiliated by it. Barbara even contemplated suicide at one point. Barbara lived her life feeling as if there was no way out. Mark’s belittling words were etched in her mind. Those words had the power of making Barbara believe she was destined to stay. If she chose to leave, he would kill her. Barbara felt as if she did not have any options at all. She felt completely powerless. Brenda was feeling anything but powerless. Manny, being a member of a gang, had power. Brenda felt that by being his girlfriend gave her power. Despite the fact that Manny was abusive, Brenda felt empowered knowing that she had found her place in this world with Manny. She believed that without her boyfriend, she would not have a place. The one thing Brenda always wanted was to belong. She longer felt like an outsider when she was with Manny. At the beginning of their relationship, Manny told her â€Å"I’m safe with you. And you are safe here† (156). That was precisely what Brenda was looking for. She was no longer the â€Å"odd girl out† (148). She was Manny’s girl. She was a member of the Unidad. She had power. What Brenda decided to do with the power she had obtained with the joining gang would be a life changing decision. The only way Barbara had the power to remove herself from the abuse was to file for divorce. Taking the step to file was a huge and terrifying decision for Barbara to make. It was so worrisome in fact that she tried to stop the process. After Mark was served the papers, he took Barbara to a secluded cabin in the woods, making sure she was fully aware that he had brought guns along on the trip. The trip that Mark planned had one purpose: he wanted to remind Barbara that her only option was to remain a devoted wife. If she tried leaving him, he would â€Å"terminate† her. Mark made it clear many times how easy it would be for him to do. During the trip to the cabin, after Barbara asked him if he went to cabin just to target shoot, Mark replied with, â€Å"No, I came all this way to show you how easy it would be to make you disappear† (230). Barbara knew divorce was out of the question. He would kill her before he granted her one. Although the trip put a divorce out of the question, it made Barbara realize there was only one option left. In order for her to free herself and to escape the trap of an abusive marriage, she would have to kill Mark before he killed her. Brenda and Barbara were both victims of abuse. That is where the similarities end. All Brenda wanted was to become someone other than the â€Å"outsider. † She was abused by her gang member boyfriend. She used that to threaten her boyfriend of leaving him. Brenda felt powerful when would hear Manny beg for her to stay. She finally felt like she was somebody. She was no longer an outsider of the â€Å"odd girl out† (148). Barbara was abused and belittled to the point where it made her think of herself as a weakling. She felt it was impossible to free herself from her nightmare. Brenda tried to escape but she always backed down because of how her husband made her think she was weak. Feeling empowered and feeling victimized are at the opposite end of the spectrum, yet they sometimes end up meeting at the end of the same road. How to cite The End of the Road, Papers

Pather Panchali Essay Sample free essay sample

A film becomes a piece of art when it makes us believe about our lives. Pather Panchali is the film which helped me re-consider my dealingss with other household members. I have come to conclusion that societal position of a household earnestly impacts human dealingss within that household. Sarbojaya. Harihar. Durga and Apu. all together create a bright life history of a usual Indian household. Their life is the changeless battle against the societal conditions. poorness. other household members. and themselves. Harihar is a hapless poet who can non happen his originative self-fulfillment. and has to look for uneven occupations in order to do family’s terminals meet. His married woman Sarbojaya is to the full responsible for everything about the house. When watching the film. I was highly surprised how this household was able to maintain its unity in such hard societal state of affairs. On the one manus. Harihar could non happen a occupation which would supply his life and whi ch would convey him pleasance. We will write a custom essay sample on Pather Panchali Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On the other manus. Sarbojaya had to transport the load of family jobs. In add-on. their boy Apu was frequently involved into petit larceny larceny which caused serious struggles with their neighbours. It seems that such households can non be stable. but Pather Panchali refutes this thought. They are stable in their day-to-day desire to get the better of societal and economic troubles. They do non look far into the hereafter. but instead take the life as a combination of separate yearss. Each twenty-four hours is connected with legion obstructions. troubles. and worlds. It is interesting. that the film depicts usual worlds as extraordinary societal existences. There are no stereotypes. Even when Sarbojaya disapproves her daughter’s manner of thought. she does non make this in a usual manner: she instead combines this with tremendous love to Durga. which fills each corner of her mother’s bosom. The film moves easy to its terminal. go forthing legion machinations behind the scene. Numerous secondary characters create a full image of the hapless life in India. I understand that we meet 100s of Harihars and Sarbojaya’s every twenty-four hours. but Pather Panchali makes the world striking. We understand that sometimes we can be excessively weak in our battle against the life around us.

The modern law of damages

racial justice essays

racial justice essays The 1960s and the fight for racial justice The chapter The Fight for Racial Justice spoke of the rising voice against discrimination. In particular legalized segregation in the South. In the Deep South there was persistent economic inequality. Most blacks worked for white landowners who paid them very little. There was also inequality in education and blacks were routinely kept from the voting booth by the use of fear and intimidation. Segregation was rampant-white and colored signs were on water fountains, restrooms, and sections of theaters. Although a lot of this segregation and discrimination occurred in the South, it wasnt confined there by any means. The challenge to segregation in schools came to the courts in the famed case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. It challenged the previous court ruling, Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the separate but equal standard in public education. In 1954 Brown overruled Plessy and the notion of separate but equal was discredited as being separate but not equal. The court ruled that segregation was wrong but left it up to local officials to decide how to eliminate it. A struggled began over desegregation. Some localities had more problems than others. In the South, in particular, problems were intensified by years of local traditions and prejudices. Many districts chose to ignore the Supreme Court ruling altogether. In Little Rock, Arkansas the Governor deployed the National Guard to prevent the students from entering Central High School. Eventually the President sent the 101st Airborne Division to restore order and allow the African Americans to enter the school. Desegregation would be an issue for a long time to come but it wasnt the only issue facing Americans in the battle for racial justice. In December 1955 in Montgomery Alabama, Rosa parks refused to give up her bus seat for a white passen...

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Project management - Essay Example As recommended by literature (Field and Keller 2007, p.198), the forward pass mode has been used for calculating the ETS for each of the activities. The mode is based on the assumption that all previous activities have been finalised. The following equation has been used in calculating its values: ETSj  = max (ETSi  + Ti  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ i - when an activity is linked to j on an arc from i to j). The values of ETS for each of the activities are provided in a Table 1. Early Finish Time (EFT) is calculated by adding the duration time of each activity to its ETS. The Late Start Time (LTS) is calculated through the use of backward pass mode. It is based on the assumption that the latest time the last event can occur is equal to the last event ETS. The following equation has been used in calculating its values: LTSi  = MIN (LTSj  - Ti  -j is an activity linked to i on the path from i to j). The values of LTS for each of the activities are provided in a Table 1. Float The total float in the scheduling provides information on the accepted event delay that will not result in total delay of the whole project (Field and Keller 2007, PMI 2008). It is the difference between the LTS and ETS of each project activity, i.e. Fi = LTSi–ETSi 3. The project duration and the critical path. The minimum required time for the completion of the project is 80 days. A final step in designing the network is the identification of the critical path. A critical path is made out of the critical activities of the project. An activity is assessed as critical when if delayed, will cause a delay of the whole project duration by an equal amount of time (Field and Keller 2007:183, PMI 2008). For a critical activity: The ETS and the LTS of the activity must be equal at the each node; The Float must be equal to 0; Table 1. Task Name Duration Pred. Early Start Early Finish Late Start Late Finish Float Critical path A 4 - 0 4 0 4 0 yes B 4 A 4 8 4 8 0 yes C 2 A 4 6 14 16 10 no D 6 A 4 10 10 16 6 no E 5 A 4 9 11 16 7 no F 8 B 8 16 8 16 0 yes G 10 C,D,E,F 16 26 16 26 0 yes H 7 G 26 33 26 33 0 yes I 6 H 33 39 33 39 0 yes J 5 H 33 38 34 39 1 no K 7 I,J 39 46 39 46 0 yes L 14 K 46 60 46 60 0 yes M 8 L 60 68 60 68 0 yes N 2 M 68 70 68 70 0 yes O 2 N 70 72 76 78 6 no P 8 N 70 78 70 78 0 yes Q 2 O,P 78 80 78 80 0 yes 1. Different Project Scenarios If the project starts on Monday 21st, May, 2011, what is the earliest date it can be completed using a 5 day working week? For calculating the schedule and the earliest date the project can be completed, the project management tool - Gant chart is used, presented in Appendix 2. The calculation is as follows: the total duration project of the (80) is divided with 5 (working days in the week) = 16 weeks. The earliest date is for completion of the project is Friday, September 2nd, 2011. If the following happened what would be the effect on the duration of the whole project? Explain the reasons. a. A two day delay in activity

Final Global business Plan Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final Global business Plan Paper - Essay Example Keeping in mind the governmental limitations on foreign investments, the external governance and its impact on the Starbucks India will be a major factor for its success or downfall. Since sole proprietorships and partnerships are essentially impossible under the Indian law, locally incorporated company is the answer to many limitations put by the government. Certainly, good corporate governance is the solution-key for above stated questions. In the case of Starbucks India, proper corporate governance has to be the identification and correction of inefficiencies in its running. In pursuing this objective, Starbucks' top level management can not rely on their own internal mechanisms, but they need to look for external instruments such as the market for corporate control. In this regard, external governance becomes very important to be looked at since the role of controls by the external stakeholders over the organization can compound for its overall success in India. For Starbucks India, external governance can play its healthy role in the forms of debt covenants, external au

Managing Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing Change - Research Paper Example This is because different employees in an organization have different perspectives and standpoints regarding the best change management strategy. They all believe their own recommendations to be the best possible strategy for the organization (Kotter, 2007). Therefore, choosing the best strategy from all the alternatives suggested can be a very difficult job. Moreover, applying change management processes in culturally diverse background become even tougher considering the fact that the acceptance, tolerance and response to change management strategies vary across different cultures (Dionne, et al., 2002). That is why managers need to have the ability to enforce change and at the same time make sure that the cultural integrity at their organization is sustained. Furthermore, change management is also required while companies consider expanding their business into unfamiliar territories (Todnem and Burnes, 2011). This is where managers have to be extremely adaptive when enforcing any form of change. Successful execution of change management strategies ensures organizational success and it requires managers to be highly aware of their operational environment (Hendry and Pettigrew, 2008). It is with regards to this fact that the researcher will attempt to understand the change management process in Burger King. The fundamental purpose of this study is to see how managers of Burger King have expanded the world’s second largest burger food service retail into the Gulf Region. The study will be conducted on the basis of two perspectives of change management which are the cultural approach to change management and the adaptation versus standardization strategy related to change management. An analysis of such scale will allow the researcher to gauge the importance of change management in the contemporary business environment. The researcher will also be evaluating the success achieved by Burger King after expanding into the Gulf Region through the change

Information Systems Management Pepsico Inc

Information Systems Management Pepsico Inc There are hardly a few people in the world who are unfamiliar with the word Pepsi. Words such as cola or soda have almost become synonymous with it. Pepsi is arguably the most famous soft-drink consumed by billions all over the world. And the company responsible behind this success is one of the world market giants; PEPSICO, Inc. According to Andreas Penzkofer (2007), the company came into existence in 1965, when the Pepsi-cola company acquired the snack food company called Frito-Lay. The company has started to expand itself overseas since the nineties. Pepsico Incorporated is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation. Its headquarters are based in Purchase, New York. It is a company which has marketing and manufacturing interests in a wide variety of products ranging from carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, salty, sweet and cereal based snacks, juices etcetera. Some of the major brands owned by the company are   Quaker Oats,  Gatorade,  Frito-Lay,  Tropicana,  Copella,  Mountain Dew, and  7 Up. According to Lawrence Dietz (1973), the perspective of the company is to increase the value of the share-holders investment. The company plans to do this by achieving growth in sales, controlling the costs and intelligent investment of resources. The company believes that their commercial success is dependent upon offering good quality and value to their consumers and customers, making available products that are safe, wholesome, and economically efficient while providing fair returns on investments to their investors by maintaining high levels of integrity. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE Pepsico operates in all the six major continents of the world namely Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America and Europe. Their operations are further broken down amongst countries in these continents. The inter-organisation structure of the company has many sub-divisions. Their products are produced and bottled at the manufacturing plant, delivered to the suppliers by the distributors, the suppliers sell it to the retailers and finally to the consumers. These supply-chains in different countries are controlled by one main headquarter. According to Andreas Penzkofer (2007), the aim of the company is to manage supply ingredients and maintain purified water supply to ensure quality and availability to produce the products. Ensure availability of the best technology and quick storage and inventory processes to maintain freshness and quality. Determine the demand by past sales and future marketing. Also ensure proper packaging, maintain quick local distribution and meet any new demands or competition with products and consumer needs. Andreas Penzkofer (2007), also states that the companys mission is to become the worlds best consumer products company. Its aim is to improve on the financial returns to the investors as it provides opportunities of growth and development to its employees. It is also concerned about preserving the environment and has designed a separate set of goals especially in its favour. This can be observed from the replacement of can holders with plastic ring connectors which snap when the cans are removed; thereby reducing the risk of entanglement for wildlife. Pepsico also aims at diversifying its workforce so as to have a better understanding of different cultures. This has led the company to win many awards as well as being ranked at the 9th position by the fortune magazine as being the best company for minorities. MARKET SHARE According to Lawrence Dietz (1973), Pepsico, Inc. is one of the leading consumer product companies in the world having many of the worlds most important and valuable trademarks. It is the second largest soft-drink business having a 21 percent share of the carbonated soft-drink market in the world and 29 percent in the United States. Three of its major soft-drink brands Pepsi-cola, Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi are amongst the top-ten soft-drinks in the U.S. market. The company has also spread itself substantially in the world snacks market by introducing a company division known as Frito-Lay. It has a 40 percent world market share in salty snacks and 56 percent in the United States. It is nine times the size of its closest competitor in the U.S. and sells nine of the top-ten snack chip brands in the supermarket channel some of which include lays, Doritos, ruffles and Chee-tos. Frito-Lay is responsible for generating more than 60 percent of Pepsicos net-sales and more than two-thirds of the parent companys operating profits. The company also has a third division called Tropicana Products, Inc., which is the world leader in juice sales and occupies a strong 41 percent of the U.S. chilled orange juice market. On a global scale, Pepsico owns 16 brands that generate more than 500 million dollars in sales each year, ten of which are responsible for generating more than 1 billion dollars annually. Pepsico acquires around 35 percent of its retail sales outside the United States, with Pepsi-cola brands marketed in about 160 countries, Frito-Lay brands marketed in more than 40 and Tropicana brands in around 50 countries. BUSINESS MODEL According to Richard Goodman (2009), Pepsico has managed to device a successful business model which stresses importance on three key factors. Structural and operational advantages, successfully pilot the company through uncertain times and making strategic investments for future growth. Pepsico aims at meeting challenges and investing for the future by providing value to customers and consumers, having an excellent market strategy, investing in research and development and innovation. By achieving these factors, the company will be able to retain customers. The company also aims at effectively managing price gaps, bringing in global advances in beverage pack sizes, activating the consumer by holding contests, working out capital benefits for the customers as well as the consumers, control prices of products around the world market, appealing to local tastes, adapting to local customs thereby achieving healthy and consistent performance. GLOBAL VISIBILITY The global visibility of Pepsico can be observed from the sheer number of countries its products are consumed in. From the market share section above, it can be seen that Pepsi-cola brands are marketed in 160 countries, Frito-Lay brands marketed in more than 40 and Tropicana brands in around 50 countries. Although Pepsico is an American Multinational corporation, India and Europe are of two of its biggest markets outside of the United States. BUSINESS ALLIANCES Pepsico has formed partnerships with many products it does not own but in order to distribute and market them with its own products. Some of these products include, Starbucks iced coffee, Lipton original iced tea, Ben and Jerrys milkshake etcetera. Also some of Pepsicos business alliances include Pepsico Quaker Chewy teaming up with Afterschool Alliance and Miranda Cosgrove to Call Attention to the Importance of Afterschool Programs, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages and Ocean Spray Strategic Alliance to Include Additional Juice and Juice Drinks, Oxford Health  Alliance  and PepsiCo Foundation implemented Community Interventions etcetera. (Source: www.pepsico.com, date taken: 08/08/2010) COMPETITIOR ANALYSIS DIRECT COMPETITIORS The Coca-Cola Company As we all know, Coca-cola or Coke as it is popularly known, and Pepsi have been competing with each other since the longest possible times. Even as kids, we used to have advertisements on television showing us to choose one over the other. As the years pass by and as the companies seem to expand themselves more and more, their rivalry to attain market dominance seems to grow further more. According to Pat Watters (1978), the Coca-Cola Company is basically a non-alcoholic beverage producing company. It is also responsible for manufacturing, marketing and distributing concentrates and syrups which are used to produce these beverages. The Coca-Cola Company has their beverages sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. Their headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia. The company owns more than 500 brands of non-alcoholic beverages which primarily include sparkling beverages. But they also manufacture still beverages like enhanced waters, juices and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, and energy and sports drinks. Royal Crown Company, Inc The Royal-Crown Company, Inc is a 50 billion dollar company which manufactures and sells concentrates that are used in the production of soft-drinks. These soft-drinks are then sold locally and internationally to independent licensed bottlers. RC cola is the companys leading brand and is ranked as the third largest cola brands after Pepsi and Coke. Some of the other brands which the company owns are Diet RC Cola, Diet Rite Cola, Lockjaw, Upper 10 and kick. (Source: www.rccola.com, Date accessed: 09/08/2010) COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS GRID SWOT Analysis for PepsiCo: SWOT Analysis signifies the evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats possessed and faced by a particular company, organization or institution. According to Pahl, Richter (2009), SWOT Analysis is beneficial and a crucial tool for decision-making and figuring dependencies between a company and its environment since subjective opinions are replaced by proactive and constructive thinking. The SWOT Analysis for PepsiCo is as follows: 3.1. Strengths: PepsiCo has a strong brand reputation in the global market due to its presence of over 120 years. It has had a significantly increasing market share over the years due to the launch of new products like Pepsi Max and other ideas. (Bachmeier, 2009) Its place has been determined and positioned strongly with regard to profits, sales and customer loyalty due to its creativity and effectiveness. PepsiCo boasts of a strong product line with a variety and diverse range of products. It faces no cash deficit and hence has huge advertising budgets to strengthen its market position. 3.2. Weaknesses: PepsiCo depends largely on the US market for its revenues. According to Plunkett (2009), around 29% of PepsiCos total net revenue is derived only from PepsiCo Beverages North America and its total market revenue dependent on US alone exceeds 50%. This may prove to be detrimental in the constantly changing economic conditions. Some of the PepsiCo products lack uniformity in their brand names. Experts have cited health hazards in the consumption of PepsiCo products due to high fat and sugar contents. The image of PepsiCo has been at stake due to incidents like the exploding of Pepsi cans in 2007 followed by salmonella contamination in Pepsicos product Aunt Jemima pancake and waffle mix. (Clark, 2008) 3.3. Opportunities: PepsiCo has been working to broaden its product base substantially. In 2005, it bought General Mills stake of the largest European snack food firm Snack Ventures Europe. In addition, PepsiCo acquired the German juice maker Punica Getraenke. (Penzkofer, 2007) PepsiCo operates through its four subsidiaries PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), PepsiCo International (PI), Quaker Foods North America (QFNA) and Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) in almost 200 countries. (Penzkofer, 2007) With 153,000 employees, the company had total net revenue of $ 29,261 million in 2005 and was ranked at place 62 of the Fortune 500 Ranking of the largest companies in the United States. (Norton, Porter, 2010) PepsiCo has gradually been developing noncarbonated drinks and healthy products, attracting more customers. 3.4. Threats: PepsiCo faces considerable threats due to strong competitors like The Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group etcetera. Incidents like those of contaminations and pesticide residues found in PepsiCo products have caused substantial brand damage to the company, especially in large emerging markets like India. PepsiCo has been in a vulnerable position in the recent past due to labour problems. To illustrate, there was a month long strike at Frito-Lay India, a part of PepsiCo India Holdings Limited, beginning in August 2008 due to a dispute between the workers union and the company management. (Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/strike-at-pepsis-channo-plant-ends/363190/ , Date accessed: 12.08.2010) Stagnancy acts as a threat for the company since the food and beverages industry has reached its maturity and there are hardly any avenues that remain unexplored. PROPOSED BUSINESS, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE Business Strategy For future growth opportunities and profits, PepsiCo should try to carry out their business by introducing healthier products in the market. The company can achieve this by Reducing the calories in the food products so that the consumption can be a healthy one. The company can manipulate the market to control what people are eating and drinking. Healthy options should be made available to all The company should undergo a change from inside and transform their reputation as a manufacturer of healthy products which essentially gives nutritional value. In the years to come, the company should engage its business in providing fruits, vegetables and grains. The company as a whole should respond to the changing consumer needs. Using the latest science and encouraging positive nutrition is the need of the hour as the masses become health conscious day by day. The company needs to be reformulating itself and become innovative by making use of the next generation technology. The company can further merge itself with healthier brands of products. (Source: www.Pepsico.com, Date accessed: 10/08/2010) Information Systems and Information Technology Strategy Buckingham et al. (1987), defines an information system to be a system that can assemble, store, process and deliver information relevant to an organisation. This is done in a way that the information is available and useful to anyone who wants to use it, including managers, staff, clients and citizens. An information system is a human activity system which may or may not involve the use of computer systems. A good information system strategy according to Guy Fitzgerald (2002), for a huge consumer food products and beverages company like PepsiCo to carry out its business for future growth and profits would be: To precisely document the requirements necessary for a good information system: Here, the users should be able to specify their system requirements or the system developers should be able to investigate and analyse user requirements so that the information system will meet the needs of the users. Efficiently monitor the progress by providing an orderly method of development: For a huge company like PepsiCo, controlling its large-scale projects is not easy. If the projects fail to meet the deadline, they can have serious cost and other repercussions for the company. Providing check-points and specific stages should make sure that the project planning procedures are applied effectively. Provision for the companys information system should have a suitable time limit and an acceptable cost. The documentation of the system should be properly preserved and also the system should be easy to maintain: This is extremely important as in a company like Pepsico, modifications to the information systems is inevitable due to the amount of changes taking place in the company and its environment. The system should be able to make the best use of the techniques and tools that are already available. The system should be liked by the people who are affected with the system such as the company stakeholders. The stake holders of the company may include clients, managers, auditors and users. If the system is liked by them, it is most likely to be used and bring success to the company. A successful information system should also make effective use of information technology by using the available tools and techniques. An effective use of information technology would involve: All staff having standard desktop tools. They should have access to email, Internet and Intranet. IT infrastructure should be continuously upgraded as allowed by the companys resources and budget. Systems and networks at the companys head-quarters and in the field should be standardised and centrally managed. A centralised team should provide IT assistance to staff and a wide range of IT training. The company should make use ERP systems at the head-quarters. For information and knowledge management, the company should implement document management system. Making use of such business, information system and information technology strategies would help the company stay competitive in the market in the future. CONCLUSION

Roswell :: essays research papers

For fifty years the unexplained air craft wreckage found outside Roswell, New Mexico, has been in the center of on-going speculation about alien life forms and US Government and Military cover-ups. It is my personal belief that extraterrestrial bodies are present in this Universe and have landed on earth. There is more evidence pointing to the fact that there are aliens present in the universe as proved in this essay. Retired military officials will admit to there being extraterrestrials being present on earth. An excellent example of this is what happened in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. When the US Government and Military first found the wreckage of an unidentified aircraft they issued a press release stating that they had come into possession of an Unidentified Flying Object. The present US Government have passed the Roswell incident off as a closed case - their investigations declared the incident to be nothing more than a crashed weather balloon from the top secret Project Mogul and the alien bodies merely to be crash test dummies. This essay will argue the point that there is other life in the Universe and that the crash landing at Roswell in 1947, was an alien space craft and not a weather balloon. Leading up to the 'Roswell Incident' UFOs were spotted all over New Mexico and the mid-western coast line. On July 1 of 1947, an Unidentified Flying Object appeared on the radar screens of surrounding airforce bases. People also saw these objects in the skies that night and the next. On July 4 - Independence Day - radar screens showed an object pulsate then explode. Some archaeologists in the area were watching the sky and saw the aerial display as did a large number of the people living in the town. The archaeologists set out the next morning to look for the wreckage they saw fall to ground after the explosion. They reached the crash site about 10am and found wreckage scattered over a site three quarters of a mile long and two to three hundred feet wide. The archaeology team alerted authorities then peered into the rubble to find the bodies of five aliens (the number of aliens is debatable), four of them already dead but one still alive with a severe wound to the thigh. The witnesses are sure they saw aliens in the space ship, not crash dummies, and the wreckage was too advanced to be human technology. A number of witnesses who saw the crash site before the US Government intervened were interviewed and all gave comprehensive descriptions of the aliens and their flying craft.

Gender Representation Essay

How stereotypical are the representations of Gender in my chosen texts? My chosen texts are ‘The Inbetweeners’ , ‘X Factor’ and ‘BBC News’. All three texts represent gender in different ways yet I wouldnt say that any of them truly represent both genders in stereotypical ways. In ‘The Inbetweeners’ the main characters are portrayed in a very stereotypical way at first glance, they are boystrous and objectify women in the crude way in which they speak about them. Yet when you look deeper into their characters you realise that they are not typical at all. The females in the show are typical in a sense that they are pretty, well dressed and are purely there for the â€Å"male gaze.† It is this male gaze that ultimately makes them more powerful than the males in the series as they have the power to either sleep with, or not sleep with the males which takes all control away from the men which is not a typical trait. When you think of a typical male in tv they are strong, handsome and in control, this is not always evident in ‘The Inbetweeners’ which supports the masculinity in crisis theory which states that males are no longer the dominant sex in modern society. Women may be objectified still but they use their sex appeal to there advantage and get their own way leaving the males powerless. You do how ever have the very typical character of Jays dad which is a hyperbolic example of a male as he passes gas, swears and acts in a completely innaproriate way for the comedic value. The ‘X Factor’ has a very contrasting representation of gender. In one way the male characters are very stereotypical as they have the power to say yes or no to the acts as judges. Males are stereotypically known for being in a position of power so this is a typical representation. Yet you have Dermot O’leary who is very masculine in his appearance yet is very caring and sympathetic for the contestants. This is not typical as males arent usually shown to have a caring side or emotions as that is left for the women. This again supports the theory of masculinity in crisis. The Female Judges do not have a very typical representation. They are in a position of authority and power and to an extent in the new series do have more power than the male judges as they are more forceful and get their point across better. This is not typically the way women are represented fitting into the theory of Masculinity in crisis. The BBC news is very much like the ‘X Factor’. When the males are the anchors they are in a position of power and knowledge which is a typical representation. They appear to the nation as a pillar of knowledge and the public give them a vast amount of respect which is typical of the representation of men. When the women are anchors they too are looked upon as a pillar of knowledge and are given the same respect which does not fit into the typical representation of a female.

Effects of Viagra on Women and Female Sexuality

Effects of Viagra on Women and Female Sexuality When women go through menopause, the hormonal changes they experience often lead to a drop in libido and less interest in sex. Its nature taking its course - just another phase in the female life cycle. Its the way were built and programmed, biologically speaking. So what do we do about Viagra and the other ED (erectile dysfunction) drugs that are now commonplace and marketed directly to men in TV commercials and magazine ads? Its an important question to ponder because as every woman knows, it takes two to tango. Viagras impact on mens sex lives also impacts womens sex lives. Meika Loe has pondered this very question in her book, The Rise of Viagra: How the Little Blue Pill Changed Sex in America. And the answers shes uncovered are disturbing. Loe, who is Assistant Professor of Sociology Anthropology and Womens Studies at Colgate University, has also written extensively about sex and senior women. Viagra is marketed to aging men whose female counterparts are going through their own sexual crisis: menopause. These women want less sex but their partners now want more. Isnt this counter-intuitive? Doesnt this turn the bedroom into a battlefield at a time when women are already vulnerable (e.g., empty nest syndrome, feeling less attractive as we age, physical changes due to menopause including hair loss and weight gain, etc.) I recently visited my OB/GYN, and upon hearing about this research, she volunteered that many of her women patients have complained that Viagra has not helped their sex lives. The introduction of the pill has made sexuality, among other things, intercourse-focused and thus less satisfying. We hear this kind of thing over and over. My analysis of syndicated advice columns after Viagras debut in 1998 revealed many negative responses among women. Women writing to Dear Abby, for example, were either no longer interested in sex (and thus Viagra created new unwelcome pressure to be sexually active again), or fearing their husbands were having affairs in the context of their newfound sexual potency, and/or experiencing sometimes painful physiological effects of reigniting their sex lives later in life. It seems that Viagra raised quite a few questions for married women about marital obligation, for example. Then again, there were other letters that reflected excitement about husbands feeling healthy and confident after a period of impotence, so the response to Viagra in the population is quite complex. It would have been nice to see an explosion of people communicating about sexuality after Viagras release, but in our pill-for-everything culture, we tend to let the pill do the work and forget that it may not be an end-all be-all. Viagra tended to just exacerbate or throw light on already existing problems in relationships. It should be telling that at this point, almost 10 years after Viagras debut, only 50% of men who received prescriptions for Viagra end up refilling their prescriptions. Its not simply about a man being able to have pleasurable sex. Its also about power and dominance, virility despite aging. Its a way for men to deny that they are past their sexual peak. What are the long-term implications for a society that has Viagra in its drug arsenal? Viagra was the harbinger of things to come in the form of the pharmacology of aging and sexuality (sexual medicine is in expansion mode post-Viagra). All of this is due to a combination of, among other things, changing demographics (e.g. aging population), direct to consumer advertising/consumer-based medicine (Viagra being one of the first drugs to be advertised directly to the consumer) and pharmaceutical expansion. It is important to see that Viagras popularity fits in a particular cultural moment in our history, and there will be/have been plenty of other products to follow (including medications) that emphasize the holy triumvirate: youth, vitality, and performance. In short, as a sociologist, I see Viagra as a cultural product and thus a window onto our culture. It helps us see where we are when it comes to sexuality (and our ambivalence), gender (masculinity and sexual performance packaged together), medicine (quick-fix and lifestyle enhancement emphasis more than ever), and aging (we’re uncomfortable with it but do we all want to be 18 again?). Pfizer has helped to reinforce these traditional and not-so-traditional ideals with Viagra and it has been fascinating to see how successful they have been here and around the world with this youth, vitality, and performance-based message. Again, now that the initial curiosity factor has disappeared, it is unclear how successful sexual dysfunction medication really is. Viagra has spurred several like products – Cialis and Levitra. But the refill rate on all three is low. Viagra is certainly sociologically significant as it has highlighted many social problems in the way we do health and gender and sexuality in our society. Is Viagra Use Common Within the General Population? How does this affect behavior or alter men and womens sexual intimacy? It is difficult to find demographic information about who uses Viagra, but in internet chat rooms, doctors offices, pharmacies, etc. you find men of all ages interested in discussing the drug. We spoke with young men who had purchased Viagra out of insecurity- a just in case situation where they felt they had to live up to some social standard their first time and had purchased the pills (or borrowed them) to have some assurance of adequate performance. We also spoke with men in their 80s who felt like it gave them life again. Meika Loe, author of The Rise of Viagra: How the Little Blue Pill Changed Sex in America, acknowledges that Viagra and other ED (erectile dysfunction) drugs create additional pressure in the already complex sex lives of men and women. She also noted how it underscores the sexual ambivalence present in our society- our obsession and disgust with sex. Viagra use has a dark side. John Jamelske, the 67-year-old man who held a number of young women captive as sexual slaves in an underground bunker, took Viagra. Two toxicologists, Harold Milman and S.B. Arnold, have stated in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy that the drug has been suggested as a contributing factor in 22 cases involving aggression, 13 involving rape, and 6 involving murder. Clearly, Viagra is linked to violence against women. In the course of my research I found that Pfizer had consulted with quite a few experts about possible litigation down the line regarding Viagra. A pill for sexual potency can be a dangerous thing in a culture that is highly ambivalent about sexuality- both obsessed and disgusted with it at the same time. This sexual ambivalence is what we have inherited from the Puritans. It is one reason sexuality itself is so emotionally charged and controversial in this country (we see this in regards to sex education, advertising, reproductive politics, etc.). In the U.S. we seem to spend just as much time and effort on censoring sexuality as we do encouraging it, which makes for a very confused populace! We see this confusion in our bedrooms and in the society at large, and when Viagra is added to the mix it can highlight the issues we have with sexuality as a society. Speaking of sexual ambivalence... were a culture thats afraid to talk about sex with our children. So how is it that Viagra and ED drug commercials run during primetime and no one bats an eye? At least one Pfizer TV ad was pulled off the air (the one where the man gets devil horns after taking Viagra) but you’re right- it’s everywhere. Or it was for many years. Viagra racecars. Viagra ads during the Superbowl- and Janet Jackson got flack for showing a breast when during the commercial breaks, ads discussing penises and erections, and beer ads promoting sexuality like crazy were considered appropriate! Viagra was even posted over home base when Pfizer was the primary sponsor of pro baseball. Now we see Levitra and Cialis advertised just as often. It goes back to that Puritan ethic. We’re obsessed with sex and also offended by it- it’s a fine line. An African American woman’s breast crossed the line for some people. Sexuality in the context of medical dysfunction (complete with scientific imprimatuer and legitimacy) seems to pass. When we look at the way men and women use pharmaceutical interventions, men focus on performance (Viagra) and women focus on appearance (Botox). Or is this a gendered generalization? Sociologists would say that these are the values/characteristics we teach each sex to value most. Men are about what they DO, women are about how they LOOK. We reinforce this constantly in our society (just look at ads – men are generally depicted as active, women as body parts, or still lives, or close-ups). So it follows that our drug use maintains these gendered distinctions. What would you like to stress to women of every age about Viagra and womens sexuality? Living in the pharmaceutical era it sometimes seems easiest and most expedient to turn to medication to enhance our lives or fix our problems. However, we can’t forget to attend to ourselves, our relationships, and our lives. Many men found that while Viagra may have helped them physiologically (although for many it didn’t work or came with a host of scary side-effects), it was no solution to general sexual or life satisfaction. In some cases it actually exacerbated existing issues in peoples’ relationships or sense of self. Men and women are wonderfully complex and diverse creatures when it comes to sexuality AND in general. Simple solutions can end up oversimplifying- and doing us a disservice in the process.

effects of 2000 elections. essays

effects of 2000 elections. essays The Election that Turned on the Lightbulb in America The election process has finally ended, and out from the dust, a new president comes forward. Like an old Western movie, the battle between two foes has prompted a new method of handling the town's affairs. As a result of the election, the country will benefit enormously from the mistakes it had uncovered over the past month or so. We have found a new faith in our judicial system. As well as a new found respect for the slogan, "every vote counts." In addition, the media has been forced to change their approach on reporting the election. Thus, the country can only strive from overcoming adversity and gaining new knowledge. The judicial system emerged to be a fair and powerful force during the final days of the election fiasco. First, it gave a detailed lesson on the process of judicial review and constitutional laws, that in effect, gave the American people a sense of fairness and truth. The exchange of court battles from circuit courts, to appeal courts, to state supreme courts, to US Supreme Court, seemed to bring no end to the conflict in the state of Florida. Finally, with the constitution on their side, the Supreme Court of the United States made a decision that gave Americans a sigh of relief. It gave the right to decide the election in the hand of the people, and more precisely, to the secretary of state of Florida. The judicial system became the median between political parties that were at warfare. At times, the decisions made by the courts favored both George Bush and Al Gore. The election confirmed, our judicial branch was fair and not influenced by political belief. Consequently, the courts came out of this election as a father figure that is not bias nor weak. The voting process was affected heavily by the two thousand elections. Countless problems with ancient voting ballots and mac ...

Defense Weapons System (Abstract) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Defense Weapons System (Abstract) - Essay Example Early defense systems operated on a one-way identification mechanism, whereby the system classified approaching aircrafts as domestic or enemy. Presumably, the defense systems did not give additional information on the nature or degree of threat presented by an approaching aircraft. B-52 systems are likely to have remained relevant due to due to their flexibility. Their adaptability has facilitated key modifications aimed at enhancing the system’s monitoring capabilities. However, security experts are likely to be concerned with its capacity to detect modern aircrafts. In addition, experts are pessimistic about its identification mechanism and its flexibility in the current environment. In particular, will the system keep pace with the development of military hardware and aircrafts particularly the F series of fighter jets? Sustainability of the B-25 system will determine the United States’ potential as a military and political superpower of the modern

Fuel Prices Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fuel Prices - Statistics Project Example The mean price for regular unleaded gasoline in the US is $1.91/gallon, with a standard deviation of $0.17/gallon and a median of $1.86/gallon. Most of the state prices are distributed around the mean, except the outlier cases- Alaska ($2.51), California ($2.25) and Hawaii ($2.45). Without these three states, the standard deviation has a much lower value, and the normal-distribution curve is less spread out. Alaska has the highest state fuel price in the US- $0.60/gallon more than the mean price. The small demand-supply market, inefficient refineries, and lack of competition have kept the gas retail prices at a consistent high (Loy, â€Å"State begins inquiry into higher gas prices†). In California, a combination of unregulated refineries, low demand and difficulty in transportation has led to an increase in the gas prices (â€Å"Record high gasoline prices in California but relief may be in sight†). Hawaii is the most oil-dependent state in the nation, with more than 90 percent of its energy coming from imported oil. Being a tourist destination, the states economy is also extremely sensitive to global oil prices. Due to these factors, the cost of gas in Hawaii has also shot up in recent times (Song, â€Å"Gas Prices In Hawaii, California Hit $4†). The two fuel prices show a fairly strong linear correlation, with the diesel and premium unleaded gasoline prices varying proportionally. Most states form a single clustered group. The only anomalous points are for the states of California ($2.33, $2.43), and Nevada ($2.26, $2.40) and Washington ($2.40, $2.36). In these states, the prices of premium unleaded gasoline are higher than diesel prices by an average $0.09. The two outlier cases – though distributed about the linear regression line – have exceptionally high cost of both diesel and premium unleaded gasoline. The dependency of the two variables is still proportional (thus, these are not anomalous points), but the overall price

Finance and Accounting Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance and Accounting Homework - Essay Example Cost is a crucial aspect, and it facilitates realization of defined results in verifiable and objective amount. The matching of this accounting concept is usually facilitated in order to ensure that there is an accomplishment of radical goals within the depreciation expense parameters. Lump sum purchases should be treated in a way that plant’s asset useful life is well analyzed in a way that reflects all the revenues imperatively in the income statement (Tsuji & Fujibayashi, 2011). Purchases that the organization exercises should be subjected in going concern assumption. This is in order to ensure that there is attainment and realization of integral goals as per the laid down accounting and finance principles and policies in the organization. Revenue recognition principle in many scenarios usually limits an organization from reflecting on mechanisms of holding any asset from the plant. Cost principle should be differentiated in various ways in accordance to the equipments in t he organization (Tsuji & Fujibayashi, 2011). 2 Factoring is an important approach in every organization cash flow spheres. Company management can opt to sell all its accounts receivable to the third party at a discounted manner for the sake of exchanging money. The third party in this case is usually any financial institution or bank. The third party which purchases all accounts receivable has to remain significant and resourceful in order for all the transactions to be viable and beneficial. Receivable factoring has been posited as a simple commercial financing (Khazeh & Winder, 2006). When a company chooses a given option the management needs to articulate on analysis of the important factor. There are various factors that should be reviewed routinely accounts receivables. Accounts receivable needs to articulate on measures on how a company can convert cash on hand. Most business entrepreneurs have business ideas that turn accounts receivables into cash (Khazeh & Winder, 2006). Th ere are various types of reasons through which company implements receivables in its accounting books. Therefore, it is usually looked as an effective asset to investors and investors. Organizations articulate on ways through which accounts receivables can be converted into cash without causing problems to business progress. Organizations have been articulating on various types of conversion that are used for implemented balance sheet. Managers in these organizations always analyze receivables in comparison with small business owners (Khazeh & Winder, 2006). 3 A contingent liability has been a potential liability, and it wholly depends on a future event that occurs. In accounting and finance, a contingent liability and loss are usually recorded through the use of journal entry approach especially where contingency is estimated and probable. There are three examples of contingent liabilities known as the lawsuits that are filed against a company, warranty of the organization and guar antee of another party’s loan (Colquitt, McCullough & Sommer, 2011). Circumstances whereby a liability and also related contingency are possible (not probable) a journal entry for the event is usually not required. Disclosure is not required in this case scenario. In approaches whereby a contingent liability has been proved to be remote, both the disclosure and the journal are not required in the accounting activity. A

Bylli All’s Five Year Career Development Plan Essay Example for Free

Bylli All’s Five Year Career Development Plan Essay As I am currently the president and CEO of J-R Equipment, my career is where I always thought it would be. I was chosen by my mother to head this 50 year-old family business. My sole endeavor is to have it continue for another 50 years. More specifically, over the next five years my goal and base objective will be to rebuild J-R Equipment Rental into an efficient, consistently profitable organization which many families are supported with its growth. Heinz Weihrich (2007) writes, â€Å"Career plans are built on uncertainty; the future cannot be predicted with accuracy. Consequently, contingency plans based on alternative sets of assumptions should be prepared.† My personal plan will be an ongoing proactive plan with annual reassessments periodically (Wagner, 2010). My objective is to incorporate new technology and old fashioned know how to make ours the best rental company in the area. Goals and Objectives J-R Equipment will remain in our family for generations to come with proper management and development. The initial objective in any business is to be profitable. Years ago this company was run by a much larger staff, thus giving the opportunity of time to oversee things properly. This is my personal goal. When this plan is successfully put into practice, a sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that my mother made the correct choice will be satisfaction enough. I do not foresee my compensation or benefits package changing during or after this time. The following current specific goals and objectives are vital to the plan to be a success. This list cannot consider unknown or unforeseen actions. 1. Conduct a complete job analysis on each area within the company. 2. Construct a thorough job description for each job analysis. 3. Work to organize the jobs better to be done so that employees are making good use of their talents to better serve the company’s goals. 4. Review pay scales and update if warranted, this should be done annually. 5. Review benefits package, e.g. Health Insurance, IRA, Life Insurance 6. Annually update the Employee Handbook and new hire package. 7. Streamline the rental process so that customers can shorten the time they are required to spend in the office on paperwork. 8. Educate employees who will utilize the computer system’s available tools. 9. Work to make the equipment inventory more reliable in terms of contracts and status of equipment. 10. Update processes and protocols within the company. 11. Review our service call procedures and update as needed. Job Satisfaction and Attributes There is a great deal of satisfaction in a job well-done. Knowing that my efforts are useful and usable is more than adequate to me. The typical attributes of job satisfaction is motivation and productivity. When an employee is satisfied with his or her job the employee will almost naturally be excited and motivated, thus increasing productivity. I am no exception to this rule. Compensation and Benefits Currently my compensation and benefits are as high as they can be for the company. In the near future I plan to include a key individual life insurance plan to my list of benefits. This life insurance plan would pay the company as the beneficiary to offset costs pertaining to hiring and promoting individuals in the event of my death. Most organizations have at least one employee who is fundamental to the continued success of the business. It could be the owner, manager, or someone with a high level of experience, the loss or death of that person certainly would cause an upset both productively and financially to the company. This insurance benefit could be used to pay off debt, recruit new personnel, or any other useful tool needed to grow the business. Competencies For any business today and subsequently its managers to remain competitive, certain technologies must be utilized so that employees, management, and customers can communicate and conduct business in a simple yet proficient manner. Our computer system was upgraded just last year so I would believe that this system could easily carry us through this plan with regular updates. There are add-ons to the system that could be better utilized. In addition, certain competencies are required to fulfill the position of president and CEO in an effective manner. Competence defined is a gathering of functionality, involving skills, knowledge, and personal attributes, which, combined, establish successful achievement of activity (AdomaitienÄâ€", ZubrickienÄâ€", 2010). Adomaitiene and Zubrickiene also write that competencies and job experiences become a condition of personal clarity. The following competencies are required to grow as a manager/owner and thus have the company grow as well. An effective CEO must have the ability to understand, empathize, and assist in each area or department within the company to recognize its connection to other departments. I. Every employee has a role to play in the efficient function of the company, the awareness of each person and their role is a key component in success. II. A working knowledge of the company’s front office or rental software and its capabilities are vital to daily operations. III. A working knowledge of the back office systems and their functionality will prove essential for financial recommendations. Job Experiences Fortunately, my current experience level with each department is such that I feel as though I am a step ahead already in my plan. These experiences allow me the confidence to discuss any changes that may be initiated to improve the company. Continued access to the departments and their functions will help to keep my competencies up to date. Training and Education Training and education are an indispensable part of any plan’s success. The educational background I have will be sufficient to begin this process; however the complete plan will require additional education and a personal in-depth assessment of my own personal strengths, weaknesses, and a thorough knowledge of what items will need adjustment are the first necessary step. My education with University of Phoenix and continued work experience help to complete my understanding of the business process and the functionality of this knowledge. J-R Equipment’s Role J-R Equipment’s responsibility is simply to comply with the recommendations made. The department managers will prove essential in the process. Open forms of communication are crucial to the success of our plan and subsequently our company. Regular meetings will be held to mark the successful procession of the plan. Plan Timeline Year One:1.All job analyses and descriptions are complete. 2.Begin working with other managers to formulate ideas for streamlining. 3.Set schedules for employee training on the computer system. 4.Update Employee Handbook. 5.Begin inventory analysis with equipment not available for rental. Year Two:1.Reorganize employees to better suit their skills and talents. 2.Review pay scales of all employees to make certain current state legislation is upheld. 3.Begin review of benefits packages. 4.Continue gathering ideas for streamlining. 5.Revise/implement training schedules. 6.Update Employee Handbook. 7.Continue inventory analysis with spot check inventory reconciliation. Year Three:1.Complete review of benefits packages. 2.Update Employee Handbook and new hire package. 3.Continue inventory analysis. 4.Begin to put into effect ideas for streamlining the rental process. 5.Review pay scales of all employees Year Four:1.Update/review streamlining processes. 2.Update Employee Handbook and new hire package 3.Continue ongoing inventory analysis. 4.Review pay scales Year Five:1.All processes should be completed 2.Review new processes for functionality 3.Review needs for additional training. 4.Review pay scales and benefits packages 5.Update Employee handbook. 6.Formulate a Mentoring Program Mentoring A mentoring program can be formal or informal. The informal plans offer much more than the formal plans. Informal programs are more driven simply because both parties are motivated, and the relationship would be more relaxed and without boundaries (Chao, 2009). Formal programs are certainly more rigid, more structured, and more visible. Currently there is no formatted mentoring program in place even though I was mentored without even knowing it. I do however intend to formulate a program by the end of the five year period. This is largely dependent on employee and family growth within the business. There are several candidates currently that will be given the opportunity for experiential growth to a higher level of responsibility. The program itself will need to address the ever-changing working world and its part in an individual’s life (Patton, McIlveen, 2008). Conclusion A career development plan has been difficult to prepare. My career has almost always been J-R Equipment. I have been raised here and groomed for this business and am thankful for that education. I and my siblings were raised in this business, my children were raised in this business, and now my grandchildren are being raised here. I could not be more proud or motivated for our continued success. References AdomaitienÄâ€", J., ZubrickienÄâ€", I. (2010). Career Competences and Importance of Their Development in Planning of Career Perspective. Bridges / Tiltai, 53(4), 87-99. Chao, G. T. (2009). Formal mentoring: Lessons learned from past practice. Professional Psychology: Research And Practice, 40(3), 314-320. doi:10.1037/a0012658 Morgan, M. (2011). Building Personal Equity. Strategic Finance, 93(6), 16-61. Patton, W. (2009). Practice and Research in Career Counseling and Development— 2008. Career Development Quarterly, 58(2), 118. The Value of Key-Person Life Insurance. Retrieved from

The Product Life Cycle

The Product Life Cycle The  product life cycle  is an important concept in marketing.   It explains the stages a product goes through from when it was first thought of until it finally is removed from the market. All products does not reach this final stage.   Some continue to grow and others rise and fall.  So ,this is basically an idea of product life cycle. Product life-cycle management  (or  PLCM) is the succession of strategies used by business management as a product goes through its  life cycle . The situation or condition in which product is sold (advertising, saturation) keep changes over time  . Aim The aim of P.L.C. are to minimize time to market, improve product quality, minimize prototyping costs, identify potential sales opportunities and revenue contributions, and minimise worst impacts at end-of-life. To create successful new products the company must comprehend its customers, markets and competitors.so the company focus on these factors. DEFINITION All products have a particular life time, which is called the product life cycle. The life of time a product is on the market is highly dependent on its competition, technology and even the understanding of a companys marketing department. One of the best ways of extending a products life cycle is to regularly collect feedback from consumers, finding out what they need and want from a particular product. Genrally product life cycle has four stages which are as follows: Introduction Stage After a company develops a product and tests its feasible among consumers, the product is usually introduced to the market. This first part of a products existence is called the introduction stage. A company is usually trying to build both advertising and brand awareness of the product in the introduction stage. So thats why the company cost remain relatively high.. The first pricing strategy would be to enter the market with a high price in hopes of regain initial production and advertising costs.. Growth Stage The growth stage is when product sales start to grow exponentially, especially when the product is at high demand. At this stage, competition will grow as other companies create competitive products. The market leader or first company in the industry to create the product will usually maintain its starting price as the sales are incrementing obviously price is acceptable to cuctomer. Saturation Stage Competition will eventually start reaching a saturation point over time. Companies will for a position in the market to compete with the leading company. At this point, it will be difficult for new competitors to enter into the market. Some may even go out of business. Market saturation will eventually force companies to lower prices. It is during this stage that consumer research is extremely important. A company will want to determine what features, styles or flavors of the product in question consumers want so it can differentiate its product from competitors. A company may also discover that the consumers want additional products. Hence, the companys best strategy is to extend its product line to include these additional products. Declining Sales Stage Eventually, product sales will start declining unless a company finds new uses or markets for its product. The decline stage may be haste occurence by new technology that replaces the outdated product. For example, the computer eventually replaced the typewriter. The company may also cut back on advertising during the decline stage. For example, black and white televisions are still in existence but are not promoted. sld00311.jpg (749-463) BEN SHARMAN Ben Sherman is a globally recognised lifestyle brand. It has grown from its business beginnings in quality shirts in Brighton in 1963 and is now sold in 35 countries around the world. It has expanded into the USA, Europe, and Australasia. In 2004, Ben Sherman was acquired by the American-based company, Oxford Industries. This group is an international apparel design, sourcing and marketing Ben Shermans name has always been closely linked with the British music scene and with fashion. Its customers are young and at the forefront of style. Throughout the years high profile customers include musicians, models, actors and bands, such as Blur, Oasis and the Kaiser Chiefs. The growth of the brand can be traced through changes in musical taste and this is a key part of Ben Shermans marketing strategy. Ben Sherman has developed a balanced marketing mix. This is often referred to as the 4 Ps product, price, promotion and place. By getting the mix right, the company ensures that its products reach the market segments it is aiming the brand at. This approach helps the business remain competitive and extends its market share and influence. The marketing mix is like a cake recipe. Most cakes need the basic ingredients of eggs, flour, sugar and milk. However, a childs birthday cake will require a different recipe to a wedding cake. The key is to combine the ingredients to get the right cake for the right occasion. The marketing mix works in exactly the same way. The key ingredients of product, price, promotion and place are all necessary for the appropriate marketing of the product. Ben Sherman chooses the right combination of each element to satisfy different customers needs. PRODUCT Ben Sherman has to decide whether to create a product and then market it to target customers (product-orientated) or find out what the market wants and then provide it (market-orientated) To achieve both, the company produces a wide product range that appeals to all its target market segments. The range includes casual clothes, formal wear, denim, footwear and lifestyle accessories, such as underwear, watches, bags, belts and fragrances. .Product life cycle Ben Sherman uses major fashion shows to launch its collections to the press. The fashion year has two cycles the spring/summer season and the autumn/winter one. The fashion industry is highly competitive and fast-moving. Fashion products tend to have a short life cycle. This means the time between the launch of a product and the point at which that product is mature is very quick. Competition amongst fashion retailers forces businesses to refresh their ranges a number of times in a year. This topping up modifies the product as it reaches the maturity stage. The boost of a new product or style then extends the life of the range. Products need refreshing to avoid the dip in sales during the Saturation stage of the life cycle which could result in an early decline. The additions and changes help sales rise again, earning extra sales revenue and profit, as well as maintaining the Ben Sherman brand in the market. PRICE Ben Sherman has to assess which markets its products are aimed at and set a price to match.There are a number of pricing strategies that a business can use for its products including: cost based pricing where the selling price is set to cover the cost of manufacture. market orientated pricing. Market orientated pricing covers several different approaches: market penetration, where a new product is priced low to attract a high volume of sales market skimming where a new product has premium pricing to give high revenues whilst the product is unique in the market premium pricing, where there is a uniqueness and exclusiveness about the product so that it can command a high price economy pricing, which tends to be for no-frills, basic products where the cost of manufacture and marketing are kept to a minimumThe price of a product relates to its perceived value. Lower priced items will expect a higher volume of sales, whilst fewer sales of luxury products may achieve the same revenue through higher pricing. Low price brands often copy the market leaders and may be generic own brands, such as those produced by supermarket chains. The main purpose of price here is to indicate value for- money and such brands do not expect customers to show loyalty. Ben Sherman produces mostly medium-price range products. Its position in the market for clothing is shown on the product map diagram. The mix of product and price is clearly evident here. These brands are identifiable by their quality and style. PLACE This refers both to the places where Ben Sherman products may be bought and to the channels of distribution used to deliver the products to these places. Place is not always a physical building such as a retail outlet or shop, but includes any means by which the product is made available to the customer.A business has to balance getting enough of its products to its target customers against the problems or costs of distributing them. PROMOTION The purpose of promotion is to obtain and retain customers. It covers: above-the-line, which is using independent media to reach a wide audience easily, but over which the company may have limited control, for example, magazine advertising. This reaches a mass audience but can be hard to measure its impact. below-the-line, which uses media over which the business has control, for example, direct mailing. This type of promotion can be more cost-effective and give more measurable response rates. CONCLUSION Ben Sherman is a brand that appeals to the youth market. Its responsiveness to changing tastes in fashion and music throughout the last fifty years has provided it with a unique heritage of quality, personality and style. This has made Ben Sherman into a great British icon, reflecting British culture as it does business across the world. Whilst each element of the marketing mix is important in its own right, the right balance of the four elements is critical. MAGGI Different phases product life cycle of maggi Why  attanoodle  was  a  failure? Strategies taken to establish new productcategory What measures NIL should take to sustain theimage of a popular brand image. Stage at which maggiis in the product lifecycle. PRODUCT LIFE   CYCLE A concept that provides a way to trace thestages of a product ¶s acceptance, from itsintroduction (birth) to its  decline (death) INTRODUCTORY STAGE High failure rates No competition Frequent product modification Limited distribution High marketing and production costs Promotion focuses on awareness and  information Nestlà © India Ltd. (NIL), the  Indian subsidiary of the global FMCG major,Nestlà © SA, introduced the Maggibrand in India in 1982, with its launch of  Maggi2 Minute  Noodles, an instant  noodles product GROWTH STAGE Increasing rate  of sales Entrance of competitors Initial healthy profits Promotion emphasizes brand ads Prices normally fall Development costs are recovered 10 yrs back it  enjoyed around 50% market share in this  segment which was valued ataround 250 crores. . MATURITY STAGE Declining sales growth Saturated markets Extending product line Stylistic product changes Heavy promotions to dealers and consumers Prices and profits fall In  2003  Hindustan  Lever  Ltd  was all  set  to take on  Nestlesbestselling  Maggi2-minute noodles by launching a new category of liquid  snacks under it foodbrand, KnorrAnnapurna DECLINE STAGE Long-run drop in sales Large inventories of  unsold items Elimination of all non essentialmarketing expenses

Golden Rule and Environmentalism :: Environment Ecology Ecological Essays

Golden Rule and Environmentalism Intelligence, humor, simplicity, common sense, lack of philosophical jargon, perspective, wit, answer to questions. In the style of a popular scientist, not a philosopher, Stephen Jay Gould announces his view of an appropriate environmental ethic following the simple, but forever elegant, golden rule. "If we all treated others as we wish to be treated ourselves, then decency and stability would have to prevail"(216), he states. In the spirit of Karen Warren, Gould's perspective on environmentalism 'feels right' to me, as I can connect with acts of respect and benevolence towards humans and can easily extend that feeling to the rest of the earth (especially on a personal level where I see the golden rule as the basis for my religious beliefs). However, upon closer examination, I find the suggestion to 'just follow the golden rule' as an environmental ethic problematic when examined in a practical, non-idealized light. Harkening back to the problems encountered in previous discussions of biocentric and ecocentric ethics, I am troubled by the potential outcomes of an environmental ethic such as this. In searching for a practical example with which to apply the golden rule ethic, let's examine Martin Kreiger's example of what to do in the case of Niagara Falls. Kreiger discusses three options for managing the Falls which were devised by the International Joint Commission Fallscape committee: 1) converting the falls into a monument, i.e. spending money and resources to keep the falls the way they are now; 2) making the falls an event, i.e. allowing the falls to continue to evolve, monitoring for rockfalls, and 'selling' their occurrence to the public to watch; 3) treating the falls as a show, i.e. giving a director complete power and discretion over the amount of water flowing at a given time, the size of the pool, and the amount of debris, along with lights and music, of course. Where would the golden rule ethic lead us in deciding the appropriate action for Niagara Falls? The first question in trying to apply this ethic is, who determines how "we" would want to be treated so that it can be determined how Niagara Falls would want to be treated? Should 'the public', as Kreiger thinks, have the say in what happens to Niagara, and therefore, decide its fate? I don't think that the public is in an appropriate position to decide the fate of this, or many other, environmental entities.

Cost of Debt Bias

Debt is perpetual 2. probability of default is 6 in each period. The probability is the same in every period 3. If default occurs, bondholders receive p fraction of the face (principal) value f the bond plus accrued interest. 4. Bond is sold at par, i. e. , the bonds initial price equals its principal value. . If the bond does not default, the bondholders receive the promised coupon payment. 6. Discount rates are constant over time. At the start of each period in which the bond has yet to default, the bonds price must equal its initial price. Why? At the start of period 1, the bond promises to pay a perpetual series of interest payments and with a 6 probability of default and an a ecovery rate of p; at the start of period 100, if the bond never defaulted in the previous 99 periods, the bond promises to pay a perpetual series of interest payments and with a 6 probability of default and an a recovery rate of p.The same statement is true for any and all dates in the future. Thus, the pr ice will be the same at all dates in the future. Thus, if the bond does not default at the end of the period, at the end of a period, it is worth P + rYTM P; if the bond defaults at the end of a eriod, it is worth y(P + rYTM P).

Clinton vs Lazio essays

Clinton vs Lazio essays Many of the upcoming November elections this year create much friction and competition between the candidates. The New York State Senate race between Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio has proved to very close and heated. eEach candidate has strong views on issues and puts up a good debate about each one. Hillary Clinton is the Democrat and Rick Lazio is the Republican in this election. This is a very close race and the winner will determine many of New Yorks views on future issues. Hillary Clinton, never having a legislative record, has been the First Lady to the President for 8 years. Clinton has been a resident of New York State for only a few months previous to the time she began running for office. Clinton is challenged by her opponent because radio and television ads seem to turn the public against Clinton. This is an example of Lazio criticizing her because of his negatively directed ads towards Clinton. Because Clinton has never been involved in a legislature before, she has no voting record. This could prove to be a disadvantage for Clinton because voters cannot see what she has previously supported. Hillary has an advantage in the election because the New York Times endorsed her. Being the most prominent newspaper in New York, this is a sign of success as the last two politicians endorsed by the NYT have won their elections. Another disadvantage that Clinton has is that she is not a born New York citizen. She has been carpetbagging, or buyin g property in a state just so she can run for office in the state. Hillary takes a firm stand on many of the issues facing New York State and the Congress today. Hillary Clintons views on abortion are that she supports the Roe vs. Wade ruling. This act was passed in 1973 when the US Supreme Court legalized abortion. She would vote to ban late-term abortion, unless the mother or child was threatened by the birth. Clinton would reject Supreme Court ju...