The Privatization of Intelligence Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

The Privatization of Intelligence - Term Paper Example The conventional intelligence cycle is characterized as fragmented and Clark argues for a more conjoined intelligence cycle under what is described as a target-centric approach to intelligence collection and sharing. However, one of the significant post-9/11 changes made to the intelligence cycle was the outsourcing of intelligence to the private sector. The Department of Homeland Security explained that since 9/11 the DHS has enhanced private sector involvement for â€Å"facilitating more effective and rapid communication with key organizations† and as a means of â€Å"bolstering regionally-focused information sharing efforts†. Russell argues however, that the intelligence community remains fragmented in that a number of agencies are responsible for collecting intelligence. For example, the National Security Agency is responsible for intercepting and decoding â€Å"communications†; the National Geospatial-Intelligence is responsible for analysing satellite images; the Defense Intelligence Agency is responsible for running â€Å"military defense attachà © collection abroad;and the Department of State oversees the collection of information from diplomats abroad. Moreover, the CIA has its own collection functions and also recruits spies for the benefit of US security. Complicating matters,the different agencies within the intelligence community have a tendency to jealously guard their information. While putting a tight lid on information can be justified on the grounds that it is too sensitive to risk unauthorised leaks, often times, information â€Å"hoarding† is cultivated by â€Å"petty bureaucratic rivalries†.8 This is problematic since analysts are required to make informed assumptions on the basis of information received from all the various sources of intelligence.9 Intelligence that merely informs decision-makers of what is taking place abroad or at home has less intrinsic value than intelligence that informs of what might be happening.10 The outsourcing of intelligence functions to the private sector can only serve to further fragment the collection and

International Marketing Essay Example for Free

International Marketing Essay UK is one of the major centers for commerce and international business in the world. It is one country that has had to raise its economy through free trade and other business related portfolios. It later developed to principles of liberalization of international trade and investments in order for it to expand and grow especially in the 20th century. It has been able to attract large investments from multinational countries in order to meet the demand for the larger British population thereby minimizing unemployment rates. This paper will therefore examine the investment opportunities and challenges in UK (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006). Foreign investments Opportunities The UK has very many opportunities in terms of foreign investments. It is one of the fifth largest economies in the world and second in the European Union. The country’s capital, which is London, is considered a haven of investments especially in the financial sector. The country has a GDP of $ 2. 1 trillion and a GDP growth rate of 2 %. (2007 estimates). Most of the opportunities lie in the service sector (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) Industries UK has very many industries that can be invested in by any foreign country and the major ones are; agriculture, telecommunications, manufacture, fishing and tourism. The UK is one of the leading countries in agricultural exports and this is the main driving force for its economy. (Bailey, 1999) International trade statistics Major exports The dollar value for most of the export trading has been improving due to increase in demand for exports going by recent statistics on total exports from the UK. The trend however has been found to be fluctuating and that it depends on other factors such as; political stability, foreign policies etc. (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) The major exports the country has been undertaking are the agricultural produce; wheat, rice, maize and tea. In the manufacturing the sector, the country exports agricultural machinery such the tractors and its implements, food, tobacco, paper, printing, textiles, paper and publishing. In the service sector, the country has developed high-tech networks in the telecommunications industry. The leading company in this sector is Vodafone and it has also gone global in its service provision. Major imports The major imports that are imported to the country include automobiles, horticultural produce, tea, coffee, and oil. The dollar value for most of the imports is low as the demand for the products reduces in the country. The dollar value increases when oil products become scarce due to international demand. (Bailey, 1999) Balance of payments situation According to the Office of National statistics, the manufacturing industry accounted for approximately 19% of all the national output in UK last year and also made up to 16% of all the employment in the country. The British economy does not however depend entirely on this and it may decline in the next two to three decades. Other industries are coming up especially the service sectors with a view to balance payments situation in regard to treasury bills. (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) Exchange rates Exchange rates in the UK have been changing since the year 1999 and today, the exchange rates are way below the 0. 54 mark. This can be attributed to the changing events of the decade and globalization (Bailey, 1999). The following table shows the changing exchange rates-over the counter- for the Sterling pound, Euros and the dollars. Year ? /USD USD/? ?/EUR EUR/? 2005 ? 0. 5500 $1. 821 ? 0. 6842 â‚ ¬1. 463 2006 ? 0. 5426 $1. 859 ? 0. 6815 â‚ ¬1. 467 Source: Office for National Statistics, UK 2006 Trade restrictions 1. Embargoes Embargoes are political trade tools that are put by trading bodies or governments in order to support a justified peace process. Trade embargoes in the UK has been used to support either the EU or the UN in order to deny individuals the opportunity to use money from international trade in buying weapons of mass destruction. This will be used for the purpose of containing retrogressive countries the financial capability to use trading activities for insecurity purposes. Such countries which have been blacklisted by the UK include; Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. (Neid, 1988) 2. Quotas Tradable quotas are policy instruments aimed at restraining trade of certain commodities in the UK. Limiting the production or importation of non-environmentally friendly automobiles can reduce taking for example greenhouse gases. The UK has been able to meet its environmental objective through the implementation of quotas systems. (Neid, 1988) 3. Import taxes Import taxes are designed to protect local industries from international competitors who may be financially stronger than them. This strategy has been utilized by the UK in order to protect vulnerable sectors of its economy. Although it allows importation of textiles, the country charges high import taxes on all unprocessed hides and skins to protect its local industries. (Lawrence, 2002) 4. Tariffs Trade tariffs are the main hindrance to trading between two countries. These trade tariffs depend with policies formulated by individual countries concerning how the countries wish to conduct its trading. The United Kingdom has however developed a smooth and business free environment for most countries in Africa, Asia and the U. S. this has made investment more conducive for many multinational firms. (Neid, 1988) 5. Licensing Licensing is one of the techniques used to promote international trading. The UK has been able to utilize licensing agreements with other international firms to boost its trading. The country has also been able to license many international firms to operate in the country as a means of encouraging investments. (Lawrence, 2002) 6. Custom duties Custom duties are one of the main sources misunderstandings between countries due to the fact that they favor the home-based industries. Custom duties are usually employed by the government top curb influx of external products into the country. The UK has been able to utilize this remedy effectively especially in sectors which the government feels threatened such as energy, education, transport and manufacturing. (Bailey, 1999) Extend of economic activity not included in cash income transactions The extent, to which other economic activities which does not include cash income transactions, is not wide and especially that the economy is entirely dependent on two core industries. I. e. service and manufacturing. The rest which may not involve cash transactions. (Neid, 1988) Counter trades The UK has used counter trade strategies to improve their international presence in almost all its sectors. Counter trades function effectively when the trading countries agree on issues such as import duties, taxes and tariffs (Bailey, 1999). Labour force The UK labor force currently stands at 31 million going by 2007 statistics. Majority of this labor force are concentrated in the private sector and some of them in the public sector. Most of the employees in sectors such as the health sector may have been imported to the country to serve as nurse this has been caused by the worldwide shortage of the same. The unemployment rates in UK currently stand at 5. 4 %( 2007 estimates) most of whom are fresh graduates and the poorly educated young men and women in the country. (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) Inflation rates The inflation rate for the UK as at 31st December, 2006, was 2. 3% and a poverty rate of 17 % by then. The inflation however, fluctuates depending on the economic situation of the country (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) Developments in science and technology UK is one of the European counties which have invested heavily on innovation and technology. Almost all sectors of its economy are coping up with changes in technology. The country is using technology as means of out-competing its competitors in the manufacturing and service sectors. That is why most firms in the country are investing in research and development. The government has been able to utilize 5. 4 % of the GNP on RD in the last fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. The technological skills of the current labor force in the UK can be rated good depending on which sector one is referring to. With reasonable levels of literacy (79% at the moment), the country’s population can improve. (Office for National Statistics, UK 2006) Conclusion There is a team of science and technology promoters under the department of UK Trade and Investment whose role is to help firms realize their international potential through partnership support and knowledge transfer. It mainly enhances competitiveness of companies trading in the UK and also those involved in international trade. The UK has been able to attract high quality foreign direct investments through this department which offers guidance and direction including available opportunities and marketing. References Bailey, M.(1999): Exchange rate trends and trade performance; Waldwick Archive, Vol 12 Ferguson, N (2004): Empire, The rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global investments. Basic Books, Oxford, p 90 Lawrence H. (2002): Exchange rate between the United States dollar and forty other countries and its effects on investment, Macmillan, Washington. P 34-40 Neid H. (1988): Multinational investment strategies in British Isles, Routlegde, UK. P 122-131 Office for National Statistics (UK 2006): The Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. P 45-57

Women In Ballet Essay example -- essays research papers fc

Ballet is an art form born out of the expressionism and creativity of the Renaissance period (Kraus 63). From the first ballet performed in 1580 to the present, women have been portrayed as fragile and dependent on men. One such ballet is The Nutcracker in which the girl-heroine Clara relies on the Nutcracker to save her from the evil Mouse King. The first production of The Nutcracker was performed for critics, public figures, and members of high society and received lack luster reviews on December 17, 1892 (Anderson 40-52). The story opens in the parlor of a middle-class German family, the Stahlbaums, during a party on Christmas Eve. Excitement fills the air in anticipation of the night's festivities. The Stahlbaum children, shy Clara and her brother Fritz, are caught in the enchantment of the evening. Guests arrive and presents are exchanged; all this is a typical Christmas scene, until the magic begins. Drosselmeyer, Clara's godfather, arrives late with his nephew, a boy near Clara's age, and a nutcracker for Clara. Clara very much likes Drosselmeyer's charming and courteous nephew and is also fond of her strange new toy. With the last dance, the party is brought to an end. Clara, unable to sleep, creeps downstairs for one last look at her nutcracker. She falls asleep on the sofa holding the nutcracker in her arms. Clara is awakened to the peculiar sounds of scurrying and rustling. The Christmas tree lights have turned on again, as it grows bigger and bigger. All of the toys, including Clara's nutcracker, have come to life. Suddenly mice invade the room with intentions to rob and plunder. Under the leadership of the fearsome Mouse King, the mice begin to attack the dolls. The dolls retaliate under the leadership of the Nutcracker, but are unable to fight off their enemy. The Nutcracker, left unharmed, engages in a duel with the Mouse King. He appears to be losing when Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King. This distracts the Mouse King enabling the Nutcracker to deal a final blow to the Mouse King. The mice scatter, and the toys are saved. The Nutcracker thanks Clara and is transformed into Drosselmeyer's nephew. He takes Clara to the palace in the Land of Sweets ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy. Young Drosselmeyer impresses the Sugarplum Fairy with his tale of the night's adventure. As a reward, she promises the children ... ...l that even in Clara's own dream she is being lead by the Nutcracker. This helps further display the belief that a woman not only needs but also wants a man to tell her what to do. Despite being an outdated story for our modern times, The Nutcracker remains a holiday favorite. Some could not imagine Christmas time without watching the dance of the Sugarplum Fairy or the battle of the Mouse King and The Nutcracker. Maybe it is the beautiful dancing, the magical Christmas scenes, or the romantic story, but no matter what, is seems The Nutcracker is here to stay. Bibliography Anderson, Jack. The Nutcracker Ballet. New York: Mayflower Books, 1979. Balanchine, George. Balanchine's Complete Stories of the Great Ballets. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, 1954. Banes, Sally. Dancing Women: Female bodies on stage. London: Routledge, 1998. Guest, Ivor. The Romantic Ballet in Paris. Middleton: Wesleyan UP, 1966. Kirstein, Lincoln. Four Centuries of Ballet: Fifty Masterworks. New York: General Publishing, 1970. Kraus, Richard. History of Dance. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1969. "The Nutcracker." International Dictionary of Ballet. 1993

Individualism and Happiness

Pursuit of Happiness Happiness is not one thing; it means different things in different places, different societies, and different cultural contexts. There are multiple â€Å"pursuits of happiness†. It's impossible to define â€Å"happiness†. It's left to each of us to define what â€Å"happiness† is. Happiness cannot be achieved in minutes it comes from the pursuit of happiness, Working towards and achieving goals. Pursuit of happiness differs from person to person and from culture to culture. Diener and his colleagues (Diener et al. 2003) believe life evaluations are important to the quality of life in all societies because it is hard to imagine either a good life or a good society without a positive sense of SWB (positive psychology pg114). However, they argue that every culture has set values, and goals that people use to evaluate their happiness. Culture refers to beliefs, social norms, religious background, these characteristics shared by people in a place and time for everyday existence. Understanding the culture differences will allow you to understand the differences in of happiness.For the most part each culture has certain values and goals that are looked upon to be the acceptable norm for happiness and that is how happiness is measures. The media, parents, schools, peers influence the way people think, act, and feel towards a successful life. The general population that surrounds you influences people's ideas about the meaning of happiness and how to achieve it. Comparing the traditional American perspective on happiness with the traditional Asian perspective on happiness, by cultural and historical factors that contribute to happiness.Americans are individualistic culture which means the people are primary focus is that of themselves and their immediate families. In contrast to Asians, which are, collectivistic cultures, where the members are concerned more with the well being of the group rather then their own well-being. On a verage, people living in wealthy nations are happier than those living in less wealthy nations. The untied States is near the top of the income measure, 6th in life satisfaction. Japanese like and have high income, but only moderate in subjective well-being.China ranks very low on income measure and higher then Japanese in subjective well being measure. Over the past 25 years, history of international surveys have not changed the ranking have been quite stable. | Asia collectivist culture characteristics traits: * Each person is encouraged to be an active player in society, to do what is best for society as a whole rather than themselves. * The rights of families, communities, and the collective supersede those of the individual. * Rules promote unity, brotherhood, and selflessness. Working with others and cooperating is the norm; everyone supports each other. * As a community, family or nation more than as an individual. * United States Individualism cultures characteristics traits : * â€Å"I† identity. * Promotes individual goals, initiative and achievement. * Individual rights are seen as being the most important. Rules attempt to ensure self-importance and individualism. * Independence is valued; there is much less of a drive to help other citizens or communities than in collectivism. * Relying or being dependent on others is frequently seen as shameful. People are encouraged to do things on their own, to rely on themselves. * The stereotype of a ‘good person' in collectivist cultures is trustworthy, honest, generous, and sensitive, all characteristics that are helpful to people working in groups. In contrast, a ‘good person' in individualist cultures is more assertive and strong, characteristics helpful for competing. Asian members rate happiness and life satisfaction on the lower end of the scale. They do not think of their life as being happy or sad, satisfying or dissatisfying it just is what it is.Believing emotional feelings are te mporary they live in the now rather then wanting more for tomorrow. In Asian cultures, regard how others view you and necessary related to how they view themselves. Positive feelings occur when pleasing others, fulfilling social expectations. Achieving goals that enhance interdependence is directly related to happiness in collectivist cultures. For Americans positive feelings are strongly related to goal achievement. Achieving goals enhances our independence giving us a sense of pride and accomplishment.That feeling is important to Americans in reaching happiness promoting mutual trust and support in relationships is directly related to happiness and well being within the Asian culture. In individualistic cultures, a shared belief in the importance of feeling good about oneself promotes self-enhancement and social exchanges characterized by mutual approval and praise. Considering the wide ranging influence of culture on peoples feelings, thought, and behaviors (Markus ;amp; Kitayama , 1991), different types of persuasive messages may very well influence people differently in cultures as distinct as north America and east Asia.

Power Point Presentation (Submitted separately) Essay

Introduction Insolvency arises from a situation whereby a business organization has too many liabilities than its assets. This makes the business organization unable to pay its debts hence resulting to closure of the business and all its assets auctioned to pay its debts. Insolvency affects the economic growth rate of a country. Insolvency mostly arises from poor organizational performance in terms of profitability and poor cash management and leadership. Due to increased insolvencies, the economic growth of a country is reduced. The economic growth rate has effects on the population of a country (Ackelsberg and Arlow, 2005). If the economy of a country is down, it population is low due to lack of necessary resources to meet needs of its citizens satisfactorily and vice versa. Therefore, the management of business organization should ensure that their organizations are performing exceptionally well in order to contribute significantly to the economy of the country, directly and indirectly to the population growth in the country or region. 1.1 Statement identified in the case scenario and the main research questions For business organization to operate smoothly, they need sufficient resources. For the organization to acquire all the necessary resources it requires to meet its goals and objectives, it has source funds from different available sources of funds. Apart from the capital owned by the  business, a business organization borrows finance from banks and other financial creditors in order to finance its business operations effectively (Ackoff, 2003). The funds borrows are recorded as long term or short term loans depending on the repayment period. Insolvency arises whereby the business organization fails to pay its financial obligations with its lenders due to lack of sufficient funds to do so. Insolvency mostly arises from poor cash management within the organization, reduced forecasted cash inflow, increased cash expenses, continuous losses being made by the business organization and much more. In a country where its business organizations continuously become insolvent, the economy declines. A decline in the economy of such a country affects the population of the country significantly due to lack of employment leading to poor living standards and hygiene hence increasing death rates (Andersen, 2004). The rise of crimes also results from lack of employment opportunities and the high rate of crimes affects the population of the country indirectly. Therefore my main research question for this research project is, â€Å"Has there been a decrease in population in North Scotland in the past 12 months as a result of insolvencies?† This gave me a variety of research topics to choose from and they are: 1. The causes and effects of insolvency in a country. 2. Ways in which businesses become insolvent and how business insolvency can be avoided in future. 3. Population decrease as a result of insolvencies within a country. From the above three possible research topic, I chose, â€Å"Population decrease as a result of insolvencies within a country†, as the main research question. 1.2 Factors that contributed to the process of research project selection Importance of business organizations in a country Business organization performances affect the economy of a country either positively or negatively. Once the organizations are doing exceptionally well and achieving its goals and objectives, the economy of a country is raised. However, when the business organizations are continuously going bankrupt and insolvent due to insufficient funds, continuous losses and poor overall management, can affect the economy of a country negatively, and its decreases in terms of growth. The economy growth rate trend of a country has  effects on the population growth of the country (Andersen, 2005). If the economy growth rate decreases, the population rate of a country also decreases and vice versa. Social and economical factors are to be considered when writing up this research project as this will be dealing with the general public of Scotland and their economical status. Ethical issues I am fully aware of any ethical issues that may be involved in carrying out a research project. Privacy of the participants is of the utmost importance and is not to be disclosed to maintain the highest level of ethical integrity in regards to the research. Evans, G., Naim, M. and Towill, D. (1993, pp. 15-25), stated that when most people think of ethics (or morality), they think of rules to distinguish between good and evil, such as the Golden Rule (â€Å"Do unto others as we would have them do unto you†), Code of Ethics, such as the Hippocratic Oath (â€Å"First, do no harm†), a religious belief as the Ten Commandments (â€Å"Thou shall not kill †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ), or the wise words of Confucius aphorisms. This is the most common way to define â€Å"ethical† standards of operation that separates acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Most people learn the ethical standards at home, school, church or social settings. The same principle applies to research and enfo rces the highest level of ethical conduct in all phases of the research, including the interaction and confidentiality of the respondents. However I am not bound to such ethical issues as I have used only secondary data. Significance of the study This research study will enable the management of business organizations to understand the causes of business insolvency and ways to avoid going insolvent. This will assist in avoiding business organizations in a country from going insolvent since the management is aware of the appropriate methods to avoid such a scenario. The government of a country will be aware of the effects of business insolvencies on the population growth rate of the country. This will make the government to support business organizations within the country so that the economy of the country is not affected negatively leading to a stable population in the country. 1.3 Critical review of key references Insolvency Insolvency arises when business organizations fail to pay their debts (Covin, Slevin and Schulz, 2004). Business organizations have to raise sufficient funds necessary to carry out their operation smoothly by availing all the necessary resources and also to meet the business expansion requirements. The capital raised by the owners of large businesses is not enough to run the organization as expected towards its mission and vision since the business organization needs more and more funds as it grows (Ackoff, 2003). This forces the business organizations to borrow loans from creditors and they are expected to re-pay back the loans on the agreed time by both parties. These organization may incur continuous losses, experience increased cash expenses or poor management of cash thus making it difficult for them to repay the loans advanced to them. This leads to insolvency of the business organizations which in some cases may give rise to legal disputes. Population growth rate As the economy of a country keeps on growing, its population growth rate increases. Availability of employment opportunities raises the standards of living within a country and this decreases death rates that could have arisen from poor hygiene (Armstrong, 2004). Increased per capita incomes also improve the population growth rate of a country since there are available resources to feed citizens of a country and this causes families to multiply hence increasing the population growth. However, business insolvencies affect the economy of a country negatively. The economy growth rate increases due to lack of sufficient income in the economy hence affecting the population growth of a country (Chakravarthy, 2006). Lack of enough resources to feed citizens of a country limits the number of family members since there is lack of enough resources to feed large families. Poor living standards also arise and this increases the death rate within a country (Ackoff, 2003). The quality of services offered in local hospitals is also affected by the decline in economy of the country. 1.4 Research project specification Research objectives The main question of this study is to investigate if a decrease in population  has been experienced in North Scotland due to business insolvencies. Therefore the objectives of this study are; 1. To identify the trend in Scottish population in the past 2 years 2. To describe or explain the effects of population trend in relation to the decline of Scottish businesses 3. To determine the influence of population trend and Scottish business 4. To give recommendations according to the research findings Significance of the study 1. From the study, the management of business organizations may understand the reasons for insolvency and ways to avoid going insolvent. 2. The study may help the government of a county understand the importance of supporting business organizations in the country effectively. 3. The research study may be of great help to future researchers when conducting their own research studies. Research methodology Naturally, the research study that will be done will be descriptive. Descriptive research cannot fit in the description of quantitative or qualitative research methodologies but it can utilize both of them (Balestra, 2006). By being able to utilize both methodologies, I have a chance of achieving the objectives of this research exceptionally well by acquisition of necessary evidence for answering all the research questions appropriately. Research design The design of this research study will be descriptive in nature. It entails the process of gathering data so as to answer questions concerning the present status of the research study by answering such questions as who, where, what, when, why and how. Data analysis techniques Secondary data is sourced from textbooks, research journals, media sources and then vital information in relevance to the study is extracted. Raw data from primary sources is then collected and edited. The information is analyzed and interpreted using appropriate analytical tool to reveal the characteristics, nature and realtionship and then presented in form of pie charts and tables. 2.1 Matching resources to research questions of the study Data Collection Methods A data collection procedure was developed which checked the value of the ideas behind the research by using the internet search engine Google and available literature relevant to this topic. Snopes is an online source of information that is mostly assessed by researchers to obtain secondary data (Beard and Dess, 2009). Snopes was used in this study since it has been recommended by most researchers as the most reliable source. It was accessed in order to define the meaning of insolvencies and population growth rate. I obtained the population trend in North Scotland in the past two years from  journals. The relationship between the population growth of a country and business insolvencies will be obtained from primary data collected by other researchers. For example questionnaires distributed to 1,000 respondents in North Scotland and their feedback will be clearly and carefully analyzed through the appropriate analytical tools for reliable and valid conclusions and recommendations. These are data collected by previous researchers which seem to have some knowledge regarding the impact of decline of Scottish businesses. Data was collected from documents such as company annual reports and media reports, and government statistics data. Although primary information collected via interviews and questionnaires myself personally would have been more appropriate and help shape the findings into an authentic conclusion. But due to the time and financial limitations I only used secondary data sources for my research project. 2.2 Research methods that was used in the study The research was conducted as outlined in the time table above and all deadlines met on time. The type of research conducted is descriptive in nature. Secondary data was obtained from online sites such as Snopes, journals, books and magazines and Governmental records of statistics. 2.3 Recording data acquired in the process of the research study Response rate Previously researcher’s targeted one thousand respondents in North Scotland and all of them were given questionnaires to fill. From the 1,000 respondents, only 900 respondents filled the forms as required and returned them on the specified time. Figure 1: Actual response Source: Research data Personal details a. Gender Out of the 900 respondents who participated in the research study, 40% (360) were women and 60% (540) were men. Figure 2: Gender details Source: Research data b. Level of education From the study, 99 percent of the respondents who participated in the  research studies were literate and had certificates, diplomas, degrees and masters. Only one percent of the lacked documents to support their academic credentials since they never finished school due to family and financial problems. Figure 3: Illiteracy or literacy percentage Source: Research data Effects of insolvencies on population 90% percent of the respondents argued that business insolvencies decrease the population growth rate of a country. Business organizations need to perform exceptionally well for them to improve the economy of a country since they are the main players in the economic development of a country. Once a large number of business organizations, go insolvent, the economic growth of a country declines. Lack of employment opportunities, poor lining standards and high crime rates increase leading to decreased population growth rate in a country. This is due to the fact that the number of family members is limited due to lack of sufficient resources to feed large numbers and increased death rates arising from poor living standards (Barney, 2008). The remaining 9 percent of the respondents thought that business insolvencies have nothing to do with the population of a country. Figure 4: Business insolvency Vs. Population growth Source: Research data The population trend in North Scotland for the past two years The population in North Scotland in the year 2010 was approximately 1, 800, 000 million according to online reliable sources. However in the year 2012, the total population of North Scotland decreased significantly by 100,000 due to increased death rates according to research conducted in the same year. Figure 5: Population trend in North Scotland in 2010 and 2012 3.1 Evaluation method Both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods of evaluation were carried out throughout the process of this project. Data were collected and interpreted in the form of numbers as statistics were involved. This project also investigated certain behavior and lifestyle of people in order to find out the cause and effect process, which led to answering my main research question about decrease in population and insolvencies. 3.2 Research findings Businesses need adequate finances for them to operate smoothly. There are various sources of funds that a business organization can access to acquire the required finances to avail all necessary resources needed in the organization. the mostly accessed sources of funds is the selling of shares to the general public and potential investors and loans that are borrowed from banks and other financial institutions that offer loans to individuals and business organizations. The loans that are advanced to a business organization have to be repaid back in the specified period of time and amount. Once an organization fails to meet its debts in the agreed period of time, the organization is said to be going bankrupt and insolvent. The major reasons why businesses go insolvent is due to poor cash management, continuous losses, poor investments and poor overall management of the business organization. The population growth rate of Scotland generally in the pas t years has been improving signific antly. The approximate population of Scotland as per now is 5.3 million. This number is less due to the size of the country and although it much more than before. This shows that the economic development in the country is encouraging since the economy of a population plays a huge role in its population growth. Once the economy of a country is decreasing in its growth, the population of a country decreases  due to lack of sufficient resources to meet the needs of all the country’s citizens satisfactorily. Poor living standards are also experienced due to lack of sufficient resources to promote high quality health care, education and general living standards. This leads to increased deaths and reduced birth rates hence decreasing the size of the country as discovered from the research. From the research study, we can see that, the population of North Scotland was 1.8 million in the year 2010. According to available statistics, the insolvency rate in the country at that time was very low and businesses were running smoothly hence the economy of the country was steady. The population had increased by 200, 000 people in the same year compared to year 2009. This was due to the availability of sufficient resources to cater for all the needs of the residents of North Scotland satisfactorily. However, in the year 2011, the insolvency level in North Scotland started to increase. The number of businesses that were being closed down increased significantly and in the year 2012, a total of eighty two businesses had been closed down. This insolvency level lead to poor economic growth in the region since business organizations that were contributing effectively in the generation of income within the region were no more. This led to high unemployment level within the region, poor living standards, increased death rates and reduced birth rates. Some people migrated to other paths of the country to look for greener pasture. All this resulted to a decrease in population in the North region part of Scotland. 3.3 Recommendations Business organizations play an instrumental role in the economic growth of a country. The income generated by these organizations is what grows the economy of a country. Therefore, organizational managers should ensure that all the organization’s resources are effectively managed and the organization is meeting its goals and objectives in order to be in a good state of repaying back debts. This will make business organizations avoid becoming insolvent and instead contribute significantly towards the economic growth of a region or country. The government of a country should assist business operations within the country for them to continue improving the economy of a country. In this case the population growth of a country will not be affected since there will be sufficient resources to cater for  residents in the country. Health standards will be encouraging and crime rates will be low hence promoting the population growth in the country. This investigation has recognized fiv e drivers: Enterprise Investment Skills Innovation Competition This audit acknowledges the first of these, endeavour. The investigation draws on existing research and frameworks what is implied by big business, why it is a critical driver of development, what the potential measures/indicators of big business are and how the UK and Scottish economies perform. Where accessible, execution is contrasted with the ‘Curve of Prosperity’ and other little European nations sketched out in the Government Economic Strategy Venture is an essential driver of investment development and profit, and additionally impacts levels of enhancement and rivalry. Undertaking includes the formation of little organizations and the advancement of new thoughts (business endeavor) and additionally the development of existing organizations. The entrepreneurial environment in Scotland is generally favorable, and contrasts well and different nations. Nonetheless, Scotland confronts a testing in exploiting this and making an entrepreneurial society and new organizations. Start-up rates slack most other UK areas and numerous different nations, and in spite of the fact that Scottish mentality towards enterprise are sure and match those of the UK, Scots are more averse to change over this without hesitation. Access to back and an apprehension of disappointment may be purposes behind this. Various years of low rates of business development have left Scotland with a low business stock. Assuming that Scotland had the same number of organizations in respect to the population, GVA could be in the district of 30% higher. A low extent of organizations in Scotland show critical development – just about 5.5% expansion their turnover by more than  £400,000 over a three year period. Then again, there is little proof that Scotland’s execution is any more terrible than the UK overall – and Scotland may perform somewhat bett er. Access to additional powerful information however is obliged to completely evaluate the execution of organizations in Scotland contrasted  with different zones. Impediments to development recognized by organizations incorporate the impacts of rivalry in the business sector, business regulations and the general monetary atmosphere. Market disappointments incorporate data lacks and data asymmetries that can influence access to general data about business start-up and development and access money for a few organizations and new begins. All in all, Scotland’s issue in connection to big business does not have all the earmarks of being that our organizations are less development orientated than those in whatever is left of the UK, its that we don’t have enough organizations regard. Conclusion The rate of business insolvency affects the economic growth of a country. Business organizations have the right to select their preferred sources of capital. The most preferred sources are bank loans, selling of shares to the public and ploughing back earned [profits. Loans advanced to business organizations have to be repaid in the agreed period of time and amount. Once organizations fail to repay their debts due to lack of sufficient cash arising from poor cash management and continuous losses, they are said to be insolvent. Insolvency affects the economy of a country due to reduced number of business organizations to generate the required income. In North Scotland, a high number of business organizations became insolvent and this led to decline in economic growth in the population. Poor economic growth resulted to decline in the population growth of the region. This is due to high unemployment levels, increased crimes, poor living standards, reduced birth rates and increased death rates within the region. References Ackelsberg, R. and Arlow, P. 2005. â€Å"Contribution of small businesses to population growth†, long Range Planning, Vol. 18 No. 5, pp. 61-7. Ackoff, R.L. 2003. A comparison of population growth in Wales, Scotland and England:, New York, NY. Andersen, T.J. 2004. â€Å"The performance of Scotland Firms and contribution to its population growth, Vol. 33, pp. 184-200. Andersen, T.J. 2005. â€Å"the effects of business insolvencies on population growth in a region†, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 41 No. 8, pp. 1271-99. Armstrong, J.S. 2004 â€Å"The value of formal planning for strategic decisions: review of empirical research†, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 197-211. Balestra, P. 2006 â€Å"The concept of insolvency in business organizations†, J., Milgate, M. and Newman, P. (Eds), The New Palgrave: Econometrics, Macmillan, Basingstoke, pp. 70-4. Barney, J.B. 2008. â€Å"Firm financial position and sustained competitive advantage†, Journal of Management, Vol. 17, pp. 99-120. Beard, D.W. and Dess, G.G. 2009. â€Å"Industry profitability and firm performance: a preliminary analysis on the business insolvency question†, Academy of Management Proceedings, pp. 123-7. Chakravarthy, B.S. 2006 â€Å"Measuring financial performance†, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 7, pp. 437-58. Covin, J.G., Slevin, D.P. and Schulz, R.L. 2004. â€Å"Implementing strategic mission to avoid insolvency†, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 31, pp. 481-505.

To Impeach, or Not to Impeach essays

To Impeach, or Not to Impeach essays In recent weeks, everyone has doubtlessly heard of Governor Paul Pattons unfortunate series of events. Moral and ethical issues arise concerning his relationship with Tina Conner as well as the legal implications of his actions. Within this report, I hope to provide a general summation of the events that have transpired to bring about the current charges against our states leader. Both the Governor and Tina Conners account of what really happened will first be discussed without bias, however I will state my own opinions within this document. At the conclusion of this report, I hope the reader will be able to obtain a more educated opinion on this issue. We as citizens should strive to listen and learn before we speak. Kentucky Governor Paul Patton is facing three major federal and state investigations of whether he abused his official authority and has said he has no plans to resign, but could not envision running for the U.S. Senate in 2004. The Democratic governor has also said he is considering settling a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Tina Boyd Conner, with whom he has acknowledged having an affair. But he said he has not made any settlement offer. The Executive Branch Ethics Commission in Frankfort began its investigation of Patton in September of 2002. It will work with the FBI and Attorney General Ben Chandler's public corruption unit, which also have begun investigations. Conner wrote a letter to Patton in July, hinting that she was about to talk publicly about the affair. In the letter she said she sent the governor Conner said Patton put her "in situations involving group sex and other perversions that made me sick. "I went along with it to save my business ... I plan to come clean and let the chips fall where they may." Denis Fleming, Patton's general counsel, said the governor's staff had reviewed Patton's correspondence logs, but had not found any evidence of Conner's letter. Conn...

Changes in Canadas Military System

Changes in Canadas Military System Governments usually conduct experiments before coming up with new methods of harnessing military activities. These experiments involve real life scenarios and collection of statistical data. Learning experiments can be conducted using various theories including constructivist and learning theories.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Changes in Canada’s Military System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Recently, the Canadian Defense and Research Authority used the results of a statistical study to figure out the best way to conduct tactical operations (Grant, 2012). The study took six days and involved nineteen military officers. The results of the study were used to indentify skills that are important to military personnel. Moreover, the military was able to learn new ways to use the newly developed command and control software program. This paper will explore how the statistical results of this study were us ed to impact changes to Canada’s military system. Military command organizations also referred to as C2 units are in charge of providing directions to teams that have been deployed to the field. The success of a C2 organization is vital to the success of military operations. The operations system of command units keeps changing in line with technology and security requirements. This is why it is necessary for changes in the functionality of a C2 unit to be communicated fast. For instance, as the war in Iraq progressed, NATO command units kept updating their modes of operations. The purpose of this experiment was to transmit knowledge and to generate new useful information (Grant, 2012). This study was initially commissioned by the Canadian Department of National Defense. The study was specifically aimed at enhancing the fire support team during military operations. The experiment was conducted with the aim of refining the then ongoing Afghanistan campaign. Nineteen military o fficers of different ranks took part in the experiment. The experiment was code-named the Coalition Attack Guidance Experiment (CAGE).Advertising Looking for case study on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The results of CAGE were employed in several military operations. The first changes in military operations as a result of this experiment involved unscheduled missions. Unscheduled missions refer to events that occur haphazardly such as ambushes or evacuation of casualties. The results of this experiment are now used in unscheduled missions that require fire support. The results of the experiments revealed that a longer chain of command resulted in more failures during unscheduled missions (Grant, 2012). In addition, unscheduled military missions in future would be recorded in single entries. The experiment had revealed that making several entries regarding a single mission was ineffective. In addition, i t increased the chances for errors and the workload in unscheduled missions. Through the experiment, the Canadian Defense Authority was able to adapt a â€Å"Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (JADOCS)†. From this experiment, the military learnt a new way of logging information using a color-coded system. This system is used to complement the pre-existing voice system. The method is very effective in scenarios requiring rapid response. The results of this experiment are also used during battlefield briefing tasks. The graphs derived from the experiment revealed the best approach to a mission briefing. The mode of conducting a briefing is dependent on factors like priorities and enemy positions. Psychological research has often been used to come up with better ways of handling everyday scenarios (King, Rosopa Minium, 2011). In this case, an experiment conducted using the constructivist theory was used to come up with better ways of handling a military command system. Not all of the results in this experiment were helpful to the improvement of the military command system. However, the experiment offered some results that were of help to Canada’s defense force. The above demonstration is an example of an effective way to employ psychological experiments in formulating public policies. References Grant, C. (2012). A constructive approach to organizational learning in a tactical operations centre. PsychNology Journal, 10(1), 7 – 22.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Changes in Canada’s Military System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More King, M., Rosopa, J. Minium, W. (2011). Statistical Reasoning in the Behavioral  Sciences. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons.

Problem Solving and Data Analysis KeySAT MathConcepts

Problem Solving and Data Analysis KeySAT MathConcepts SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips SAT Math is divided intro three domains: Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math It's a good idea to get really familiar with what's going to be on the test, where it was derived, and what the SAT is really testing. This post will focus on one domain- Problem Solving and Data Analysis. This is an opportunity to get cozy with these concepts, and with the overall tapes of information that test-makers are looking for. Problem Solving and Data Analysis problems are all about applying your math knowledge to practical situations and looking at actual statistics instead of abstract, theoretical scenarios. Basic Information There are 17 questions in this domain (out of 58 total math questions). They aren't labeled or otherwise indicated on the test- you're never told which type of question you're working on. There are no Problem Solving and Data Analysis problems on the no-calculator section. You will always be permitted to use your approved calculator for questions from this domain- though you may not always need it. You will receive a subscore on a scale of 1-15 on this domain. There will be both multiple choice and grid-in questions. You'll be dealing with both single-step and multistep problems; sometimes, it's just a matter of reading the data and parroting it back, while other problems require a bit more manipulation of the numbers. General Concepts The test-makers want to know that you understand math thoroughly enough to use your skills in real-world settings. Quantitative reasoning is also crucial; you should be able to work with numbers and draw conclusions about what they imply. You’ll be working with a lot of numbers. Real-World Applications You should be able to build a representation of a problem. If a scenario is described to you, you should be able to model it mathematically by describing it with expressions and equations. You should know to consider the units involved. If there happens to be a shift of units (from feet to miles, or something like that), you should account for that as you calculate. You should keep track of the practical meaning of quantities. You're going to be representing real values with variables: don't forget what those variables represent. Also, be sure you understand how a change in one of these variables or quantities affects what's happening in the equation. For example, in a line ($y=mx+b$) with a positive slope (or value of $m$), increasing $x$ will also result in an increase in $y$. Data and Statistics There are a lot of graphs, charts, and tables that could be covered on the test. You should be capable of analyzing one-variable data in bar graphs, histograms, line graphs, and box-and-whisker plots- as well as two-variable data in scatterplots and two-way tables. In other words, you should be fluent in reading these various representations of data. You should be able to describe overall patterns. You'll have to identify positive and negative trends. You should be able to distinguish between linear and exponential growth. Specific Skills There are a number of skills that you'll want to be handy with on the day of the exam. In this section you'll find a discussion of these skills, including what they are and what they look like in action. In fact, let’s hope these skills aren’t all that new! Statistical Analysis The measures of center are arithmetic mean (average) and median. If they can't be calculated from what's given, you may still need to draw some conclusions about them. Even if you can't find the actual number, there may be a question about what possible values are, or how the values compare to another set of data. Outliers typically affect the mean, but not the median. The measure of spread to know is standard deviation. You've got to have the basic theory, but you won't need to calculate the exact value. You should be able to look at two sets of data and see which set is more spread out- that is, which has the greater standard deviation. Insofar as the precision of estimates is concerned, everything depends on the variability of the data and the sample size; smaller variability combined with a larger sample size makes for estimates that are more precise in terms of the actual population. Another tidbit of interest you should know is that randomization combats bias. You should, in context, be able to work with margins of error, which are affected by sample size and standard deviation. Confidence intervals should also be taken into account. The SAT always works with confidence intervals of 95%. This doesn’t mean that 95% of the population is necessarily described by the figure that’s been derived, just that we can be 95% certain that the descriptive figure that’s been reached is accurate. When analyzing the relationship between two variables, remember, correlation is not causation. If subjects for a sample are selected randomly, we can generalize to the entire population reasonably well. If subjects are randomly assigned to test groups, we can reasonably speculate about cause and effect. Otherwise, though, we’re out of luck. You should also be able to evaluate reports to make inferences, justify conclusions, and determine the appropriateness of data collection methods. Take a look at this problem: The correct answer here is (C). We know that removing one very high number from the set is not going to affect the median- the middle three values are all 12, so we know the median will still be 12, even if the middle of the data is shifted over one. The mean will shift somewhat if we don’t include the 24-inch measurement, but there are 20 other data points that anchor the mean at a relatively consistent value if any one value is removed. The range, however, will change from $24-8=16$ to $16-8=8$. The range gets cut in half if we remove the 24-inch measurement! That’s the measure that will change the most. Mathematical Models The domain of the SAT that we’re examining gives special attention to mathematical models. You must, therefore, be able to create and use a model. When two variables are presented in a graph, table, or other chart, you should be handy with analyzing and drawing conclusions with regards to the relationship between these variables. Relationships between variables can be modeled by functions, but remember the function is only a model! It may give scientifically accurate predictions, or it may just describe a general trend. You may be asked whether a model is good, acceptable, or entirely inappropriate. Let’s look at this problem: The geologist in the question provides a model regarding the country’s beach erosion. According to that model, beaches erode at a rate of 1.5 feet per year. 21 feet of erosion would therefore take 14 years, as $14(1.5)=21$. The functions you’re asked to work with may be linear, quadratic, and/or exponential. Linear and exponential are discussed in more detail below. Linear An important example of linear growth is simple interest, where you earn interest on your principal, each period, but not on any interest that has been added since that first deposit. This is modeled by the function: $A = P(1+rt)$. $P$ is the principal, $r$ is the interest rate, and $t$ is the amount of time interest has been accruing. Exponential An important example of exponential growth is compound interest, where you earn interest on the interest you’ve previously earned. This is modeled by the function: $A = P (1+r/n)^{nt}$, where $P$ is the principal, $r$ is the interest rate (typically annual), $n$ is the number of times the interest compounds per period (typically a year), and $t$ is the amount of time that has passed since the principal began accruing interest. Be careful! The stated rate of change may not be the same as the rate of change over time. This is typical of compound interest: You might take a loan at 9%, but if it compounds monthly, you’re really taking a loan at $(1+.09/12)^12 – 1 = 9.38%$ at the end of the year. On the other hand, you might make a deposit that accrues interest at a rate of 5%, but it compounds quarterly, so you’re really getting $(1+.05/4)^4 – 1 = 5.095%$ at the end of the year. Math and money are very closely linked. Ratios, Proportions, Units, and Percentages You’ll need to be familiar with direct proportionality/variation: $y = kx$, where $k$ is a unitless constant of proportion. This relationship may also be expressed as $x_1/y_1 = x_2/y_2$. You’ll need to know how percent increase and percent decrease work. Be careful about how you approach these problems; they can get a little tricky. Remember, for instance, that if you have a 20%-off coupon for an item that’s on a 20%-off sale, you won’t save 40%. You’ll save 36%, as you’ll pay 80% of 80% of the original price: $x(.8)(.8) = (.64)x = x - (.36)x$. Take a look at this pair of problems: This is the sort of situation where you’re asked to deal with quantities in very practical terms. These aren’t just numbers floating in and out of an abstract function; no, these numbers represent that annual budget, in thousands of dollars, for each of six different state programs in Kansas from 2007 to 2010. The first problem is asking for the approximate average rate of change in the annual budget for agriculture/natural resources in Kansas from 2008 to 2010. From 2008 to 2009, the budget grew by 127,099 thousands of dollars, or $127,099,000. From 2009 to 2010, the budget grew by 2,299 thousands of dollars, or $2,299,000. Thus, we add those two figures together, divide by two, and find that the average growth was $64,699,000, or, when rounding, (B). For the next problem, we are comparing the 2007-budget-to-2010-budget ratios across the various programs. We will first need to find those ratios: Agriculture/natural resources - $373,904/488,106=.766$ Education- $2,164,607/3,008,036=.7196$ Highways and transportation- $1,468,482/1,773,893=.8278$ Public safety- $263,463/464,233=.5675$ Out of these, the closest to human resources ($4,051,050/5,921,379=.6841$), is (B). Probability Two events are independent if one happening has nothing to do with another, like the sun shining and you eating a sandwich for lunch. The sun may shine, and you may eat a sandwich for lunch, but one does not cause or prevent the other. Two events are mutually exclusive if they cannot both occur, like me wearing a hat and me not wearing a hat. I can’t do both. For independent, non-mutually exclusive events: P(A and B) = P(A)*P(B), whereas P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A and B). For mutually exclusive events: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B). There are other formulas for more complicated scenarios, but these will get you pretty far - they’re all you should need on the SAT. Let’s take a look at this problem: Twenty-five people passed the bar exam; of these, seven did not take the review course. So, the probability that the interviewed person in question did not take the bar exam is 7/25, or (B). Math and gambling are closely linked, too. It’s all about that probability. Conclusion This domain of the test is calculation-heavy, although there are some theoretical questions. These questions compose almost a third of the test. They cover, roughly: Statistical analysis Proportions Probability Modeling Real-world data Your answers will be scored to yield one of three subscores for the Math section. What’s Next? That was a fair amount of information. Digest it a little; then, a great next stop would be perusing our overall guide to SAT Math, including directions to a number of other great posts. Now, because Problem Solving and Data Analysis problems are so information-heavy, you may wish to practice with some word problems, to get used to that much verbal data being thrown your way. As you’re trying these practice problems, you’ll want to know how to use them to your best advantage. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

International Business management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Business management - Essay Example Here once this has been identified, details of the best market entry method are then discussed. As in the case of any market entry method, there are a number of possible issues that will be encountered. Hence these issues and problems are further discussed along with providing strategies to overcome these issues and problems. On the whole the paper will detail a market entry plan for a company. The chosen company here is Primark. Firstly it is crucial to gain a clear overview of the company. Primark has been known throughout the country for the excellent quality of the products and the low prices for the clothing. Primark was started way back in 1969 under the name of Penneys in Ireland. The company has worked its way up and has been able known for the continuing success. The company has grown from a simple first store Penneys in Ireland to the latest flagship store in Liverpool. The company showed immense success in the first year of its beginning and by the end of the third year of its incorporation, the company had as many as sixteen stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland (Primark, 2010). As years passed the company went on to move into Great Britain. The company had started as many as 18 stores in Ireland by 1973 and now had started as many as four out – of – town stores. Within the next year, the company has been noted to have started as many as 22 stores each in Ireland and Britain. Later in 1984, the company was known for the multiple acquisitions t hat took place. Primark had acquitted as many as five Woolworth stores. With years to come there were further expansions of the company and Primark showed immense ability and success. The company has been well received within the country. Entering international markets requires high level of strategy and planning. With the increasing levels of technological innovation helps create markets for new products and services. A mode of entry into foreign or international markets is the normally referred to the

S.W.O.T. Analysis of Maaco Auto Body & Painting Research Paper

S.W.O.T. Analysis of Maaco Auto Body & Painting - Research Paper Example Experts in franchising have recognized MAACO for its overall excellence, growth potential and helpful support systems for store operators† (MAACCO: About MACCO, par. 2). The positive image of the company contributes to the increase in outlets and clientele since its inception. Gaebler Ventures aptly describes MAACO as a winning retail operation with extraordinary brand recognition, no national competition, and about a 47% U.S. market share. Maaco is more than a franchise opportunity. It is a proven system that provides continuous support and training to position you to grow a prosperous business. With Maaco, you receive expert assistance, so you never feel alone† (Gaebler, par. 1). The competitive advantage of the company is manifested through leadership in the automotive repair industry. According to IBIS World, the nature of the work for auto body shops in the US encompasses repairing the interior and the body of passenger cars, trucks, vans and trailers. These firms also carry out customization work on the interior and body of vehicles. Some firms specialize in certain auto repairs; for example, paint shops specialize in post-collision paint jobs, while automotive glass shops replace, repair and tint windows. Restoration shops, which typically represent a niche market, are involved in restoring classic and antique cars† (IBIS, par. 10). In this regard, this essay aims to proffer a SWOT analysis of MAACO, by reviewing the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), to explore its competitive advantage in their field of operations.... Strengths MAACO was recently ranked by AllStar Franchise as an organization worthy to be included in its AllStar list due to its strengths in terms of longevity which is likewise tantamount to years of experience in their business. As revealed by All Business, â€Å"the company has ranked high in financial strength for two consecutive years, and this year its Web visibility improved significantly (from #202 to #106). Maaco offers a conversion program to turn independent auto body shops into Maaco franchises, which is appealing to many independents in a tough economy. Parent company Driven Brands, which owns several automotive-related franchise companies, also has a Dealership Jump Start program that converts car dealerships to Maaco centers† (All Business, pars. 2 & 3). From its 149 AllStar ranking in 2010, the rank improved to 84 in 2011 proving that MAACO continues to utilize its internal resources effectively and efficiently. It boasts of according customers a price for rep airs which is 33% less than those quoted and charged by other repair shops (MAACO: Home, par. 1). As revealed by White, â€Å"in 2011, MAACO was ranked #1 in class by Entrepreneur Magazine† (par. 4). The unique franchising strategy entices investors to open new shops due to the financial prospects and the number of clientele who continue to patronize MAACO auto body shops. Further, Gross revealed that various customers in Canada expressed their content and satisfaction from the services provided by MAACO. Gross averred that â€Å"Maaco is the collision shop that paints cars. We do it all, and just as importantly, give you much more Value than anyone else can. By bringing your car to Maaco, North America's Bodyshop, you benefit from our encounter, buying power,

Restate Goals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Restate Goals - Essay Example Strategic goals and objectives involve a twin accomplishment: accomplish strategy formulation and strategy implementation in order to accomplish a connection between the firm and its environment. This is why strategy content, environmental scanning and corporate social responsibility. The manager must decide who are his good competitors and who are his bad competitors in the specific industry circumstances in which he competes. A key part of this policy-making process is the skill at predicting what his competitors are doing. Prediction is a vital practice because competitors, both good and bad, are not standing still. Management has a continuing and virtually inexhaustible obligation to its shareholders to increase the residual value of the corporation, rather than to increase the wealth of any other group of stakeholders, and that is the fundamental difference between the claims of other stakeholders and the claims of the shareholders to the board's decisions. Management's duty to the other stakeholders is finite, defined by contract, the law of torts, or governmental rules, and needs simply to be satisfied (Campbell 1997). Corporate goals and objectives are closely connected with organizational development embracing a wide range of intervention strategies into the social processes of an organization and involve the application of organizational behavior. Questions for discussion and training exercise: 1. Examine goals and objectives of each company. Name advantages and disadvantages of these strategies. 2. Image you are a CEO of the company. How can you restate corporate goals and objectives identified by three companies Why do you make these changes 3. Your task is to plan organizational performance according to goals and objectives. (a) Is it easy to plan organizational development strategies using these goals and objectives Explain. (b) Identify the main areas of growth and development using companies' corporate goals and objectives. Discussion Section Three organizations selected for analysis are the Alaska Railroad, HP and Nestle. These companies were selected for analysis because the yare global leaders in their industries operating of the global scale. Question: What do you know about these companies Can you identify the main similarities and differences between these giants Nestle, a leader in food industry, has the following corporate goals and objectives: " Nestl's corporate objective is to be the world's largest and best branded food manufacturer, whilst ensuring that the Nestl name is synonymous with products of the highest quality" (Nestle Corporate Objectives 2007)

Piracy in the internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Piracy in the internet - Essay Example The question here is how the piracy on the internethad affected the economy? While the internet has become a useful resource over the years, piracy on the internet has had a huge impact on the economy. (Thesis) As internet is a renowned medium of communication, it is a viable platform for such illegal activities. And this popularity of internet has led to an increase in the piracy activity. A person who is engaged in the process of piracy can do all his/her activity on the internet including the advertising and sales of the product. Piracy on the internet is a significant criminal problem because of the easiness of performing it, even over a long distance. Generally speaking, the foremost piracy was done on digital music files, and this has caused much damage to the artists and music industry. Apart from this, movie industry is also a victim of piracy on the internet, and this has negatively affected the economies of many countries. II.Online Piracy : An enormous economic problem Pir acy on the internet is a significant economic problem which affects different sectors of the U.S. economy. Piracy is the theft of music, movies, videogames and software. The infringement on the copy right of these entertainment medium can affect the U.S economy on a large scale. There is a huge cast working behind the entertainment industry, and they are recording artists, songwriters, computer technicians, audio engineers, marketing experts, producers, publishers and other creative experts. Internet users, downloading illegally one or two songs or movies, may not show any negative impact on the entertainment industry, but when millions of people do the same, it causes billion dollar loss on entertainment world. When no compensation is allotted to the creative people in the entertainment industry, the effect is devastating. The problem of online piracy is not negligible and is a big enough issue to ignore. It does not only violate copyright and patency, but also steals revenue from creative people working in different fields on a business arena. The American intelligent property business provides high paying employment to many individuals, and infringement on intellectual property steals them off their wages. Loss of American jobs also is another adverse effect of internet piracy. The online theft of intellectual property cannot be considered something different from stealing of products from a retail store. So, the piracy on the internet makes it mandatory for the U.S. legislation to enforce law on the illegal internet pirates. In order to understand the negative effects of internet piracy, it is necessary to scrutinize every aspect of it deeply. A. Online piracy and U.S. economy The piracy on the internet has a tremendous impact on the economy of any country as it is a business which can be done with great aspect of anonymity. Any person or organization can indulge in piracy as internet is a business platform which allows people to conduct commercial activit y under the cover. The piracy is done on music, movies, software and e-books which indicates the amount of damage it can cause to the entertainment industry and other commercial organizations. According to Sprigman and Raustiala (1), â€Å"online piracy is an enormous problem that costs the United States economy about 200 to 250 billion dollars every year†. The piracy on the internet has caused many problems to the American economy, which sometimes can be difficult to gauge. It is the

Proposition paper on an ethical in Communication, possibly misogyny in Essay

Proposition paper on an ethical in Communication, possibly misogyny in rap lyrics but topic is flexible - Essay Example This can discourage individuals to communicate unethically. A result will be a more consistent communication in the organization that will give fewer problems. Media of social communication is generally said to develop good or evil communication in people. We might blame media for unethical communication in the society but one should understand that media is not a blind force of nature which is out of human control. But people have to choose if they want to adopt bright side of it or darker. Professional communicators should promote development and enforcement of ethical codes of communication for their profession, public representatives should provide them full support in doing that. Religious bodies and other cultural groups should also be a part of this effort. Communication ethics are known to be cultural specific. What is considered ethical communication in one culture may be considered unethical in another (Chiu, 2003). Because of globalization, individuals from different parts of the world may come together to work in an organization. Values, communication and culture help determine individual behavior. Thus, there are very different interpretations of what sort of communication is ethical or unethical in a given situation. Each individual have their own communication skills and the perception of what is right and ‘wrong’ way of communication may be different Our approach towards means of communication has to be fundamentally positive and encouraging. We should not just simply stand in judgment and start condemning; rather, we should support those professionals who are involved in communication and set out positive principles in their work. Schools and colleges can provide ethical communication education and that will help students to understand how to identify and deal with communication issues (Kreitner and Kinichi, 2001). Teachers can be sent to seminars, workshops and video training sessions to learn about ethical communication issues so

The Influence of My Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Influence of My Life - Essay Example The person who has had the greatest influence on my life is my Mother. She has been a constant motivating force, always challenging me in a loving way to reach higher, and to love and honor myself. She has taught me the importance of education and the joy that cultivating a passion for reading can bring to my life. My mother has frequently stressed over the years the importance of setting personal goals for myself. My parents divorced when I was a toddler, leaving her a single parent. I watched as she struggled to care for me and learned from her unwavering dedication to raising me well. As tired as she was from her long or stressful days, she never once neglected to check my homework, nor did she miss an opportunity to help me learn a lesson. My two favorite memories from childhood are of dinnertime and bedtime. During dinnertime we would rehash our day, and my mother would offer me praise and encouragement for my accomplishments, or would challenge me and offer direction when I had come up short in some way. At bedtime we would select a book to read and we would lose ourselves together in its pages. My grandmother has also motivated me throughout my life. She, more than anyone else, has been the source of my strength. My grandma took my love of history and used it as a tool to mold, teach and direct me through life, which helped me become the person I am today.

Proposition paper on an ethical in Communication, possibly misogyny in Essay

Proposition paper on an ethical in Communication, possibly misogyny in rap lyrics but topic is flexible - Essay Example This can discourage individuals to communicate unethically. A result will be a more consistent communication in the organization that will give fewer problems. Media of social communication is generally said to develop good or evil communication in people. We might blame media for unethical communication in the society but one should understand that media is not a blind force of nature which is out of human control. But people have to choose if they want to adopt bright side of it or darker. Professional communicators should promote development and enforcement of ethical codes of communication for their profession, public representatives should provide them full support in doing that. Religious bodies and other cultural groups should also be a part of this effort. Communication ethics are known to be cultural specific. What is considered ethical communication in one culture may be considered unethical in another (Chiu, 2003). Because of globalization, individuals from different parts of the world may come together to work in an organization. Values, communication and culture help determine individual behavior. Thus, there are very different interpretations of what sort of communication is ethical or unethical in a given situation. Each individual have their own communication skills and the perception of what is right and ‘wrong’ way of communication may be different Our approach towards means of communication has to be fundamentally positive and encouraging. We should not just simply stand in judgment and start condemning; rather, we should support those professionals who are involved in communication and set out positive principles in their work. Schools and colleges can provide ethical communication education and that will help students to understand how to identify and deal with communication issues (Kreitner and Kinichi, 2001). Teachers can be sent to seminars, workshops and video training sessions to learn about ethical communication issues so

History of online Vidoe Games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

History of online Vidoe Games - Essay Example 1960s, extra computer games were developed for the public (frequently running on mainframe-computers), slowly rising in complexity and sophistication (Bellis, 2009) and (FreeBase, 2009). After this early games development period, video games deviated into diverse platforms and verities like: mainframe, arcade, personal computer, console and later handheld games. Online games  have been around for a while.   They started out years ago before the Internet on terminals, then over modems and now on the Web.   The explosion of online gaming is due to the growing amount of people who have access to the Internet.   Online games vary from basic text to 3d worlds that allow the ability to play other actual users who are connected to the game.   There are also many forums and social networking sites related to online gaming. In 1952, A.S. Douglas wrote his PhD degree at the University of Cambridge on Human-Computer interaction. Douglas created the first graphical computer game - a ve rsion of Tic-Tac-Toe. The game was programmed on an EDSAC vacuum-tube computer, which had a cathode ray tube display (Bellis, 2009) and (Celia Pearce, 2007). At its most basic level, an online game is the term used to represent games that are played over some form of computer network (in most cases, this means the Internet). One of the reasons for the expansion and growth of online gaming sites is the expansion of computer networks from small local networks to the Internet and beyond. Online games can come in a number of formats, ranging from simple text-based games to extremely complex games that include graphics and even virtual worlds. In regards to online gaming sites that allow you to win money, most sites require you to download their software. This is one of the distinguishing factors between TreasureOnNet.com and other similar gaming sites (Gupta, 2009). This era of video game history bears witness to the rise of the 32-bit, 64-bit, and 128-bit processor architecture in home console

Govern safeguarding adults work Essay Example for Free

Govern safeguarding adults work Essay Legislations The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 aims to prevent unsuitable people from working (either paid or unpaid) with children or vulnerable adult. Employers who work with these people have to be registered according to the act and The Independent Safeguarding Authority decides if people should be barred from working with any vulnerable person. Everyone gets checked before they are able to work with all vulnerable people for instance, a DBS check will be carried out to see if the person has carried out any criminal offences. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 supports the rehabilitation into employment of reformed offenders who have stayed on the right side of the law. All employers require full disclosure of pervious offences. The Police Act 1997 A CRB check is done under a Part V of the Police Act 1997, this protects vulnerable people from harm because employers will then know of any criminal convictions that have been done by particular people. http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/gmgr-annexe-c29 The Sexual Offenders Act 1976 The Sexual Offences Act 1976 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It made provision in relation to rape and related offences. This Act put the Sex Offenders Register in action for identification and tracking  purposes. This Act protects vulnerable people from danger, by tracking sex offenders. Care Standards Act 2000 This Act set the national minimum standards to protect the vulnerable, the standards include accommodation, services and good working practice. This Act established the Protection Of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) scheme, this scheme helps protect vulnerable adults from abuse. People who are working with vulnerable adults have to go through POVA training, I have done so myself through volunteering. The training makes you more aware of different types of abuse, people that are abused and the abuser, and how this is identified. Care Homes for Older People- National Minimum Standards and Care Homes Regulations 2003 This regulation identifies the levels of care that vulnerable adults need in care homes. There are points in this regulation that all older people in care homes should always receive the standards that are set for example, having a choice of what they would like to eat for dinner. Mental Health Act 1983 This Act is to protect those vulnerable people who suffer with a mental illness and others that are caring for them. There are procedures to ensure that there rights are protected and not being abused. The Act also allows compulsory treatment for those with a mental illness. Mental Capacity Act 2005 This Act allows to help vulnerable people who cant make decisions for themselves because they lack the mental capacity, this is done by them having an advocate. It is established by The Independent Mental Capacity Advocates Service. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 People who have a disability are treated equally to those without, this should be done in any work place. This act not only covers physical disabilities but mental as well. The Act has an aim which is, ending discrimination that individuals face with a disability. People who have a disability now have the rights to many things including, employment, education access to goods, facilities and services and buying or renting land or property. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/the-disability-discrimination-act-dda Race Relations Act 1976 The Race Relations Act is to protect people from discrimination, this includes a persons race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin. People should be treated equally and fairly no matter what race or colour they are. Human Rights Act 1998 Vulnerable people have the right to be treated correctly and cared for effectively due to the Human Rights Act 1998. This act gives every person the power to challenge perceived discrimination by any public body. Data Protection Act 1998 The Data protection Act is essential to follow in a health and social care setting, all personal details from an individual are to be kept safe and only seen by the people who care for them. Information will only be disclosed if there is a potential that a person is in danger. It is very important that every health care setting for vulnerable adults has strategies and procedures that reduce the risk of abuse, if this was not done effectively then individuals may be in danger. Recruitment of staff- The health care system is always recruiting new staff due to more and more people using the system every day, more elderly are getting ill and leaving their homes to go into a residential care home. Every person who employs a new member of staff has to make sure that they are save to work with the elderly as they are very vulnerable. The adults who are barred from working with the vulnerable are identified on the Adults Barred List. The list subdivides these people into two different categories which are, people who are automatically barred because they are a ‘risk of threat’ and people who offer a ‘very probable risk of harm’. The process of the Adults Barred list gathers information for many places including, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) , Health and Social services and employers. A CRB check is done before someone is employed, personal information is written down about a person and  then it is sent off to be checked by the police to see if they have any criminal convictions. Staff who work with the vulnerable have to register under the Vetting and Barring Scheme since July 2010. Sector guidance- Guidance is given to employers to reduce the risk of abuse in the environment they are working in. Two acts are included in this guidance and they are Dignity in Care Initiative 2006 and Human Rights in Healthcare. The Human Rights has a framework which assists local NHS Trusts to apply human rights approaches for the people using the services. FREDA values are focused on, Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy. Dignity and Care Initiative campaigns to end toleration of indignity in health care. Organisational policies- Every organisation must have policies and guidelines on expected behaviour from staff, this is done when an organisation develops there own policies from the guidelines that they have been provided with. Policies enable people who are using the services to know what is acceptable and unacceptable with their own care. Codes of practice- Codes of practice enables professionals to work effectively at high standards, respect and minimise risk to people that are in their care. Many care systems produce codes of conduct including The Nursing and Midwifery Council, nurses and midwives have to abide by these codes and put them into their practice to be able to care after individuals at the right standard. Multi-agency working and Closer working between professionals within organisations Multi-agency working is when all different teams come together to care and meet needs for a person as a whole, an example of professional bodies working together would be, doctors, care workers, nurses, social workers etc. The support planning and single assessment has encouraged greater inter-agency cooperation. Working like this encourages sharing of an individuals information and together they can all look after that person very effectively. This has not been put into place with some agencies and in this situation an individual would not be taking care of  properly because of this, this could lead to harm with elderly people. The government has guidance on multi-agency working and this is a paper called ‘No Secrets’. Beryl Strecth (2010). Health and Social Care . Essex: Pearson Education. Close working between professionals and organisations enables better communication about the people involved. This could be done in staff meetings, team meetings etc. In care homes they have daily logs about individuals who they care for, this ensures that when a new member of staff is working they know for instance what they have ate that day and what sort of care they have provided for them. This can also detect a residents behaviour for example, if they act differently when certain members of staff are on shift. Working in partnership with adults using services- When agencies work in partnership with the adults, families or informal carers it makes them more confident about the situation, when confident they will be more likely to talk about there worries and people can then help them build their self-esteem back up. Decision-making processes and forums- Decision making is essential when looking after a vulnerable adult, when it is kept transparent and clear then everyone knows what is happening. Monthly meeting of residents in a care home encourages ideas that can be shared between one another, this will make people more confident at speaking out. Organisational policies and staff training- The role of the Care Quality Commission- Whistle blowing- Whistle blowing is when someone who is working in a care setting reports suspected wrongdoing in the work place. This is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’. Some things that may be reported include, someone’s health and safety is in danger, damage to the environment, a criminal offence, the company isn’t obeying the law (like not having the right insurance) and covering up wrongdoing. https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing/overview There is a chance that any individual will have to ‘whistle blow’ while working in a care setting, if the person thinks that what they have witnessed is ‘wrong’. A form has to be filled out by the person who has allegedly seen wrong doing and then it is sent off to get assessed and monitored for rooms of improvement. Complaint procedures- Complaint procedures will be in every care setting, this is important to protect vulnerable adults from harm or abuse and for them to have the best care possible. People are encouraged to use complaint procedures. Complaint services are there to improve the quality and life of the individuals in there care, but it is important that elderly people feel safe if there are going to complain about the care they are being given and not victimised.

Rappaccinis Daughter Essay: Finding the Heart in Rappaccinis Daughte

Finding the Heart in Rappaccini's Daughter         In Hawthorne's short story, "Rappaccini's Daughter", Rappaccini is ostensibly a cold, calculating scientist. A pure scientist who would willingly give his daughter, himself, or whatever else most precious to him "for the sake of adding so much as a grain of mustard seed to the great heap of his accumulated knowledge" (1641). This leads most to believe that Rappaccini lacks any emotion and concern for his "scientific subjects" and their desires. This assumption, however, is incorrect. Rappaccini cares dearly for, if no one else, one person and is willing to use his science to meet her needs. This person is his own daughter. Upon Giovanni's angry outburst to Beatrice, Rappaccini says, "My science and the sympathy between thee and him have so wrought within his system that he now stands apart from common men, as thou dost, daughter of my pride and triumph, from ordinary women" (1655). Rappaccini clearly cares dearly for his daughter and is willing to use his science to make Giovann i compatible with Beatrice because he recognizes her human need for companionship.    The conclusion reached by a cursory read of "Rappaccini's Daughter" is that Dr. Rappaccini is an evil, cold, and calculating scientist with only his scientific advancement in mind. This conclusion stems from Professor Baglioni's portrait of him. By Professor Baglioni's account, Dr. Rappaccini "cares infinitely more for science than for mankind" (1641). The hints of poison in Beatrice's person and the poisonous vegetation in Dr. Rappaccini's garden seem to support this assumption. There is an obvious parallel between the beautiful flowers, their wonderful scents and Beatrice's beauty and scented breath. Professor... ...and the love between her and Giovanni. He wanted only to be able to say, "My daughter, thou art no longer lonely in the world," and to see his beloved daughter happy, as is the wish of every parent for his child. Doctor Giacomo Rappaccini was not a cruel, bent, old man with an exclusive zeal for science and science alone. Rather, he was a "thunder stricken man of science" devastated by the horrible intolerance of one Professor Pietro Baglioni who, looking forth from the window of Dr. Rappaccini's house at the moment of Beatrice's death, "called loudly, in a tone of triumph [ . . . ] Rappaccini! Rappaccini! And is this the upshot of your experiment!" (1655).    Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Rappaccini's Daughter." The Tradition in American Literature Ed. George Perkins, et al, vol. 1, 7th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 1990. 1637 - 1655.

The Andromeda Strain: A Critical Analysis Essay -- English Literature:

The Andromeda Strain: A Critical Analysis In 1969 Michael Crichton wrote The Andromeda Strain, a book that would forever expand the limits of a science fiction novel. Although written in 1969, it deals with very current issues facing the modern day boilogical and even political realm. Technically a science fiction novel, the meticulously crafted plot is so intertwined with actual science and technology that some have catagorized it as "science fact." It is this realistic overtone that gives the impression that perhaps, someday, events in the book could actually take place. Plot Synopsis The book opens up with a fictional page of acknowledgments stating "This book recounts the five-day history of a major American scientific crisis." From this opening sentence, the author immediately sets the tone as one of historical narration of events that actually took place. It is supposed to be a retelling of a scientific tradgedy with monumental implications. From here, the story the author relates begins. Five years earlier the United States government initiated a program called Project Scoop. The project's purpose was to send unmanned space capsules into the earth's outer atmosphere to collect samples and examine them. The hope was that undiscovered biological agents could be found for potential use as biological weapons of war. Overall, the Scoop program had been somewhat of a dissapointment until the seventh launch. It reentered the earth's atmosphere over small town in Arizona, where a team of two men were sent to retrieve it. Upon entering the town they found no signs of life and suddenly and unexplicably died themselves. This occurence set in motion something the government had secretly planned for ca... ...ploy would be to grow a number of microorganisms that would grow uninhibited in the vastness of space. The alien race would send them out in random directions where they would drift perpetually until finally reaching other life. Once reaching their destination, they would develop into full organ, or organism capable of communication. They would inform the other race of the presence of the other, and possible ways to communicate back. This seemed amusing to the more practical scientists, but it had to be considered a possibility with Andromeda. Overall, "The Andromeda Strain's" extremely technical subject matter made it challenging to read, but informative on a level usually not touched on by other science fiction novels. The plot itself as well as the concepts conveyed in this book make it relevent to the modern biologic world, even over 30 years later.