Why Sony Failed?

Why Sony fail? When I read â€Å"Leading Change Why Transformation Efforts Fail†, I directly linked Sony with the transformation fail. Sony, the previous electrical giant, announced a record annual net loss of $6. 4 billion for fiscal year 2011 in May 22 2012. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Sony reported substantial losses. Transformation efforts couldn’t turnaround the bad situation of Sony due to the mistakes that made by Sony in those transformation.First, Sony did not establishing a great enough sense of urgency. Sony began its diversification strategy in 1980s. By 1990’s, Sony shaped game, electric, picture, and finance four main businesses. By that time, some potential crisis began to emerge. However, all of these risks were hidden by excellent annual reports. Even when Sony confronted â€Å"Sony Shock† in 2003, leaders of Sony couldn’t realize its development dilemma and prepare to transform.Until 2005, continued losses pushed So ny to review its strategy and re-appointed Sir Howard Stringer as CEO. Sony had lost a lot of opportunities, such as LCD TV. Post core business of Sony, electrical manufacture, Second, Sony lacked a clear version. As a high technological company, innovation decided the fate of Sony. However, Sony made a fetish of its brand recognition and marketing power, and ignored the importance of innovation. The last great innovation of Sony is CD, which was launched in 1982.Even when Sony reintroduced innovation as its basic strategy, there was no direct process to commit the strategy, and the strategy just became an empty slogan. Even today, Sony cannot have a leading technology in its areas. Now, Sony appointed a new CEO, who emphasized the importance of innovation for Sony. There isn’t enough time left to the new CEO, and maybe Sony will die in future several years. Hiroko Tabuchi First Published: Mon, Apr 16 2012. 06 26 PM IST How Sony failed to keep up with the tech revolution

Critique Rocky Horror Picture Show

This show revolutionized interaction and participation with the audience during shows. Who is the protagonist? How did you know this? Give examples. Brad Majors and Janet Weiss. The play was based on the events that Brad and Janet experienced. When Brad and Janet went to the castle to use the phone. Brad and Janet were taken to the lab to take off their wet clothes. Who is the antagonist? How do you know this? Give examples. Dry. Frank N. Further. Dry Frank has a lot of conflict In the show. He has conflict with Brad and Janet when they try to leave the castle.He also has conflict when Riff Raff and Magenta when they try to take authority over the mission. What was the importance of the other characters? It was important to have additional characters to further the plot and add conflict. Who are they and how do they further the plot? Riff Raff is one of the aliens who add conflict to the play when he tries to take over the mission. Magenta is Riff Raffs sister and lover who tries to assist him In taking over the mission. Rocky Is Dry Franks experiment that represents his sexual object. Columbia is also an alien who Is Infatuated with Dry.Frank. Dry. Everett Scott was Janet and Brads former science tutor who shows up at the castle and discovers Brad and Janet. What Is the arrangement of the Incidents (action)? Brad and Janet left a wedding ,got engaged, went for a drive to tell a friend, had a flat, went to the castle to use the phone, had sexual encounters with each other, Dry Scott shows up they leave. What Is the meaning of the play? Is there more than one? The meaning of this play was to express your sexuality. I guess there could be more than one meaning If you perceived the message differently.Did you enjoy the play? I did enjoy the play a lot I have never been too production Like that. What was the message for you In this play? For society? Did you agree with the message? The message for me was that you should express who you are In your own sexuality. I do agree with the message. Dry. Frank N. Further. Dry Frank has a lot of conflict in the show. He has conflict with mission. Magenta is Riff Raffs sister and lover who tries to assist him in taking over the mission. Rocky is Dry Franks experiment that represents his sexual object.Columbia is also an alien who is infatuated with Dry. Frank. Dry. Everett Scott was Janet Janet. What is the arrangement of the incidents (action)? Brad and Janet left a What is the meaning of the play? Is there more than one? Than one meaning if you perceived the message differently. Did you enjoy the play? I did enjoy the play a lot I have never been too production like that. What was the message for you in this play? For society? Did you agree with the message? The message for me was that you should express who you are in your own sexuality. I do

Financial Statement Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Statement Analysis - Essay Example This essay stresses that financial statement analysis has its share of limitations. Some of the most significant include the manner by which financial statement may not always be accurate since it can be distorted by inflation or seasonal factors. There are also instances when it is difficult to compare and analyze data on account of the ambiguity in regard to what industry a firm belongs to or due to the sheer number of divisions being operated by a firm. Gapenski further pointed out that there is also a lack of universal accounting practices standards that makes comparison problematic. All in all, there are other weaknesses entailed in using this analytical method. This paper makes a conclusion that financial statement analysis is important for organizations. This is particularly true in the case health care institutions today. Recent developments have significantly eroded their capability to generate profit. Being able to understand how bad the situation is for the organization allows managers to design corrective measures before it reaches crisis level. Being able to forecast opportunities and risks means better outcomes in terms of performance and profitability. Everything boils down to the importance of information. Financial statement analysis provides all the stakeholders the knowledge and, henceforth, the tools necessary to prevent the erosion of the firm’s financial health.

In what respects has the process of globalization changed the Essay

In what respects has the process of globalization changed the international political agenda - Essay Example s closer and has created a level of interdependence between these nations, where the economies, social structures and security relationships of these countries have been connected in an interwoven web of an intricate delicacy.(Skolnikoff,2001). There are still those who suggest that the world has â€Å"gone beyond interdependence†, to the point that there has become â€Å"a tightly woven fabric of international agreements, organizations, and institutions that shape relations with each other and penetrate deeply into their internal economics and politics.† (Chayes &Chayes, 1995). Due to this, many people argue that the phenomenon of globalization has created a sense of demarcation of boundaries and territories and has threatened the age old concept of the Nation-state. Linklater (1998) comments that globalization has created a sense of pressure on the political systems of the world and "it has become essential to question the assumption that citizenship has no meaning apart from the sovereign nation-state†. This idea that the world has been interconnected to the point that there has arisen a lack of national identities has had far reaching impacts around the world and has not only effected social and economical factors of countries around the world but also the international political ideals and agendas. He says that â€Å"globalization and fragmentation erode traditional conceptions of the community and reduce the moral significance of national boundaries. Putzel (2004) is of the opinion that â€Å"patterns of globalization and liberalization need to be examined in light of their political consequences, especially in the context of situations of state collapse and violent conflict†. , a fact which has had a transformational effect on the terrain of politics and the political agendas of countries around the world. The author suggests that this movement of globalization which has weakened the concept of Nation-State and has instated a sort of semi-democracy in most

Governing business activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Governing business activity - Essay Example A firm is an arrangement of individuals, resources – both physical, as well as financial and a great deal of information. They exist to carry out various constructive tasks in the society, through production and distribution of goods and services. These tasks are accomplished by utilizing society’s resources such as land, labor, capital and providing adequate profits for the work done, in return (Hirschey, 2009). Smaller firms are usually managed by a single owner, who is in charge of all the key decisions made and hence are more likely to dominate the decisions in their favor, by taking decisions which are profitable to them. Thus, both the short term as well as long term goals of a smaller firm could be profit maximization alone. Larger firms on the other hand, are owned by the shareholders but managed by "business managers" who are in charge of all key decision making within the company. Thus, as compared to smaller firms, the larger firms may deviate from the conventional profit maximization objective, to pursue other equally important goals such as sustainable development, improving quality of their products, environmental protection etc. which are in the larger interest of the society as a whole. However, such goals are merely short term objectives, as objectives other than profit maximization may serve the community at large, but it does not help the firm in sustaining its competitive positioning in the industry. Furthermore, under the Corporate Social Responsibility agenda, which has recently gained widespread popularity and acceptance, it is considered obligatory for firms, to contribute towards development of the society as a whole rather than pursuing their selfish motives of earning profits. But according to Sternberg (2000, Pp. 41): â€Å"The Social Responsibility of any business is to increase its Profits. For any

Scenario planning for the future of Energy Essay

Scenario planning for the future of Energy - Essay Example After decades of thought and consideration, countries have mutually consented to get rid of cars altogether. Now, in 2030, roads are crowded with bicycles. People are generally happy to use bicycles because they have not only obviated the need to use oil, but has also rapidly decreased the number of road accidents. The bicycle-bicycle collision is far less as deadly and dangerous as a car-car collision used to be few years ago. Besides, regular peddling has been a good source of exercise and has helped people burn their calories. In the midst of Shanghai lives Chen with his family in a condominium. Today is Chen’s final exam, and he needs to get into the school within fifteen minutes. He lives one and a half miles away from the school. He catches his bicycle, but the tire is punctured. He can not wave to a taxi because there are no taxies, no bus, no car whatsoever! Mum and dad have gone to work over their respective bicycles. Chen has only two options to reach the school, eit her walk his way up to the school, or else, seek lift from somebody else. But most bicycles are overloaded because that is the only thing people have as a means of travel. Normally, if a person does not have a bicycle of his own, he/she has to suffer, though Chen is lucky enough to find a cyclist, Koto, with no one sitting on the back seat. Chen asks Koto the favor to drop him to school. Koto agrees to do the job provided that Chen purchases him a tin of cooking oil since he comes from a very poor family and can not afford to buy the cooking oil. Chen agrees and the two set off. Second Story: Saudi Arabia is suffering from a financial crisis as a result of her inability to meet the global demands of oil. Saudi Arabia’s predictions of her oil reserves have turned out to be overstatements which had no concern with reality. In reality, Saudi oil reserves had been depleting at a dangerous rate and much of the oil has been drawn out of the known reserves till 2025. For the last fi ve years, Saudi Arabia has reduced the supply of oil and is now suffering from a financial crisis. Ted, a teenager, turns the TV on to hear the news. Newscaster: Saudi Arabia’s attitude is being criticized for the turmoil in oil supply. For the past twenty years, Saudi Ministers have been making unnecessarily optimistic statements about their ability to make uninterrupted and sustained supply of oil to the world for a long period of time. Saudi Ministers have always been reluctant to get their oil reserves audited nor have they ever revealed accurate information about the volume of oil reserves. Much of the disparity in the demand and supply of oil in the contemporary age is attributed to the non-serious and inconsiderate attitude and short-term vision of the oil producing companies in Saudi Arabia. Experts are of the view that had Saudi Arabia allowed the auditing of her oil reserves and generate correct information about the oil reserves, it would have been possible for the world to take precautionary measures in time. The economy of Saudi Arabia has declined as a result of the reduced oil supply. Third Story: The New York City in 2030 looks totally different from the way it looked in 2010. On the roof of every house, there is a solar panel that faces the sun and revolves according to it in order to keep its surface exposed to the sunlight throughout the day. On every garage, there is a car that is driven by biofuel or electricity. Every individual

Two Familiar Brands Competing in the local Marketplace Essay

Two Familiar Brands Competing in the local Marketplace - Essay Example This paper will make a comparison between two competing brands Tide and Gain which have strong presence in the local market of USA. Each brand of P&G is affected by globalization which also includes Tide & Gain. The marketing programs are different and both brands have different price levels depending on the consumer demand. The price levels range from super premium for top selling products to lower priced products that offer basic advantages only. Tide and Gain are available in majority of retail stores of USA. Tide has international presence while Gain is served only in the local market of USA. Thus, the prices of Tide vary according to the high and low concentration of global market. Tide and Gain has competitive relationship with other detergent brands of P&G. Proctor & Gamble (P&G) is recognized as one of the leading multinational organizations dealing with consumer products in various segments from beauty to house-keeping. It is an Ohio based company headquartered in USA. The p arent company is engaged with the marketing of above 300 brands which include beauty products like shampoo, soaps and household products like detergent, toothpaste etc. P&G has strong market share in the segment comprising of detergent and laundry products. Under detergent category, P&G has six sub-brands which operate in the local market of USA. Around 99% customers use minimum of one P&G brand regularly. Hence, it can be stated that P&G does not focus on one brand. Rather, it emphasizes on many brands under the detergent segment. The reason is that customers’ motives for purchasing detergent brands are different and P&G incorporates different functions for their brands. In one brand, bleaching might be the main priority where in other brands cleaning might be the chief priority. Thus, though parent company is same but Tide and Gain both have their unique identities (Pearson Education, 2011). Segmentation Market includes customers and they differ in several ways for example needs, resources, locations, buying activities, and

Exploring Another Ethnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Exploring Another Ethnicity - Essay Example The distinct ethnic groups have diverse attitudes, rituals, actions, religious traits, and cultural beliefs. As such, ethnicity plays a big role in the American society although the American society rarely defines people according to their ethnic groups (O'Neil Web). My Ethnicity is both Arab and Hispanic. This paper seeks to address another ethnic group that I do not belong. In this case, I will address the Indian American ethnic group as part of the America society. To achieve this, I will describe rituals, actions, religious aspects, cultures, and morals of an Indian American wedding that I attended. Indeed, it was my first time to attend an Indian American wedding and the entire event was culturally strange, informing, and somehow entertaining to me. Notably, most Indian American is Hindus and as such, the wedding ceremony was in a Hindu setting unlike my normal Muslim setting. My Feelings in an Indian American Wedding Ceremony Actually, the whole setting was completely new to me and although I had previously heard of the uniqueness of the Indian weddings, I have never been a witness. As such, I had much anxiety that derived mixed feelings as the reality of the wedding came to me. To some extent, I had expectations that any wedding must derive a lot of fun but was equally aware that the difference in cultures would deny me such fun, as it would be challenging to follow the proceedings of the ceremony. The different rituals and cultural dimensions that the wedding to me. More so, the Hindu religion aspects and even the language in application created loneliness and a feeling of isolation during the wedding. Indeed, everybody was in a joyous mood and I equally tried to adapt to the celebratory mood but I could rarely understand the various procedures adopted in the ceremony. However, with the help of my Indian friend, I would manage to glimpse and understand some happenings in the Indian American wedding. My Feelings in an Indian and an African American Event This situation was somehow similar to an African American wedding ceremony that I attended in a Christian setting. Indeed, the feeling of isolation of the real time happenings was still eminent in that Christian setting. Indeed, the Christian and the Hindu religion are quite new to me as I profess the Muslim religion. Moreover, the Indian and the black American traditions, rituals, and traditions are different from the Hispanic and Arabic. As such, my earlier situation was significantly similar to the reference situation where I attended the wedding ceremony in an Indian cultural setting. In both instances, I would struggle to understand the language in application, the rituals, and the cultures as seen in their dressing and code of conduct. Influence of Group Membership, Race, and Personality in Interpretation My group membership, race, and personal attributes are however fundamental in interpreting the situation. Actually, the members in our group include people from different et hnic groups and hence I have lived to embrace cultural diversity. As such, I can interpret that any wedding creates a source of joy and is of cultural importance to any ethnic group. Therefore, I interpret that the wedding ceremony in the Indian America setting is important to their culture. On the other hand, my race accommodates cultural diversity and respects other cultures and their traditions. Hence, my race helps me to deduce the importance of such a wedding

The Measure of a Man Essay Example for Free

The Measure of a Man Essay First and foremost I think that it’s important for us to stop and reflect on what it truly means to be a man. With majority of our young men dropping into crime and violence, as well as dropping out of school, it’s important that we understand how each and every one of us can make a difference in changing this pattern in their minds. In one of Dr. King’s speeches he challenges the young men of our society to rethink their understanding and definition on what it means to be a man. Dr. King stated that, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.† In this statement it is implied but not expressed that the belief of manhood is not defined by your outward maleness, but by the development of your character on the inside. If everything in your life was perfect or if you wasn’t being challenged then you would be a man. As the great Dr. King said, â€Å"The true test is how you respond and react to the challenges in your own life, as well as the challenges that are around you on a day to day base. You can accept this challenge from Dr. King because he was not just a man of his word he also practiced what he preached. Dr. King not only devoted his life to this nation and the world, Dr. King ultimately gave his life because he wouldn’t accept the suffering, inhumanity as well as the injustice that was around him. Dr. King was not just a man in his home; he was a man in this nation, this nation, this world and his community. He tried to stop the suffering that he saw around him, he took a stand when he witnessed injustice, he spoke out while others remained silent in the mist of discrimination and segregation, and he offered his love when majority was consumed by hatred for black people. Today as we look upon the landscape of Gary Indiana, you will realize that you are faced with the same test that Dr. King passed. There is a crisis of violence that is threatening the safety of every community. There are children who don’t want to try to reach their full potential in school or in life. Dr. King deeply believed that your greatest and highest obligation is your service to other people. Dr. King saw service as a testament of your religion. His challenge for you is that you must be committed in serving others. As well as being committed in serving the youth of your community and others.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus Essay Example for Free

Tobacco Mosaic Virus Essay Hosts for Tomatoe Mosaic Virus include tobacco, tomato, and other solanaceous plants. TMV enters the plant cell through minor wounds. The virus can also contaminate seed coats, and the plants germinating from these seeds can become infected. Once TMV enters the cell, the virus particles disassemble in an organized manner to expose the TMV RNA. The virus RNA is positive-sense, or + sense, and serves directly as a messenger RNA (mRNA) that is translated using host ribosomes. Translation of the replicase-associated proteins (RP) than begins. As soon as these proteins have been synthesized, the replicase associates with the 3 end of the + sense TMV RNA for the production of a negative sense RNA. The sense RNA is the template to produce both full-length genomic + sense RNA as well as the + sense subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs). The sgRNAs are translated by the host ribosomes to produce the movement protein (MP) (30 kDa) and the coat protein (CP). These virus particles are very stable and, at some point when the cells are broken or the leaf dries up, they are released to infect new plants. Alternatively, the + sense TMV RNA is wrapped in a movement protein, and this can infect adjacent cells. TMV uses its movement protein to spread from cell-to-cell through plasmodesmata, which connect plant cells. Normally, the plasmodesmata are too small for passage of intact TMV particles. The movement protein (probably with some unknown assistance) enlarges the plasmodesmatal openings so that TMV RNA can move to the adjacent cells, release the movement protein and host proteins, and initiate a new round of infection. As the virus moves from cell to cell, it eventually reaches the plants vascular system (veins) for rapid systemic spread through the phloem to the roots and tips of the growing plant.

Is It Advertisement Manipulation Media Essay

Is It Advertisement Manipulation Media Essay Advertising plays a crucial role in the world that we live in. Every day, the media expands and thousands of magazines, TV commercials, radio stations and newspapers are released. Advertisement is found in every single one of these Medias. It is important because it helps individuals know what products are popular on the marketplace. As a college student, I myself am very influenced by advertisement. I come across ads on the internet, on the radio, on television, and on magazines. But are these advertisements really helpful to the consumers or are we just being manipulated into buying a product? This question deserves to be examined because millions of people are being affected by advertisement each and every day. They might not even realize that advertisers use psychological techniques in order to persuade the consumer to buy their product, and eventually change their spending and living tendency. Before I could focus on the advertisers psychological techniques, I first needed to find out about the ethics of advertisement. I started my research by reading a news article, Precious Information or Vicious Manipulation, from Ezine Articles, to give me a simple understanding of it. Each different commerce has its own rules for the ethical requirements. There are, however, four marketing communication requirements that every industry has to follow which include legal, decent, honest and truthful (Yordanof). One of the interviewed individual quoted the most successful companies do not need ethics in their activities because they have built empires. He also stated, sooner or later whoever is not ethical will face the negative consequences. One of the most the most contentious matters in the marketing communications market is the quality of advertisements. Three area of interest in terms of ethical decision of advertisement have been distinguished as: individual autonomy, consumer sovereignty, and the nature of the product. The individual autonomy refers to the advertising to young children, consumer sovereignty refers the level of information and superiority of the indented consumer, and as for the nature of the product, well, it speaks for itself. Needing more in-depth information on how advertisement affects young children, I turned to The Washington Post newspaper and read a short article entitled Information or Manipulation. It is said that spending on advertising for children has increased five-fold in the last ten years and two thirds of commercials during child television programs are for food products (Bergadaa 2007). Young children represent 24 billion dollars worth in the marketplace (McNeal 2007). Research from the American Psychological Association show that children do not have the ability to understand whether a commercial is reliable or not, therefore they are truly impacted by them. They are not able to comprehend the true message behind an advertisement and therefore believe it is truthful, accurate and unbiased which can lead to unhealthy eating habits as evidenced by todays youth obesity epidemic (Mayer 2004). Advertisers spend over 12 billion dollar a year on commercials intended for children. Research shows that a child watches about forty thousand television commercials a year. Roberts and Pettigrew exposed that 28.5 hours of childrens television programming sampled contained 950 advertisements (sec.12). Advertising industry officials believe that parents should be able to explain the advertisements truthfulness to their kids because most of the ads are on junk food, sodas, and candies. Advertisers rely on the parents to be cautious and say no to their young children. They do not see the psychological difficulties parents face to constantly be responding negatively to their childs requests, said Dale L. Kunkel. However, some countries have more harsh rules against children advertisement which I quote from this report: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sweden and Norway do not permit any television advertising to be directed towards children under 12 and no adverts at all are allowed during childrens programmes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Australia does not allow advertisements during programmes for pre-school children. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Austria does not permit advertising during childrens programmes, and in the Flemish region of Belgium no advertising is permitted 5 minutes before or after programmes for children. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sponsorship of childrens programmes is not permitted in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden while in Germany and the Netherlands, although it is allowed, it is not used in practice. (McSpotlight). In Daniele Pradas article Advertising: Manipulation or Information, advertisement is considered information. Some commercials actually provide you with scientific facts and much more. Have you ever seen the commercial about smoking? Our society is trying to enlighten everyone about the effects smoking will have on you because we know it is a bad tendency that can cause cancer and eventually lead to death. In that case, advertisement is used in order to convince people to stop smoking before it is too late. The advertisers usually present the facts, and throw in a quote that will make the consumer ponder. One very famous reflective phrase is, Children of parents who smoke, get to heaven earlier (Anti-smoking). We all have seen above the influence commercials which usually target adolescent and young adults. This advertising campaign conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy provides commercial in order to prevent the use of drugs and to encourage parents to discuss it with their children. Each of these commercial shows what it means to be above the influence in its own unique way. The Above the Influence campaign appears to be successful because it taps into the desire by teenagers to be independent and self-sufficient, Slater said. A recent study done by the Ohio State University, shows that Above the Influence campaign seems to have successfully reduced the use of marijuana by adolescents. On the other hand, some people feel that advertisement is pure manipulation and that it plays with our feelings. To captivate our attention advertisers use famous artists, sports, music and fancy images. They use crucial values to influence people of purchasing something or doing something. In his article, Alan Harris believes that this manipulation is viewed as a type of foregrounding. His definition of foregrounding was a linguistic process in which some elements, such as words, phrases, sentences, stressings, intonations, or the like are given prominence or made more meaningfully significant by the communicator/language-user, in this case the creator(s) of a print advertisement. In other words, a lot of elements are used in order to convince the consumer to buy a product or service. Millions of people are being manipulated each day Most of the beautiful aspects promised in ads are most of the time not true. For example, can buying a specific type of detergent really make the clothes brand new? I think not! But advertisers would do everything in their power to convince you that their detergent is the best and would restore your clothes to brand new. The advertisers around the world are able change the way people live and change their spending tendency. This is the main reason why advertisers spend an incredible amount of money on advertisements. According to the General information article, it is estimated that the price of a product may go up for up to 40% due to advertisement costs. Advertisement encourages the individual to be one step ahead of everybody else that is why they will tell you that their products is better than the others. Another way to captures the consumers attention is sexual arousal because they know that sexual need is one of the most powerful desire in a human. In her article, Mwende says, Government should establish institutions that will scrutinize and ensure that the commercials and advertisements do not merely cheat people callously. It should make sure that people are not manipulated, cheated, lied to or exploited by unscrupulous traders. As I wrap up my research, I notice that advertisement can be both positive and negative. I now understand how it can both be viewed as information or manipulation to certain people. However, my question still cannot be answered because I believe that I would have to do more research on the psychological part and how advertisement affects the mind. I want to know how an advertisement is processed through a ones brain. In order to be able to answer my question, I want to explore this issue further.

Business Trip Encounter with SARS :: Personal Narrative China Travel Essays

Encounter of the Worse Kind My scheduled flight to Hong Kong was delayed because of a conference meeting that ran over in New York. I rescheduled for the following week on Tuesday, February 21, 2003. I arrived in Hong Kong and met my business contact and headed off to the conference at the Metropole Hotel. Something seems odd here, unlike my trips before. There are people with masks on everywhere. I asked my business contact what was going on. He said there was some kind of flu going around. I have never seen so many people with masks on before. In the U.S. people rarely put on masks even if they have the flu. He also said that a lot of people are sick and some have died from it. It seems odd that people would die from catching the flu; I mean nowadays who dies from getting the flu. We finally arrived at the conference and I met my clients. Most of the clients seemed sick but were determined to finalize the deal. Some of them were coughing and some had sore throats. I was afraid I would get sick from being too close to them and I tried to take precautions by taking cough drops and Tylenol when I felt I was coming down with the flu. I was glad when the meeting was over. The contract took two days to iron out all the details. Since the meeting went well I decided to stay in Hong Kong for a little longer. I needed a break from work and wanted to go sight seeing. I have been to Hong Kong a couple of times but never had the chance to see the countryside. The following morning when I woke up I started to cough and was running a fever. I was probably infected from the close contact of the sick clients. So I decided to stay in and rest for a while. I was sleepy and couldn't get up from my bed. The next day it got worse. I had a sore throat and had muscle pain. I've never been this sick before and I thought to myself that it was due to getting older and my immune system not being up to par. I have been very busy lately and my stress level has been up more than usual.

Mr Collins: Character Review :: Free Essay Writer

Mr Collins: Character Review We first hear of Mr Collins, one of Mr Bennet’s distant cousins, in a letter addressed to the family living in the house which after Mr Bennet’s death will become his own. In this letter he sounds very pompous, irrelevantly reiterating and repeating the name of his patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr Collins is honest that he has an ulterior motive for wanting to stay at Longbourn: he wishes to take the hand of one of the Bennet sisters in a marriage which would ensure that at least one daughter of Mr Bennet would remain comfortable, living at Longbourn as ‘Mrs Collins’. He does not ask to stay at Longbourn, he expects his stay to be welcomed, and even desired, by the Bennet family. â€Å"I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughter†: this quote shows how ingratiating Mr Collins is: a side of his character which the reader sees more readily during the rest of the novel. Having previously thought Mr Collins was an â€Å"odious man†, Mrs Bennet is quick to change her mind after Mr Collins made compliments towards her daughter (and herself) in the letter. Upon arrival at Longbourn Mr Collins assures that â€Å"the young ladies I come prepared to admire†. The word ‘prepared’ in this quote gives the implication that Mr Collins does nothing in a rash manner and has everything planned in what appears to be quite a sly way. Once inside the house Mr Collins begins to commend each and every item of furniture within it. Mrs Bennet would on any other occasion have been delighted at this, but she knows that when Mr Collins entails the estate all that he admires will be his own. Mr Collins believes that by ingratiating Mrs Bennet about her house he will please her, but this begins to vex her a fair deal. â€Å"The girls were not the only objects of Mr Collins desire†, here we can see that Mr Collins views the girls as nothing more than materialistic, as objects. By the evening, Mr Collins is getting somewhat tiresome as he â€Å"eloquently praises† his patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, with great vivacity and unstoppable determination. â€Å"Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people†; Mr Collins cannot see that Lady Catherine is proud because he is proud himself and rates Lady Catherine very highly: perhaps high enough to warrant a little, or is Lady Catherine’s case a lot, of pride.

Financial Statements and Stakeholders

Introduction In this report six different users of financial statements will be identified. Each user group will be described and the reasons why they use financial statements will be examined. Analysis and calculations of relevant and specific financial information will be performed to reflect the performance of the company, and how this is seen by the different stakeholder groups.The two companies I have chosen are J.Sainsbury plc and WM Morrison’s Supermarkets plc, hereafter known as Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s. This is because these two companies are two which have a large number of stakeholders who will be affected by the company’s financial statements. Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s also compete within the same sector and thus the financial statements and companies are obviously comparable, this will help with benchmarking to analyse the data .(Mclaney and Atril.2008). This will help to determine, along with the relevant analysis and calculations, which stakeholders will be more pleased with the financial statements out of the two supermarkets. As of May 2014, Morrison’s had 11% of the market, and Sainsbury’s 16.6% (Garner.2014). The financial statements we will be assessing are income statements and balance sheets. These are the two statements which are of greatest importance to the majority of stakeholders. I have attained the most recent financial statements from the two companies from their recent annual reports. This report will use financial ratio’s to assess the profitability, efficiency, Liquidity, Financial Gearing and Investment potential within Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s.(Mclaney and Atril.2008.). Boards of Directors The owners and boards of directors of both Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s would use financial statements to review the performance of management and assess the overall performance of the company. For the smooth operation of the organisation, the managers and owners also need the financial reports to make essential business decisions. For example the current debt to equity ratio is important in deciding the amount of long term capital that would be required to be raised for making certain business decisions. This can be determined by using the following formula. Total liabilities Total assets x 100% Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 10535 16540 x 100% =63.7% 6037 10792 x 100% = 55.9% As can be seen Sainsbury’s debt to equity ratio is 63.7% with Morrison’s at 55.9%, a difference of 7.8%. This ratio is one of the key set of 10 identified by Laurent (2006) in being able to predict a firms performance. This thus means that they are financing their growth more by debt than they are by their current assets than Morrison’s. However this is not necessarily a bad thing, and this could mean that they growing more than if they did not utilise this outside financing. If this increases earnings by a greater amount than the debt interest that would be incurred then it is definitely beneficial to do so, thus the board would be pleased with what they have seen from the financial statements. Shareholders Shareholders receive a set of financial statements as a right, and are the only stakeholders to do so. The shareholders interest will be in what the company is doing with the money they have invested, and whether it is making a profit or loss. If it is profitable, they will want a return in the form of dividends, so they will be concerned with the level of dividends the company is paying out year on year and the potential for future profits and dividends. If profit levels and dividend pay-outs diminish noticeably, or if no dividends are paid out because the company has made a loss, then they will consider selling their shares and investing in something else which will give them a higher return. Obviously operating profit margin is also needed to measure overall performance and this can be calculated as follows. Profit before interest and tax Sales x 100% Sainsbury’s (?m) Morrison’s (?m) 1009 23949 x 100% =4.2% (95) 17680 x 100% =-0.5% Supermarkets usually operate at low operating margins, so these results are not wholly surprising (McLaney and Attril.2008) Morrison’s extremely poor performance this year is down to incredibly high administrative costs, this could be seen as possibly due to a new initiative or launch of service which required high costs to get this off the ground, and therefore this may pay dividends in the future. Thus it will be imperative to see how they will perform in the next year without these high administrative costs. Sainsbury’s operating profit margin can be compared with the previous year to see how they are progressing, and this was 3.8%. Thus their net profit margin has increased and the shareholders will be pleased with this performance as it could increase shareholder dividends. Banks Banks are extremely interested in a companies such as Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s financial statements. For example if a company has an overdraft or a bank loan, then the banks need to make sure that a company can afford to pay these loans it owes off (Palepu and Healy.2008). If a company is applying for a loan, similar considerations apply, although the bank would in addition insist on looking at more up to date information than the last set of statutory accounts as these could be rather out of date. The banks would calculate this by with the acid test ratio. This shows the company’s ability to pay its current liabilities from liquid assets. This is calculated as follows. Current assets less inventory Current liabilities Sainsbury’s (?m) Morrison’s (?m) 4362-1005 6765 = 0.5 : 1 1430-852 2873 = 0.2 : 1 Supermarkets by nature have very low acid test ratio scores due to some stock on their shelves not selling as quickly as they would like. However Morrison’s at 0.2:1 is much lower than the company would be wanting to have, whereas Sainsbury’s at 0.5:1 is relatively healthy for a company that operates as a supermarket. Creditors A company’s trade creditors and suppliers will also obviously be interested in a companies financial statements such as the balance sheet and income statement. Such stakeholders will be concerned with whether the company can pay regularly for its purchases from them, so they will have an eye to the cash position of the company – its liquidity. They will also be interested consequently in any items in the accounts which may affect this liquidity such as bank overdrafts or loans, as such items would usually indicate cash problems in the company which may render it an insecure buyer for the future. Creditors are also extremely interested in creditor days. This is the average payment period to payables expressed in days. This can be calculated by the following formula. Trade payables x 365 Purchases Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 2272 x 365 16606 = 50 days 2692 x 365 22562 = 44 days As can be seen, Sainsbury’s creditors will be the more pleased out of the two sets of stakeholders for both supermarkets. This is because they are paid on average six days faster than Morrison’s creditors and thus will have a more efficient flow of cash. This could mean building a better relationship with these creditors. However Morrison’s may also be pleased as it means they are able to hold on to this cash for longer and maximise cash flow with longer creditor days payable. Trade debtors/customers. These persons would be interested in the company’s likely continuance into the future as a secure source of supply, and so would look for any items affecting this, such as production difficulties, sales price increases etc. These will also be most interested in debtor (receivables) days, this is the Average collection period for receivables expressed in days. It is calculated as follows. Trade receivables x 365 Sales Revenue Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 433 x 365316 x 365 23949 = 7 days17680 = 7 days Here both Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s debtors will be equally as pleased when analysing the financial accounts for both of these companies. This is because they both receive a similar amount of time in which to pay their debts. Equally both of the supermarket chains will be relatively pleased with this as they will be in a similar position to each other in receiving the money from debtors. Similarly this is much shorter than the time it takes both to pay their creditors, and thus their cash flow efficiency will be maximised. Competitors Competitors will also be interested in the financial results of a rival in the same industry sector to see whether its results are better or worse than its own, whether it has brought new products to the market place and how these have been doing (Palepu and Healy.2008). Competitors of Sainsbury’s such as Asda and Tesco may also be interested to compare things such as costs of goods on the income statement to compare this to their own performance. A rival’s bad result, when its own is good, would enhance performance in the eyes of its own shareholders. A rival’s similar adverse performance may reflect that both are hit by the same business factors. In the retail business something that both Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s would be interested in seeing is how their inventories turnover period compares with that of their rivals. It can be calculated as follows. Inventories x 365Cost of sales*Sainsbury’s Morrison’s 1005 x 365852 x 36522562= 17 days16062= 20 days Here Sainsbury’s will have the more pleased boards of the two supermarkets when analysing their competitors in terms of inventory turnover. This is because on average they manage to turn over their inventory 3 days quicker than Morrison’s. This demonstrates that they have a more efficient stock system and are selling their products at a faster rate, which could lead to a better overall performance. Conclusion As can be seen, a range of different stakeholders have reason to be interested in a companies financial statements. These stakeholders range from being interested in their own personal gain, those such as Shareholders, as well as being interested in how it impacts upon other stakeholders, through the analysis of both debtor days and creditor days. Financial reports are important for all different stakeholders so they can decide whether or not it is beneficial to be involved with a certain company, they are always interested in the going concern of the company. It is important for numerous reasons that these stakeholders have access to the accounts to gain clarity and for the continuation of the working relationship with companies such as Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s. It is therefore important that the accounting is accurate and up to standards for these different stakeholders of financial statements, it is also useful for comparison of companies and as can be seen from the analysis Sainsbury’s stakeholders will be more pleased with the financial statements than Morrison’s. Bibliography Garner, E. (2014). Kantar, UK grocery growth at lowest level for 11 years, [Online] http://uk.kantar.com/consumer/shoppers/070514-kantar-worldpanel-uk-grocery-share-data-april-2014/ [Accessed online on 01/11/2014] J.Sainsbury’s plc, 2014. Annual Report and accounts 2013-2014. [Online]. http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/2064053/sainsbury_s_annual_report_and_ accounts_ 13-14.pdf. 2014. [Accessed online on 01/11/2014] Laurent, C.R. Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of financial ratio analysis. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting. [Online] Vol 6(3). 2006. p401-413. McLaney, E. J., Atrill. P. (2008). Accounting and finance : an introduction. Fourth edition. Harlow: Pearson. Palepu, K. Healy, P. (2008) Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements. Mason:Thomson Learning WM Morrison’s Supermarkets plc , 2014. Morrison’s Annual Report 13-14 [Online]. http://annualreport.marksandspencer.com/downloads/MS_AR2014_Annual_Report.pdf [Accessed online on 01/11/2014]

World War I Weapons and Machines

Explain why machine guns could dominate the battlefield in World War 1: Machine guns would change the war because of the fast fire rate, the calibre that can be fired and the distance that the gun can cause fatalities. They were devastating to the opposing side because of the amount of casualties that could be produced, in a far shorter time period due to fire rate and reload time. Machine guns were applied to many things e. g. lanes, tanks and trenches they would assist in stopping the advance of soldiers between the frontlines, because of the far shorter reload time in comparison to a rifle or side arm. There were not many flaws but the small amount are quite substantial, for instance the mobility there was either very little or none because of the vast weight, another fault that surfaced quite regularly was the jamming of firing system and reload mechanism. These flaws were soon overcome with the release of LMG (light machine gun) that was far more manoeuvrable, and was less likely to jam it also could reload substantially faster than its predecessor, but had a smaller calibre. The LMG was dominating during the war for the advancing side because of its compact size, and many other features. During an advance a soldier could drop into a trench and fire upon multiple enemies without have to press the trigger numerous times and/or try and fire using a bolt action rifle which was a very slow means of firing. 2 Outline how the role of aircraft changed during World War 1. Any and all aircraft in the World War 1 were initially used for surveillance and /or scouting the landscape but as the war matured as did the aircraft technology and they soon became weaponized into fighter plans that could hold an arsenal of different machine guns, either for firing upon enemy planes or trenches. These fragile planes were also used for bombing enemy positions or dropping supplies 4 Use your own word to define the following terms: Sump: a form of drainage used to remove water into a low lying area. Dugout: a hole dug in the ground that is covered and used as a shelter for soldiers.

Genetic Testing and Counseling in Pregnancy Essay

For many women, pregnancy is met with excitement. However, for a few couples, the pregnancy can take a completely different turn when the fetus is determined to be afflicted with Tay-Sachs disease. This is a genetic condition, usually found in Caucasians, and primarily those of Jewish descent, and develops in 25% of cases when both parents carry the recessive gene (National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases [NTSAD], n. d. ). Genetic counseling is a relatively new concept in healthcare and â€Å"is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease† (National Society of Genetic Counselors [NSGC], 2005, para. 2). For the men and women facing a pregnancy involving Tay-Sachs, genetic counseling is a viable and important option to consider. However, to ensure quality care and education, genetic counseling needs to involve a team of healthcare professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Interdisciplinary Team Members and Their Roles in Genetic Counseling Appropriate members of a multi-disciplinary team for the Trosacks include a genetic counselor, a nutritionist or dietician, the high-risk OB-GYN physician, a registered nurse specializing in high-risk perinatal care, and a therapist specializing in marriage and family therapy needs. Each member of this team will add a unique perspective to the Trosack’s case. The genetic counselor has graduate-level education and experience in both medical genetics and counseling (NSGC, 2005, para. 1). Using her expertise and skills, she will review the medical history for Mr. nd Mrs. Trosack, and their families, identify other genetic risks that may exist and explain inheritance patterns. She will provide information and resources for further education on genetic disorders, so that they can continue to learn about Tay-Sachs and connect with other families facing the disease. In addition to this expert information, the Trosacks will benefit from a nutritionist or dietician. The nutritionist not only has special training in the area of nutrition, but also in educating patients about their options and making nutritious choices. In general, a nutritionist can â€Å"advise individuals†¦on the nutritional practices that will promote good health, [and] structure and recommend diet plans for whole families†¦including guides to the correct preparation of meals and shopping for the right foods (Princeton Review, n. d. ). He will perform a nutrition assessment, provide education on additional nutritional needs due to pregnancy, and even assist with meal planning to ensure a health pregnancy. He will continue to assess and make recommendations on Mrs. Trosack’s nutritional needs based on lab work throughout the pregnancy. The patient’s overall care is the responsibility of her OB-GYN, who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. A high-risk OB-GYN has a lengthy education, residency and fellowship history to gain knowledge in caring for older patients, patients with specific medical conditions and patients carrying a pregnancy that has been determined to need specialized care. The perinatologist is not only capable of making diagnoses other obstetricians may miss, but can also perform specialized procedures and administer medications across the placenta (â€Å"Perinatologists,† n. d. ). She will assess the medical needs of Mrs.  Trosack and the fetus throughout the pregnancy, monitor fetal growth and development, order diagnostic tests as needed, and provide referrals to other specialists as needed. Working with the physician will be a nurse specializing in prenatal clients. This nurse has chosen to expand on her nursing education, taking additional classes and obtaining certifications specific to perinatal care. He will assess the couple’s understanding of pregnancy and prenatal care at the first visit and make a plan to educate them on each stage of pregnancy and fetal development as well as options available during labor and delivery. Additionally, he will ensure the couple understanding for each test or referral suggested by the physician. Due to the nature of the diagnosis, the couple will also benefit from a marriage and family therapist on their team. The couple has already expressed exasperation over the diagnosis, and volley between denial and acceptance of the diagnosis. Additionally, Mrs. Trosack has already expressed guilt over her workload and its â€Å"affect† on the baby. Mr. Trosack has expressed anger, which can lead to resentment. The strong emotions felt by both parties need to be expressed in a healthy way to preserve their marriage, and a therapist specializing in family matters is an appropriate facilitator. She will meet with the couple together, as well as individually to assess their feelings about the pregnancy, the Tay-Sachs diagnosis and the feelings they have toward each other. The therapy sessions will continue after the birth of their baby, due to the nature of the disease and the stress the baby’s health will add to their lives. Teaching Plan for the Initial Visit  The teaching plan for the Trosacks’ initial visit at the high-risk pregnancy center will include the following:  ·Genetic diagnosis—The Trosacks need to understand the diagnosis of Tay-Sachs: how it is transmitted, the probability of other pregnancies testing positive, and what symptoms their child is likely to develop. This will help them to understand they have done nothing wrong and prepare for the special needs their child will have.  ·Treatment—No treatment exists for the disease itself, but the Trosacks will benefit from learning about the symptoms their child may develop and how those symptoms are treated. They will be informed of ways to keep their child safe and comfortable during the illness.  ·Prognosis as it applies to Tay-Sachs—The prognosis for infantile Tay-Sachs is poor, with most children becoming progressively worse until their death by age 4 or 5. The Trosacks need to be informed of this so that they can make preparations—for themselves and other family members. Because most children develop normally until around six months of age, the Trosacks need to know that an absence of symptoms does not mean an absence of the disease (NTSAD, n. d. ). They need to know that their time with this child will be limited and filled with doctor visits and difficult medical decisions. With this education and advanced notice, they can begin to discuss which treatments they may consider (medications) and those treatments they may not want to consider (feeding tube).  ·Support groups and appropriate referrals—With the Internet, the community of support for families with Tay-Sachs has greatly expanded. The Trosacks will be given information on local support groups as well as the internet communities available to them. They will be directed to the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Disease, March of Dimes and National Organization for Rare Disorders websites to connect with other families who are living with Tay-Sachs. This support will help the Trosacks connect with the only other people who know what they are going through, share their concerns without fear of judgment, and learn from those have gone through it all personally.  ·Pregnancy information—Information on pregnancy is necessary for any pregnant woman, especially during her first pregnancy. Over the length of the pregnancy, the Trosacks will learn about how pregnancy and fetal development progresses during each trimester, what changes Mrs. Trosack can expect—physically and emotionally, and ways in which Mr. Trosack can be of assistance to her. The first visit will specifically cover the development to date and through the end of the first trimester. They will view pictures of the developing fetus and the ways in which Mrs. Trosack’s body is changing to accommodate the pregnancy. Ethical Implications of Having Genetic Information Available While genetic testing is a wonderful addition to the vast array of diagnostics medicine now offers, it can bring about new ethical implications. In reference to autonomy, genetic testing can sometimes reveal information about one’s family that was not known. For example, a Caucasian family may be surprised to find they are carriers for Sickle Cell disease, a disease found primarily in African-Americans and can bring about questions regarding the family history. These discussions may lead to the ethical issue of perceived invasions of privacy for other family members. Another example would be the dilemmas that occur when there is a difference in societal believes and one’s personal beliefs. First, â€Å"persons with a genetic condition may prefer not to learn that their offspring is at risk for the condition, or they may prefer to have offspring with the same condition present in other family members† (Halsey Lea, Williams, & Donahue, 2005, para. 15). Secondly, some people may feel it is unjust to bring a baby with anomalies into the world. The results of genetic testing in these instances may necessitate decisions about continuing pregnancy, selective termination and adoption. A third example of ethical dilemmas in regards to genetic information being available is in relation to beneficence and nonmalificence. For example, clinicians caring for a pregnant patient find the baby she is carrying has spina bifida. The patient states her sister had spina bifida and that she wants to deliver her baby in the community hospital with a midwife. The clinician now must balance her respect for her patient’s wishes with the concern she feels in allowing a baby with special needs to be born in an environment that cannot provide services that may improve the birth’s outcome (Halsey Lea et al. 2005). A fourth ethical issue is that of justice. For, some genetic disorders can be found with testing while others still cannot. For example, â€Å"the ability to identify carrier status for a mutation in the gene for cystic fibrosis is lower among Asian American and African American persons† than it is in Caucasians (Halsey Lea et al. , 2005). Thus, the results of testing performed on an Asian American or African American patient may not be a reliable indicator of their carrier status. Personal Thoughts, Feelings and Advocacy As a woman, this writer cannot begin to imagine the feelings felt by the Trosacks. After years of trying to conceive, they learn that they are finally pregnant only to find out their baby is likely to die by age five from a horrible, progressive disease. If in Mrs. Trosack’s shoes, would this writer be brave enough to continue the pregnancy, knowing the prognosis? I do not know. I am sure, however, that the Trosacks have a difficult road ahead of them. If I were Mrs. Trosack, I would expect to feel a constant state of grief—over the diagnosis and the life my child will not have, the loss of those milestones parents look forward to (first day of school, first dance, etc), the impending months or years of illness. I would hope that I could treasure the better moments I do have with my child—from birth to death, holding her as much as possible, trying to focus on the symptom-free moments, taking as many pictures as I can to record her short life. I question how angry a woman would feel in this situation. Surely, even those women with strong religious beliefs question the â€Å"why† of the diagnosis and circumstance. â€Å"Why, after all this time allow me to conceive if you’re going to give me a child so sick? What is the point of bringing a child into life if they are to suffer throughout? Why us? † Would a woman facing this diagnosis feel as if everyone pities her? While reading the case study, I found myself feeling pity for her, knowing that she would lose her child in such a horrible way after wanting a child so badly. Despite these feelings, the Trosacks’ choice to continue their pregnancy is just that†¦their choice. Many people think that being pro-choice means advocating for abortion. However, it is my belief that being pro-choice means advocating for people to make the best choice for themselves in particular situations. For, only those going through a particular situation know best how well or poorly they can handle a decision and circumstance. Their decision to continue a pregnancy after the diagnosis was made is a brave one and speaks volumes to their character and beliefs. The Trosacks’ case manager will work with each member of the interdisciplinary team to ensure they respect the wishes of the couple. The couple needs to know that they are supported and are being treated without judgment from the team members. She will meet with the team members to ensure they are able to continue treating with couple appropriately. If any of the team members express an inability to refrain from sharing their personal feelings with the couple, she will find suitable replacements. While the team members are entitled to their feelings, they are expected to keep those feelings to themselves when caring for patients. And, when patients are facing emotional and controversial decisions, the separation is even more important. Ethical and Legal Considerations When the Trosacks made the decision to continue the pregnancy after learning their baby has Tay-Sachs, they became bound, legally and ethically, to care for the child after the birth. Ethical considerations include the decision to bring a child into a life of poor health and early death after a progressive decline. Many people in society will judge them for this, and the child will be perceived in certain ways by others. Further, they will be faced with the decision to allow researchers to follow their child in an effort to gain more information about the disease in search for a cure. The child has no autonomy as a minor, and has no right to privacy when her parents are making the decisions. Another ethical question is who owns the genetic information? The genetic information is on the child’s DNA, but the parents are the ones making all the decisions. Legally, there are several areas of concern for the couple. First, they are now bound to provide healthcare to this child, despite the poor prognosis. They must provide food, clothing and shelter, and keep the child safe and comfortable as she declines. The child will eventually develop problems with swallowing, and at that time, will require further interventions to maintain life. Secondly, they are required to provide medical care for the child; and, with the poor prognosis, this is likely to involve many appointments, testing and medications or treatments. Third, they may have problems with insurance coverage, as some insurance policies may consider the child’s diagnosis to be pre-existing, denying coverage for any treatments associated with the disease. Though this is certainly not ethical, it is legal in this country, and may lead to financial problems and difficulty in continuing to obtain quality medical care.

It Takes Two to Tango- But Who Took the First Step Essay

It was a very controversial arrest that rang not just within the locality of Massachusetts but has echoed as an international dispute. What we are talking about in here is the contentious arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates by Sgt James Crowley together with other Cambridge police officers. The incident that relives the heat of the racism discussions happened 16th of July 2009 in Ware Streets, Cambridge, Massachusetts when a 911 call prompted the Cambridge Police Department about two males who seemed to be prowlers trying to break into one of the residences in the said place. The police officers responded to this alarming call from Lucia Whalen which led to the arrest of Professor Gates. (Trujillo) It is not surprising to hear two different tales from two different authors. What happened between police officers responding and the professor’s arrest is a story of a split version. In one hand Sgt Crowley and the rest of the team who responded to this very particular incident reasoned out that the detainment was due to â€Å"disorderly conduct† of Mr. Gates. For the party this would be sufficient enough to justify the arrest of the professor despite the fact that he was able to identify himself as the owner of the place he was reported to be breaking in. On the other hand Professor Henry Louis Gates strongly believed that a noticeable issue of racism was behind his arrest. This confrontation disturbed the public for several gray areas can be found in the story. People of course are divided by their own opinions regarding this matter. Who is right and who is wrong? Who acted accordingly and who delineated from what is proper? This issue reminds me of a cliche that is indeed of great value-it takes two to tango. Never was there an instance where a fire is ignited by a single force alone. What happened in Massachusetts in Professor Gate’s home shouldn’t have taken place if both of them analyzed the situation in the most critical manner. However even tough it’s true that it takes two to tango; we always have to remember that someone has to take the first step always. According to the news police officers reported that Professor Gates shouted at them and inculpated them with being racially biased officers. (Fox News) Moreover, police reports said that Gates displayed rough behavior with them with his strong belief that everything is all about his color and even warned the officers that they do not know who they are messing with. (Thompson) With these alleged display of behavior we definitely can say that Professor Gate really was moving and acting with his emotions in his head. It is always a weakness for someone to cling with his or her emotional outrages if he or she wanted to be critical in thinking for he or she demarcates him/herself from reason. Professor Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor who is also cradling the responsibility of being the Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University. This highly-acclaimed cultural critic also is the editor-in-chief of the online magazine centering on the interests of African American people. Studies) Having these entire in mind we can say that professor Gates really must be sensitive about the issue of race and racial discrimination. Thus having a seemingly first hand experience of it would definitely ignite a hot temper. Maybe things would have gotten a different way if Professor Gates was able to recognize his own biases and assumptions in reference to the point of view of the cops. This is a prerequisite for self awareness that is nee ded for one to be critically mindful. Also weighing of the scope and gravity of evidences would have helped Professor Gates in handling the situation in a lighter way. The main concern that has led Sgt James Crowley and team to the doorsteps of Professor Gates was the alleged burglary and although it wasn’t a smooth flowing type of talking the fact that the professor was able to identify himself as the resident of the place should have ended everything. However, it did not. Being accused of stealing something that belonged to you wouldn’t make you feel okay. Instinct would definitely trigger a negative emotion that might lead to series of acts that aren’t mindful at all. Sgt Crowley could have saved a better encounter with the professor if he was able to control his seemingly egotistical judgment and if he has been open to several other ways of understanding the entire situation. Moreover, if Sgt Crowley was also able to recognize emotional whims before he acted upon the situation, things should have gone differently. It is the two sides of the coin that this article is looking at. If you ask me who between the two let their ego move them, well it’s both of them. And for who made the first step, maybe it doesn’t matter for they both let a disturbing dance reach the international stage that even President Obama have had something to say. In response to a question thrown on him regarding Professor Gate’s arrest, President Obama mentioned three interesting comments. â€Å"But I think it’s not fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry. No. 2, the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And No. what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that’s just a fact. † (Fox News) This comment also generated a controversy around the international arena. Cops not just in Massachusetts reacted negatively on what Obama said in the conference. Good thing the president knew what to do. The â€Å"beer summit,† which was a talk initiated by the President himself to end the dispute and issue for once has cooled both parties and solved the problems. Fox News) Both parties were held together after the conversation at the White House and Professor Gates who previously is planning a lawsuit against Sgt Crowley is no longer talking about this after being able to know Sgt Crowley better with the help of the invitation for a conversation by the president. Moreover in an email to Boston Globe, Gates stated that he was ready to move on pass that arresting experience. With a cooler head Gates even identified his experience to be adding up to the history of race relations in the entire America. (Fox News) Sgt James Crowley continued being silent about the issue even after the talk over beers in the White House. After the incident, all ends well. Everyone is back doing their own profession. It is really important to keep in mind that actions moved by emotional outrage wouldn’t serve anything nice at all. It is indeed being in the height of an emotion that we would least do decision making and talking. Self restraint will be the best guide if we know how to master it. People are certainly different creatures for two reasons; emotion and reason. Both are powerful thus it can make us or break us if we wouldn’t know how to control them. A person who can control his or her emotion and who knows how to use reason is unlikely to be involved in problematic situation such as this incident. I believe that both Professor Gates and Sgt Crowley know how to handle the situation. I think they both know what to do and what not to do in that very scenario it is just that the emotional height and egotistical concerns reigned more rather than reason. And there started the problem which actually could have been prevented if both take even just a few seconds to think before they have acted. This might be easier said than done but it is ideal. It is not perfection that we want; it is just all about maximizing the capability of man over his or her emotions. In every situation we always wanted to do the right thing, we always wanted to be critical so as to lessen any mistakes in the decisions we make or words we say or things we do. Being critical though is not an easy task; it takes a lot of maturity and open-mindedness, rationality and judgment. In addition to this, it needs practice-continuous practice for it to be a habit. Professor Gates and Sgt Crowley both have a contribution to why that incident occurred in the first place thus having an equal share of a kind of publicity whether positive or negative that would leave a mark in their lives as they leave marks in human’s history.

Case Study on a Day Care Essay Example for Free

Case Study on a Day Care Essay When couples are engaging in family planning, there are several things that they have to take into consideration. One such thing is the care of the child or children when it is time for them to return to work. A common option over the years has been that of the day care or child care center. Parents today are realizing the importance of daycare centers in their children’s development. They are looking for daycare centers that not only will take care of their child while they are away but also will provide quality, real-life learning opportunities and experiences. These learning opportunities will ensure that children are prepared not only for their academic life in school but also for real life situations outside the daycare center and their own homes. There are five basic categories of day cares: Child care centers, educational day care, family day care, non-profit day care and subsidized day care. A child care center is a large day-care provider and is often franchised under a brand name. They often have extensive facilities, including swimming pools and large playgrounds. They also provide day care for multiple ages divided into smaller groups by age. Educational day cares are intended to provide children with pre-school learning and skills to prepare her for kindergarten or elementary school. They strive to provide children with rounded spiritual, physical, mental and emotional support to prepare them for life’s challenges. A family day care is provided in the care-giver’s home, usually with the provider’s children present. They provide a familiar and comfortable setting for your child. A family day care often is smaller than other types of day care. Non-profit day cares are run by non-profit organizations, such as churches or synagogues. They sometimes include religious schooling and are often more affordable than other types of day care because of their non-profit status. Subsidized day care programs are those that provide financial assistance either through the federal or state government or an employer. The day care visited by group five, was an educational daycare. The daycare caters to children between three (3) months and three (3) years old. At the beginning of September, there were a total of forty (40) children. Currently, there are twenty-six (26) children there. Space and Equipment The day care is clean and sanitary. There is no garbage lying around, floors are clean as they are constantly mopped when messes are made. The kitchen is large enough to facilitate the free movement when 2-3 persons are in there making food preparations. It is also away from the areas where diapers are changed and away from the bathroom. It is clear that great consideration was taken in regards to inclement weather, as the space in the day care is large enough to separate sleeping children from playing children and those who are learning. The area is large enough for everyone to play when they are unable to go outside even though the tables where they have their meals are there. There are five smoke detectors throughout the building, a fire aid kit and a fire extinguisher that are strategically places. Standard childproofing techniques are utilized, (covered outlets, safety gates, door latches). The center is secure, having a buzzer that is working and therefore, strangers are not able to just walk in from the streets. The building is properly lit and ventilated and doors are placed strategically as well to facilitate emergency exit if necessary. There is short term parking space at the front for parents and guardians who come to drop off and pick up their children. Caregivers’ Credentials/Qualifications Because the caregivers are expected to create a safe and stimulating environment for the children to develop in, it is important that the staff get formal training that will equip them with the tools necessary to do so. All the members of staff are qualified. The qualifications held are varied. There are members of staff who have Level 1 and 2 Certificates in Early Childhood Care and Development from HEART Trust NTA. Other qualification held by staff is a Certificate in Practical Nursing and Heart care and a Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education. Programme Activities At this stage of the child’s development, it is important to have activities that engage the children’s minds and develop skills that will be needed in further learning. At the day care, there is a structured schedule that includes plenty of time for physical activity, quiet time (including daily reading sessions for groups and individuals), group activities, individual activities, meals, snacks, and free time. The activities cover the duration of time that the children are at the day care from the moment of arrival to the time of departure. The physical activities come in varied forms including music movement (dance) and play time- outdoor play and free play. Free play is for the children to do whatever they feel like doing, whether it is engaging in imaginative play with their little friends or by themselves, playing with toys, or looking through their picture books. Outdoors, there is a slide, a swing, a monkey bar and some tires for the children to crawl through. Group activities include some aspects of the physical activities and story time, as well as their varied creative, manipulative activities. Such creative/manipulative activities include finger painting, drawing, and making things out of clay dough. This is done with the assistance of the staff. A lot of the stories are made up based on a series of pictures that are taped to the walls of the daycare. Caregivers also engage the children in picture games. The children form a ring and are shown pictures that they are to identify. Those who correctly identify the pictures get an extra treat at meal time. They are also taught nursery rhymes such as â€Å"hey diddle diddle†, and â€Å"itsy bitsy spider† and the alphabet song. There are designated times for snacks, and other meals. They do not allow the children to eat right throughout the day but encourage the habit of eating at intervals. There is also designated naptime and quiet time for the children. The activities are very appropriate as they are in keeping with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. In the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which is the first stage, Piaget stresses the importance of discovery through a child’s active interaction with the environment. Between birth and age two (2), children discover the world using their senses and motor activity because they are limited by their inability to use language or symbols at this stage. Therefore, the hands on activities that they are engaged in, helps to enhance cognitive development at this stage. Teacher-child Relationships According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development, trust is identified as the first major developmental task of early childhood, and is established in children’s first relationship with their caregivers, parents and teachers. Trust is the first pre-requisite for effective learning. It encourages a sense of well-being and emotional security in young children, creating a solid foundation for future learning from the dynamic experiences of childhood. Without the support of early trust relationships with caring adults, children are ill-equipped to take the kinds of risk essential to the learning process. Trust develops when children come to anticipate positive experiences in the child care settings. If trust is to develop, children need sensitive and perceptive caregivers that understand children’s needs and consistently offer tender, responsive care. Having received formal training for the purpose of taking care of the children, they have an understanding of the importance of their interactions with the children and therefore treat the children accordingly. It is evident that the children trust their caregivers as they affectionately refer to them as â€Å"Auntie† and warm smile light up their tiny faces whenever they see the members of staff walk through the door. The staff plays with the children during their playtime. There is prompt responsiveness to the cries or outbursts of the children and reassurance is given when the infant is crying, except in cases when the child is throwing a tantrum. In such instances, the infant is spoken to firmly but gently. The ratio of teacher to child is 1: 6. However, the caretakers try to share their attentions evenly among the children. They tend to group the children together when they are interacting with them so that none is left out. There were demonstrations of positive reinforcement from the caregivers. When a child did not like what was prepared for them to eat, he or she was coaxed into eating by the use of various methods, one of which was to pretend that the spoonful of food was an airplane loaded with niceties. The child was praised when he or she would chew the food and swallow it. The caregiver would also reward the child with the option of having their juice before the water if the food was eaten. A sense of autonomy is identified as the second major developmental task of early childhood and is developed when a child is allowed to practice newly acquired physical skills. At the daycare, the children are encouraged to do things for themselves. There are toddlers who prefer to feed themselves, even though they make a bit of a mess when they do. Nonetheless, they are allowed to do so. They are encouraged to pick up after themselves and therefore run around picking up toys when they are done playing. During outdoor play, the older and stronger children are allowed to climb the monkey bars by themselves with the ‘Auntie’ hovering close by to give assistance if it is needed. Recommendations A good day care is one that has a good reputation. No one will want to send their child/children to a daycare that has a bad track record. Established ground rules and policies are important and this is something a good day care has. These rules and policies should include what to do when a child gets sick, or has an accident while at the daycare, schedule pick up times (even though there should be some amount of flexibility with this), safety policies, etcetera. A good day care has a stimulating curriculum that is age appropriate. As these are the formative of a child’s life, activities should be geared at setting a foundation of later learning. The day care should have a license that is current. This is an indication that the day care is in legal operation. Qualified staff is also important. Parents want to know that when they drop their children off at the day care, they are in good hands. The facilities should be clean and safe as well. The day care of study can be considered to be a good one. However, there are a few things that could be done to improve the facility. The acquisition of more qualified staff is something that should be looked into. Even though the caregivers try to pay attention to all the children in their care, it can be taxing for one staff member to have to oversee six children at once, especially during play time. There is a need for more toys for the children, especially building blocks. There is presently a toy drive going on to help with the endeavor of procuring more toys. In doing so, they can look into getting another slide as the tiny one that is there cannot suffice for all the children that want to use it during outdoor play. They need to also look into getting straps or bars put on the swing as there are children who have a habit of getting in and out of the swing while it is in flight. This can be very harmful to them. The monkey bar is also a cause of concern as it is very dangerous, especially for the smaller children. The spaces between each bar are too wide and therefore adjustments may have to be made by putting plastic or wooden bars in between each space to reduce the width that the children will have to climb on. There is a gate at the end of one of the driveways that is too far from the ground and so the ball continues to go under the gate when the children play in the driveway. They need to lower the gate or put something to block the opening so that the ball does not run onto the road. Closing Remarks Members of group five (5) can conclude that the visit to the day care was a productive one. The time spent with the children was thoroughly enjoyed as there was more than mere observation. The day care is a great one and should become better if the things in the afore mentioned recommendations are taken into consideration. Group five would recommend this day care to parents and guardians seeking one as they take into consideration the holistic development of the children. Case Study on a Day Care. (2016, Dec 21).

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 8

Case Study - Essay Example In this session we would be reviewing the leadership skills displayed by Navy commander D. Michael Abrashoff, in order to define and learn different theories of leadership. This review would be well backed by the statement of impact of these theories on the work force relating them to the leadership model of Navy commander D. Michael Abrashoff who captioned the three hundred highly skilled sailors of USS Benfold. This case study was selected, as the leadership skills which are being reviewed would fit into the improvisation methodology of any management scenario. The trait theory suggests that there are some identifiable qualities or characteristics that should be possessed by the leaders and the degree of efficacy of a leader would be directly proportional to the extent of these qualities or characteristics held by them. Some of the qualities which fall under the trait theory are as following A leader should be able to understand the context and content of his designation and assigned responsibilities. The dynamics of internal and external environmental variables which would affect the activities of the enterprise should be grasped well by the leader. It also implies to the technical competence and sound general education of the leader. The leadership quality of intelligence was reflected a number of times in the leadership model set by D. Michael Abrashoff while captioning the three hundred highly skilled sailors of USS Benfold, the U.S. Navys warship. His technical competence was proved as he had an excellent service record, combat experience, and had held prestigious posts in Washington, DC. Moreover his technical expertise had provided Benfold the reputation of being the best ship in the Pacific fleet. He could analyze the smartness and talent of his crew within no time and he viewed the internal and external environmental variables through the eyes of the crew. It was his ability to grasp the work situation realities,

The Polarization Of American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Schizohrenia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Schizohrenia - Essay Example This disease effects how a person thinks and operates, and has multiple symptoms. A person with this disease may have delusions or believe they are seeing apparitions that are not there. They also may even hear things that aren’t real, and their mind is all the time really playing tricks on them. A person can also have hallucinations and other things go wrong, all effecting how a person perceives what is happening to them outside of their self. The disease readily taps a person’s emotional and mental health, and causes huge effects on both. A person who has been diagnosed should seek help and treatment for this disease, and try to find help. This disease can be a painful mental condition to live with, as you are hearing and seeing things that are not real and are not really there. Schizophrenia is a mental disease that can really cause a person to loose touch with reality and become lost in what isn’t really there. This disease can become harmful, as well as scary to the person who is struggling to live with this disease. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder than can cause a person to see things that aren’t really there, to having moments where the person can see or hear things that aren’t real. A person who is affected by this disease â€Å"is typically characterized as demonstrating disorganized thinking, and as experiencing delusions or hallucinations, in particular auditory hallucinations† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia). This disease can have major effects on a person’s different behaviors and emotional health, and can cause negative impacts on both. Diagnosis of this condition relies heavily on the input of the person who believes they have the condition, as well as input from medical professionals. There are many different ideas about what exactly causes the conditions, with â€Å"genetics, early environment, neurobiology and psychological and social processes† all candidates for possible causes for this condition†

Market structures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Market structures - Essay Example Since the market power is equitably distributed among the sellers in this market who sell homogenous products the markets generally have a downward sloping demand curve. On the other hand the individual firm will face a horizontal demand curve as the price would be set by the market and it will be given to the individual seller. While the market equilibrium of a perfect competition would be at the point of intersection of the demand the supply curve, the individual firm will produce at the point where Marginal Cost curve cuts the Average cost curve from below. In this figure the firm will earn only normal profits as the firm has to supply the products in the market at the price which is equal to the cost of production of the company. Source: Arnold, 2013 Characteristics There is no barrier to entry or exit in this type of market. Any firm may easily come into the competitive scenario and may leave the market without having a major effect on the demand and supply in the market. The fi rms sell homogenous products which mean that the buyers would be indifferent between the sellers who offer the products in the market. ... Each of the firms has a single portion of the market share. The production will take place at the point where ATC curve is tangent to the market demand curve instead of the point where the MC curve cuts the ATC curve from below. Source: Arnold, 2013 Characteristics: The products sold in a monopolistic competition are a differentiated product which means they are not perfect substitutes of one another. The produces have some control over the market price and hence there is excess capacity in the process of production. The quantity produced would be less compared to that of perfectly competitive markets. Monopoly In a monopoly market there is a single seller and a large number of buyers. Since the entire market power is in the hands of the single seller the price is set above the price that is present in the perfectly competitive markets. The monopolist will produce at the point where MR is equal to MC. This is depicted in the diagram below. Source: Varian, 2010 Characteristics In case of a monopolist there is presence of excess capacity and the quantity produced is less than that of the competitive markets. There is high barrier to enter the monopolistic market is very high. Oligopoly An oligopolistic market is that which has a few sellers and a large number of buyers. The market power is distributed among the sellers of the markets. There may be different types of oligopolistic competition. While some firms may be fighting price competition the others would fight the quantity competition. Characteristics The firms in the oligopolistic markets are the price setters. The barriers to entry in this type of market are high. Answer 2 The market for fresh vegetables in the city is an example of perfectly competitive market. In this market there are a large number of

Cash vs. Accrual Accounting and Balance Sheets Essay

Cash vs. Accrual Accounting and Balance Sheets - Essay Example With the help of the cash accounting method any organization can identify its exact cash flow, provided if the company has entered each and every transaction in the account. Cash accounting method is comparatively easy to perform. Accrual basis accounting is the process where the transactions are taken into consideration once the order is made, the product is distributed, and service is provided. It does not consider the time when the amount is paid or received. In the accrual method of accounting, the expenses and the income would be recorded once the goods and the services have been received or the sale has occurred. It would not consider the payment at the same time of the transaction. This method essentially gives priority to the benefits or the facilities given or received and not the monetary transaction. Cash accounting method is more popular than any other accounting systems. Cash accounting method is easy to execute, on the other hand, accrual accounting method is more accur ate in case of making a balance sheet for any organization. At times, accrual accounting is difficult to execute, due to certain confusions in the balance sheets. In the cash accounting method it is easy to maintain the finance, as the entry is not allowed till the payment is received on the sale and vice versa. On the other hand, the accrual accounting method would increase the difficulties as the transactions might be entered before getting the payment, which might inturn raise problems for the organization. Both the accounting methods are helpful to evaluate and to analyze the company finance at the end of the financial year, with their distinct natures. Q2. The cash accounting method is easier to perform in case of small businesses. The cash accounting method does not record the transactions in the balance sheet until and unless the payment has been done for the transaction, either by the buyer or by the seller. Once an organization pays for the order placed, the transaction wou ld enter the balance sheet and at the same time if the organization receives the payment for the order placed to them, they would enter the detail of the transaction. It is an easy process, provided the company size is small. Cash accounting does not enter all the dealings at the time of the transaction, thus it would create difficulties and conflicts in case of larger sized organizations. Therefore, they imply the accrual accounting method for its better accuracy and clarity. Accrual accounting system includes all the transactions made either paid or not. This helps to know the exact cash flow of an organization. Therefore, the cash accounting is more popular in small businesses and the accrual accounting is more effective in case of the big enterprises. Assignment 2 Q1. Balance Sheet is one of the most vital and crucial aspects of financial accounting. It is the total or the summarized value of the finance of an organization at the end of the financial year. A balance sheet includ es partnership, proprietorship, assets of a company, and liabilities of a company and the equity of the owner among others. The date on the balance sheet after every financial year is different in case of different companies. If in any case a company does not have their balance sheet, for example Microsoft, it would be very difficult to know the transactions made by the company, whether the company has faced loss or profit, what are the liabilities and the assets of