The Effects Of Domestic Violence On Teens - 1386 Words

1 out of every 3 teenagers will experience some form of domestic violence within a relationship before they turn 25. Out of these people, only 1 out of every 3 will tell someone about it (PDVG). Dating violence among teenagers has risen alarmingly in the past few years, and unfortunately many people in this age group do not have the maturity or common sense to recognize warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Due to this, many teenagers become trapped in toxic relationships and it can damage them mentally and physically. Domestic violence amongst teens is a complicated, touchy subject with complex causes that can cause many psychological effects as well as lead to problems for the teenage victims later in life. Abusive behavior in teenage relationships can stem from many different complicated sources. According to a study on teen dating abuse done by Liz Claiborne 72% of teens say that serious boyfriend/girlfriend relationships usually start at the age of 14. At this young age, many teens are easily influenced by what they see around them and are unable to properly channel their emotions. Due to their impressionability, seeing violence and aggression around them, especially if they themselves have or have had an abusive family member, can cause teens to believe it is acceptable to act this was towards others. â€Å"Teen dating violence† as it is often called, can also be caused by mental illnesses such as depression, paranoia, or schizophrenia. Teenagers with these,Show MoreRelatedDomestic Violence : The United States And Around The World Essay979 Words   |  4 PagesKnowledge of domestic violence is becoming prevalent in the United States and around the world. Family violence, teen dating violence and intimate partner violence are being talked about openly more; they are also becoming known as abuse and not something that is just â€Å"ok† or â€Å"just how a person is†. Beliefs and laws are changing toward nonviolence as discussed in this report. There are several different types of domestic violence that affect people today. According to â€Å"justice.gov† (2014), domestic violenceRead MoreTeens and Domestic Violence1336 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s society, teens are becoming more and more involved in domestic violence. No one would have thought that we would have a problem with domestic violence in our generation, that we left that back in the ancient times. We have overlooked domestic violence, we thought that it wasn’t an important matter but now in the past decade it has increased rapidly. In this paper, I will discuss whether or not teens are being physically and emotionally hurt in relationships are because when they were youngerRead MoreYouth Crime And Domestic Violence Essay1599 Words   |  7 Pages Youth Crime and Domestic Violence Name: Institution: Youth Crime and Domestic Violence Introduction Youth Crime has increased in New Zealand and although the prosecution has decreased the issue has attracted the attention of the members of the public. According to data from the Ministry of Justice (2015) the numbers of children between the ages of ten to thirteen and young people between the ages of fourteen and sixteen who are charged in court is lowest in over two decades. NonethelessRead MoreDomestic Violence : Violence Between Adult Intimate Partners1632 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic Violence Introduction Domestic Violence isn t just hitting, or fighting, or an occasional mean argument. It s a chronic abuse of power. The abuser tortures and controls the victim by calculated threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Actual physical violence is often the end result of months or years of intimidation and control. Defining the problem: Domestic violence is violence between adult intimate partners. Though the definition above seems simple enough (it is widely acceptedRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On People1708 Words   |  7 Pages What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is when a person uses a physical violence such as threats, intimidation, isolation, stalking, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and taking control over another partner in a relationship (Understanding abuse). This happens every day to thousands of people all over the world. It’s a serious issue and people don t realize how serious it is. It’s killing people, ruining families, and leaving a lasting impact on people. Each year, 2 million people are injuredRead MoreEffects of Domestic Violence on Children908 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Domestic Violence on Children by Mary Pelham English 1010-19 5 October 2011 Pelham i Outline I. Effects on younger children A. Feelings of deprivation Read MoreArgumentative Essay On Domestic Abuse1312 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic abuse has touched the lives of most people, whether the victim was themselves, a family member, or a friend. They’ve seen it happen to countless women and men too. It’s incredibly important to start education of domestic abuse awareness early, because the effects of abuse go far deeper into the lives of survivors than is acknowledged, and the effects can be present for years after the abuse stops. Even teenagers -- still literal children -- are at risk for this new epidemic. Most teenagersRead MoreThe Cost Of Domestic Violence1662 Words   |  7 PagesCenteria Cooley Sociology 101 Professor Nelms 20 November 2015 The Cost of Domestic Violence in America â€Å"Just because the scare have healed, doesn’t mean the pain has.† –healthyplace.com Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to exhibit control over another person through fear and intimidation by threat, force, or use of violence in intimate relationships. This issue has been an overlooked problem in American society for ages however as it becomes mainstream time and time again and theRead MoreChild Exposure to Domestic Violence1163 Words   |  5 PagesChild Exposure to Domestic Violence Introduction: Domestic Violence is any willful intimidations, sexual assault, physical assaults, or any other forms of physical or verbal violent behavior by one intimate partner towards another. Domestic Violence can create both psychological and emotional effects on both the intended victim and anyone that witnesses it to include children. Some children that witness domestic violence are experiencing serious effects that they have to deal with all theirRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Teenage Dating1512 Words   |  7 PagesThe Negative Effects of Teenage Dating Sean D. Foster Bellevue University The biggest threat about teenage dating is their inability to maintain a relationship. Teenagers mostly, do not understand the necessity of sustaining a relationship over a period of time. Therefore, frequent break ups and arguments lead to attempts of suicide, teenage pregnancy, STD’s, teen violence, and substance abuse. This happens due to lack of experience and a broader understanding of what relationships are (Dasgupta

My Interview On My Roommate s Boyfriend - 1711 Words

For this assignment, I chose to perform my interview on my roommate’s boyfriend; Jose Sandoval. I have been friends with him for about one year, the time that he has been dating my roommate. I have to say that we get along very well, he often comes to hang out at our apartment and we have shared some good times; the three of us together. To be honest, I thought I knew him pretty well up to this point. Well, I was wrong. After completing the interview, I was able to learn so many new things about his background, which I will happily share now for this assignment. This paper will transcribe his life story with three major areas of focus. My first focus will revolve around his life before moving to the United States. Secondly, I will describe his immigration process and lastly, the paper will also touch on how his life progressed once living in the United States. First and foremost, this section carries out a detailed interview on Jose’s life before his arrival to the United States of America. Where I discussed his family bond and focused on his growing up environment and his biculturalism through playing Mexican and American games and the constant migration and tourism that revolved around this city. My interviewer made reference of having a strong bond among his family while growing up. His family was composed by his father, mother and two older siblings; brother and sister, who always treated him, like their own son. They spoke to each other in Spanish, did everythingShow MoreRelatedInterview From My Subculture Of People With Siblings Who Have Developmental Disabilities1073 Words   |  5 Pageschose to interview from my subculture of people with siblings who have developmental disabilities is my roommate Hannah Dorough. Hannah and I had met briefly before coming to school at various events through the University Honors Program before we truly introduced ourselves at SOAR at the beginning of June. Since then, we have become close friends throughout our time spent living together in our dorm room. I interviewed Hannah in our dorm room this past Sunday after I got back to school from my weekendRead MoreThe Lgbt Community And Its Own Unique Culture Essay1572 Words   |  7 Page s Before starting my research on the LGBT community and it’s own unique culture, I didn’t know too much about it. All I knew was that I myself was very accepting of it and was in no way judgemental of anyone who felt that they belonged in that community. Little did I know that the term â€Å"LGBT† has grown to include other categories. According to Mardell (2016), â€Å"LGBTQIA+: Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/aromantic, and plus for other identitiesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Devil Wears Prada 1294 Words   |  6 Pagesthe same character trait and even better since Miranda’s unpredictable character comes with surprises. Lastly, Miranda is ordered to type an entire speech for just 30 minutes or so. The friendship with Lily Goodwin, her former roommate and relationship with Alex, her boyfriend which are a fundamental and critical apart of life are dwindled as shown in the movie. This calls for a flexible and timely employee so as to maintain what has been there and accommodate what has come his/her way as well. SoRead MoreRelationships And Family Roles Over Three Generation Of Women Essay2166 Words   |  9 PagesThis paper was written to explore the changes in the relationships and family roles over three generation of woman in the same family. My major focus in my interviews on the three powerhouse woman in my life, my grandma, mom, and sister, and how each woman’s life is different in respect to the types of relationships they’ve had and how this relates to trends from class and how they don’t. Joan Dorothy DeGolier (Zebraski) – March 16th 1930 Mrs. Joan DeGolier was born on March 16th 1930 in New YorkRead MoreThe Relationship Between Women And Women Essay1951 Words   |  8 PagesInterviews were conducted to explore the changes in the relationships over three generations of woman’s lives in the same family. The majority of the focus is on the type of relationships each woman have had in their lives and how these relationships have shaped their lives. The powerhouse woman who were interviewed are my Grandmother, Mother, and older Sister. Joan Dorothy DeGolier (Zebraski) – March 16th, 1930 Mrs. Joan DeGolier was born on March 16th, 1930 in New York. She met her future husbandRead MoreDepression : Depression And Rape2997 Words   |  12 Pagesrecurrent thoughts of death or suicide.† I was 18 years old around the time I had my first serious episode of depression. I was depressed about an attempted rape that almost occurred at a party. Fortunately I had good friends and family to help me be able to talk about my problems. I did however become open about what was happening to me. Additionally, I found out that I was at risk for depression because there are people in my family with Bipolar Disorder which can cause depression. There are many differentRead MoreTruth in media Essay2752 Words   |  12 Pageseasily accessed by just looking at the rack in the supermarket, and could have been seen by anyone, of any age. The target audience is from male teens to men, to improve their sex life. The article shows a very young couple, in late teens to early 20’s, without any clothes on, and only a bed sheet to cover the female breast area. Pornography: The article suggestively simulates that the couple is having sexual intercourse. The female is sitting facing the male, with both arms wrapped around him, withRead MoreEssay on Media Portrayal of Mental Illness in America3893 Words   |  16 PagesThe chances of a serious injury are very slim (Mental Health Organization, n.d.). Despite the history and stigmatization surrounding mental illness, perception of the mentally ill has changed in some ways in the past few decades. Back in the 1950s, people saw mental illness as an unidentifiable and confusing concept. The public was uneducated and unaware of the truth of mental illness. Surveys and studies show that back then people could not differentiate between normal lows and diagnosable symptoms;Read MoreMedia Portrayal of Mental Illness in America4048 Words   |  17 PagesThe chances of a serious injury are very slim (Mental Health Organization, n.d.). Despite the history and stigmatization surrounding mental illness, perception of the mentally ill has changed in some ways in the past few decades. Back in the 1950s, people saw mental illness as an unidentifiable and confusing concept. The public was uneducated and unaware of the truth of mental illness. Surveys and studies show that back then people could not differentiate between normal lows and diagnosable symptoms;Read MoreWe Googled You - Hbr Case Stydy5679 Words   |  23 Pageswww.hbrreprints.org HBR CASE STUDY AND COMMENTARY S hould Fred hire M imi d espite her on line history? Four commentators offer e xpert advice. We Googled You by Diane Coutu †¢ Reprint R0706A Hathaway Jones’s CEO has found a promising candidate to open the company’s flagship store in Shanghai. Should a revelation on the Internet disqualify her now? HBR CASE STUDY We Googled You COPYRIGHT  © 2007 HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Secret Circle The Divide Chapter 23 Free Essays

Darkness for miles, that was all Cassie could see. A red-toned darkness like the insides of her own eyelids, but her eyes were wide open. She sensed the ramshackle house far out in the distance, hidden within the blackened night. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Divide Chapter 23 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She called out, Scarlett! Scarlett didn’t come to Cassie in this dream – Cassie went to her. She forced her way through the pitch-black night as if blind and mad, holl ering Scarlett’s name. It was like traveling through outer space in a starless universe, but with persistence Cassie hit upon what she was searching for. The house. And through the rickety door of the house, Cassie discovered Scarlett. She was bound at the wrists and ankles to a splintered wooden post, and she was screaming. They were whipping her. Whoever they were. Cassie tried to make out the hunters’ faces, but she couldn’t. They didn’t have faces; they were formless black entities like ghosts. She could only sense their trembling dark souls and how they were frightened to the point of brutality. It was their fear driving them, fear of the unknown, of the supernatural, of witchcraft. Like Holy War soldiers, their faith in their own righteousness was unbreakable, and their capacity for violence against their enemies was extreme. They whipped Scarlett mercilessly over and over again, unaffected by her screams. Cassie wondered why the hunters didn’t tape Scarlett’s mouth shut, to quiet her. And then the thought occurred to her like a light being switched on. The hunters wanted Scarlett to talk, to spil information – not only the secrets of her magic, Cassie realized, but the secrets of the Circle, who they were and where to find them. Scarlett cried and shrieked and spit at the shapeless hunters, but no words escaped her bruised mouth. Was she bearing all this pain to protect the Circle? And to protect Cassie? Her beaten body hung from the wooden post limp and wilted like a dying flower. Her face was a mess of blood and dirt, and one of her eyes had swelled completely shut. Her damp red hair dripped like blood down her bony shoulders. She’d been stripped almost nude; her torso and legs were streaked with lash marks and purple welts. How much longer could she possibly take such abuse? Like in the last dream she’d had, Cassie couldn’t move. Her feet were frozen in place at the doorway – from where she could see Scarlett but wasn’t sure if Scarlett could see her. She called out to her from where she stood. Scarlett, I know where you are, she said. And I’ll be there soon. I promise. With that, she jolted awake. My sister, Cassie thought, my poor, dear sister. She’d rather Scarlett give the hunters what they wanted, to tell them the entire truth about the Circle, if it meant they’d release her alive. Better that than seeing her die to protect them. Scarlett had come to New Salem to seek out the them. Scarlett had come to New Salem to seek out the safety of the Circle, not the other way around. How had the situation come to this? But Scarlett was still alive, that much Cassie was sure of. And as long as she was still alive, there was still time to rescue her. Maybe if the Circle understood that Scarlett was being tortured for protecting them, they’d consider rescuing her a little more seriously. Maybe they’d finally accept her as one of their own. And then there was a piercingly loud sound in Cassie’s ear. She looked over at her nightstand and realized her phone was ringing, but who could be calling at this time of night? â€Å"hello?† Cassie answered cautiously, half-believing it was going to be one of the ancient witch hunters from her dream on the other end of the line. But the scratchy voice that apologized for waking her belonged to Deborah. â€Å"What’s happened?† Cassie knew if Deborah was calling her in the middle of the night that someone was either hurt or dead, possibly both. â€Å"Someone set Laurel’s lawn on fire,† Deborah said. â€Å"Burning in the shape of the hunter symbol.† If Cassie hadn’t just woken from a nightmare, she would have sworn she’d just entered one. â€Å"Laurel’s been marked,† Deborah added, in case Cassie didn’t comprehend the full magnitude of the situation. Cassie suddenly felt like she was suffocating, like one of the hunters from her nightmare had grabbed hold of her neck and was squeezing the breath out of her. â€Å"Cassie?† Deborah said. â€Å"Are you okay?† Cassie coughed. Laurel. Of all people to be marked, they’d gotten to sweet, peace-loving Laurel. How could this be happening? â€Å"I’m just shocked,† Cassie said. â€Å"Go on.† Deborah resumed speaking in her gravelly whisper. â€Å"So we’re going to have a Circle meeting early tomorrow before school. To figure out what to do.† â€Å"Of course,† Cassie said. â€Å"I’ll be there.† â€Å"We’re meeting at Diana’s. At six thirty A.M.† â€Å"Okay.† Cassie felt shaky and weird. Her voice didn’t come out sounding like her own. Those invisible hands were still squeezing her throat closed, making it hard for her to breathe. â€Å"Is Laurel all right?† she managed to ask. But the phone clicked. Deborah had already hung up. It struck Cassie as strange that of all the Circle members who could have called her with this news, it was Deborah who did it. Not Adam or Diana. Careful not to wake her mother, Cassie got out of bed, slipped on her sneakers, and wrapped her jacket around her shoulders. Then she unlatched the front door and slinked out to the edge of their property. From high up on the bluff she had a long view of the whole block, every old house on crooked Crowhaven Road – the ones in good repair as well as the ones that looked as if they might tip over into splintering timbers in a strong wind. Cassie strained her eyes to see far out. First, she saw that the fire had been extinguished, but she could still smell the remnants of smoke and burnt grass in the air. And then she noticed two bodies moving around in the dark, along she noticed two bodies moving around in the dark, along the outskirts of the lawn. It was difficult to make out who it was through the lingering smoke. Cassie squinted her eyes, but it was no use. She considered taking the walk down. It had to be someone in the Circle. But then the bodies began moving closer, and Cassie recognized who it was. It was Adam and Diana. Diana’s long blonde hair shined beneath the streetlights as she walked, closely and carefully with Adam, toward her house. Cassie felt a pang of resentment. They were both up and out, together. And neither of them took the time to call Cassie themselves. How had she drifted so far from the two most important people in her life? Cassie turned around and went home with an emptiness in her stomach. She tiptoed across the living room floor, back to her bedroom, and gently closed the door. Then she kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed, sorry she’d ever left it in the first place. She could guess what they were doing. They were planning, strategizing, and plotting the meeting that would happen in a few hours. That was just who they were and how they would always be. The brave knight and the high priestess, ever vigilant. They were the real influence behind the group, no matter who was called leader or who wore the Tools. Adam may have been Cassie’s soul mate, but there would always be the Circle. And the Circle, if represented by one person, would be Diana. Not for one second did Cassie suspect that Adam was cheating on her with Diana. He didn’t have to. What he shared with Diana was something above and beyond cheating. Cassie stared up at her ceiling, sleepless. Let them strategize. Cassie was done waiting on the sidelines. She would go to rescue Scarlett herself and destroy the hunters before they marked anyone else – and before they had the opportunity to kill Laurel. But Cassie knew she’d need two things if she was going to fight the hunters by herself: the diadem and garter from Diana and Faye. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Divide Chapter 23, Essay examples

I. Current Situation (1991

I. Current Situation (1991-1993) Essay IBMI. Current Situation(1991-1993)1. History of IBM:IBM is a multinational corporation that started its activities in 1911. But its origins can be traced back to 1890, during the height of the Industrial Revolution. It was first known as the Computing-Recording Company, and then in 1924, it took the name of International Business Machines. Nowadays, this multinational company is known as the Big Blue2. Mission statementIBM main activity is to find solutions to its wide range of clients using advanced information technology. Its clients are individual users, specialized businesses, and institutions such as government, science, defense, and spatial and educational organizations. To meet and respond to its customers needs, IBM creates, develops and manufactures many of the worlds most advanced technologies, ranging from computer systems and software to networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. Indeed, IBM has various product lines and services a few of which are: the Personal Computer that was first created in 1981, AS/400 business system, RS/6000 family of workstations and server systems, S/390 enterprise server, groundbreaking ThinkPad notebook computer; the award-winning IBM Netfinity and finally, PC Servers. It is an important supplier of hard disks, random access memories, and liquid crystal monitors. IBM has created the image Solutions for a Little World. Its products and components in other firm products are so widespread that people around the world associate the name IBM with computing functions. 3. OrganizationIBM is a global information system and computing company. It is organized in 5 worldwide regions, and the following business units:1.Application Business Systems2.Application Solutions3.Enterprise Systems4.Networking Systems5.Pennant Systems Company6.Personal Systems7.Programming Systems8.Storage Products9.Technology Products4. Past and current performance:For many years, IBM succeeded in holding a very good market position. In fact, the company achieved a very high market share and huge profits. However, this situation did not last forever. In 1990, IBM experienced its first quarterly loss of $2billion due to some unexpected accounting charges. However, revenues increased from $62.7 billion in the previous year to $96 billion. In 1991, the company faced a net loss of $2.83 billion that was mainly due to downsizing and restructuring costs. In addition, total hardware sales were down by 16%. The years 1992 and 1993 knew a slight increase in revenues that reached $13.4 b illion and a net loss of $399 million that changed to a net profit of $392 million in the first quarter of 1994. 5. Industry trends:IBMs old belief was that personal computers are a vital part of their overall strategy to link personal computers, minicomputers, and mainframes, their preferred product in this line. It was not quick in adapting this belief to the new reality and importance of the PC potential, so during the 1980s and early 1990s, IBM was thrown into turmoil by back-to-back revolutions in the trends of the computer industry. The PC revolution placed computers directly in the hands of millions of people, and then, the client/server revolution sought to link all of those PCs (the clients) with larger computers that labored in the background (the servers that served data and applications to client machines). Both revolutions transformed the way customers viewed, used and bought technology, and both fundamentally rocked IBM. 6. Tactics at IBM were as follows:Marketing at IBM has often been based on recycling and updating older proprietary systems architectures in which it had a vested interest. It was a product rather than consumer oriented strategy. ? IBM has made modest moves towards more industry specific approaches to problem solutions in an effort to better meet customer needs. ? 1988 attempt to restructure decision making from HQ to 6 group executives failed. ? Due to its size, IBM makes sure that when introducing a project, worldwide capacity is available to manufacture it, and those foreign manufacturing requirements are met. 7. 1991-1993 CEO Akers undertook a major overhaul of IBM: he believed the problem was high centralization, so he followed a decentralizing strategy that would greatly reduce employee levels. Layoffs were as follows: 1991 20,000, 1992 20,000. Although a $3 billion charge was made against 4th quarter earnings, IBM expected savings of $1 billion in 1992, followed by $2 billion in later years. Restructuring objectives:a- Accelerate product deliveries. b- To avoid or minimize costly delays and disruptions IBM would have to completely separate its units into distinct independent divisions with greater control over development strategies, including financial independence. IBM HQ would become a holding company with 6 autonomous divisions reporting to senior vice presidents. Divisions are to present annual plans to executive committee, set goals for return on investment, share in profits, issue stocks in some cases. Each individual unit to report its results separately thus allowing managers to gain responsibility for controlling costs and developing competitive product marketing strategies. Emphasis to be placed on return on invested capital. Executive pay to be tied to unit profitsc- Encourage 3d party relationshipsd- Reduce staff. e- Reduce product prices to match competitor prices. For example, IBMs lap top model costs about $2,500 more than Dell or AST models. 8. Gerstners strategy is to maintain IBMs broadness to take advantage of consumer confusion in the market. Consumers will recognize IBMs name in different products and purchase it. This will keep costs high however because the different units need to stay coordinated. According to him, IBMs challenge is to develop good working relations across the various operating units. It doesnt need an overall vision but a series of tough minded, market driven strategies for each of its businesses. Balancing shareholder needs of higher margins with customer needs of lower margin open system products.Gerstner brought with him a customer-oriented sensibility and the strategic-thinking. He tried to rebuild IBMs product line, to reduce the workforce and to make significant cost reductions. Despite mounting pressure to split IBM into separate, independent companies, Gerstner decided to keep the company together. He recognized that one of IBMs enduring strengths was its ability to provide integrated so lutions for customers someone to represent more than piece parts or components. Splitting the company would have destroyed a unique IBM advantage. II. SWOT analysis:? External environment:1.OPPORTUNITIES:1.1. E-business: the use of the Internet is rapidly becoming an important distribution method for multinational companies, and a source of products for businesses and consumers. it is a way of doing business electronically using new concepts. By emphasizing on marketing this kind of operations, IBM will increase its presence in world operations, by making easier for a company to trade with another one, without any physical contact. 1.2. Strategic alliances: three days ago, IBM announced its alliance with a huge IT company, DELL. This constitutes an opportunity for IBM to become stronger and acquire new knowledge. This part will be discussed later in the presentation. 1.3.As a third point, it seems that IBM should change its image among customers: when you think of IBM, the first image that comes to you is that of a computer, whereas IBM manufactures much more products: servers, mainframes, supercomputers, Internet services, and so on. Therefore, a good opportunity for the Big Blue would be to change this conception and make its diversified range of products better known. There must be more advertising made about the other products in order to make people aware of IBM diversity. 2. Threats:2.1.IBM most important competition is not within the mainframe market, but outside it, in the increasing range of other machines that can do much of what a mainframe does. Civics Essay4. One important way of reducing costs and be better prepared for the future is to make strategic alliances, thus, building sustainable competitive advantages. 5. The internal culture should be changed. Give more importance to team work. IV. Strategic Recommendations1. Even if it is currently one of the leaders in the computer industry, IBM should prepare itself for the future especially for the high competitiveness that engulfs the industry. For instance, very known competitors, such as Compaq, are increasingly doing well and can easily surpass IBM if it defaults on meeting customers?demands and being innovative by having a truly sophisticated R;D. In fact, IBM should try to provide integrated system solutions to customers not only to ease the way of using them but also to ease the life of its customers. 2. One of IBMs problems is the operational conflict between its units, especially between the Personal Systems Unit, which produces PCs and workstations for one market, and the other units that provide integrated package solutions for a different market. The conflict in this case is due to the Personal Systems units two functions:? Selling products to the individuals market? Providing other units with products that are to be used as components in integrated package solutions to be sold to organizations. The Personal Systems market is very competitive with many PC producers getting their product on the market fast. An autonomy strategy would benefit the Personal Systems unit, which would be able to focus on its sales without losing time in coordinating with the other units. On the other hand, the other units would suffer under this strategy because they would lose a supplier of made to specification components. Our strategic recommendation is that the units should operate as separate businesses, coordinating only when the performance of the individual units will not suffer. The Personal Systems unit produces standard products for an enormous market, so they should not waste time in adapting to the other units. When the other units require components they should buy them from Personal Systems. If these components are incompatible, they should adapt their package system or outsource (out of IBM) the components. The personal systems industry is very competitive because it is simple comp ared to integrated solutions, services, and products, with lower and decreasing margins. IBM will outsource low margin products and keep high margin integrated products in house. 3. IBM should further integrate the separate systems of its different vendors in order to have satisfied customers4. IBM employees are experts in products, so they should strengthen ties with firms specialized in applications. V. IBM vision and strategy of growth today:1. Todays mission statement:We create, develop and manufacture the industrys most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics.?It has two fundamental missions: ? Strive to lead in the creation, development and manufacture of the most advanced information technologies. ? Translate advanced technologies into value for its customers as the worlds largest information services company. IBM professionals worldwide provide expertise within specific industries, consulting services, systems integration and solution development and technical support. 2. Todays objectives: 1) Build marketing for IBM middleware on NT with its channel partners. 2) Be the leader in market share by 1998 on the NT platform. 3. Today strategy:Continue to deliver solutions-Cross industry-IBM and partnersContinue to deliver best of breed product-IBM and partnersManiacal focus on customer satisfaction3.1) IBMs strategy of acquisitions. In 1995, IBM acquired Lotus Development Corp., and the next year acquired Tivoli Systems Inc. Services became the fastest growing segment of the company, with growth at more than 20 percent per year. 3.2) IBM Technologies, whose role is supplying advanced technologies, is currently looking for computer producers with whom it can form alliances. IBM and Dell were in discussions since June 1998 and the result is a strategic agreement worth $16.6 billion over 7 years for IBM. Under this deal they will share their competencies and technologies, and cooperate in developing future technologies. Dell will acquire IBM components for its computers, and database, network, and microelectronic technologies, and they will exchange a large array of licenses. Further areas of cooperation wi ll follow. Dells general director says that a company cant do everything alone. Dells share of the US market for servers jumped 95% in 1998 to 5.6%, making it the 5th. IBM is 1st with 30.5%. 3.3) In May 1997, IBM dramatically demonstrated computing potential with Deep Blue, a 32-node IBM RS/6000 SP computer programmed to play chess on a world class level. Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov. World Chess champion. 3.4) In October 1998, IBM has created a division that could take advantage of opportunities for growth in the sale and service of guiding technologies, and would develop its relations with computer producers. 4. Today vision: Nowadays, IBMs CEO states it clear that the net is the future. The net has changed the way business is done and provides a great network of communication. According to Gerstner the net is a vocational medium-a place where real work gets done, real competitive advantage is gained, and real growth is generated. ? Indeed, with the Internet a company can increase its sales and profits. It can enhance communication between employees and thus provide a better internal environment.More than that, it can strengthen employees-customers relationships and better meet customers?needs. It also provides a fast and efficient way of doing business between partners in a supply chain. E-business can also provide an environment of customizable communications through which you better serve customer needs and reflect a good product image. Thats why IBM is getting more involved in e-business. For 1996 the top computer companies in the world were ranked: 1.IBM 2.Fujitsu3.Hewlett-Packard4.N EC,5.Compaq. VI. IBM in Morocco:In 1939, IBM France launched in Morocco the first agency in Africa. Morocco was chosen because it represents an open door to Africa. IBM MAROC employs 85 employees and has almost 500 clients (ministries, banks, insurance companies, Al Akhawayn University, etc..). The main activities of IBM MAROC are to meet all customers needs, to provide high quality tools, and to create a structure that will guarantee high quality maintenance services. IBM has two important strategies, which are:? direct marketing: it means selling directly to the consumer through the mail, by telephone, or door-to-door. By having direct contact with the customer, the company knows what are the needs, the preferences, and then can effectively choose the kind of products it will sell in the Moroccan market. ? Commercial partnership: IBM has 22 commercial partners that sell its products in many different regions in Morocco. Thus, IBM MAROC is not obliged to create agencies in many cities, rather, its products are sold with other firms articles, which increases the competition.

ACID RAIN Essays (417 words) - Chemistry, Matter, Mineral Acids

ACID RAIN Author's Name Institutional Affiliation When Sulfuric acid come in contact in the air with nitric acid, it increases the acidity of water and other atmospheric materials thereby falling and causing wreckage to any area that will have been touched by the rain. It is basically any form of precipitation that is of an acidic nature, not necessarily rain. Acid rain can also form in snow, hail or other dust materials in the atmosphere. Structures that are affected by this kind of rain are generally all structures, including metallic materials and mainly stone materials. The tombstones in cemeteries are destroyed by the gradual downfall of acid rain. This slowly disintegrates the rock structures and distorts the names carved on the tombstones. Mostly the monuments and tombstones use granite or marble and write the names using a metallic material, stone or even simple paint. Due to the acid rain falling on these structures, they lose detail and are slowly forgotten if nothing is done to them to save them. It also dirties them by making them brown and untidy. This is a big problem in these industrial cities for first of all it makes the city look old and dirty, not forgetting that people will begin to forget the symbolism of the structure or forget the details of a tombstone, more so in historic cemeteries. It is possible to evaluate the degree of weathering of these materials by looking at it currently and compare with its original status when first created and then to gauge the level of damage it has reached, in terms of how much paint is lost or how much crumble it has encountered. The most suitable way to curb the damage that acid rain is causing to structures is to use shelter mechanisms in order for the shelter to be wasting away gradually while protecting the structure from excessive damage (Schaeffer Hawkes 2017 April). It is logically impossible to completely stop the gradual damage but it is possible to slow them by all means possible. Also, the reduction of human-caused pollution in order to reduce the risk of the PH in the atmosphere to be acidic. References Schaeffer, D., Martin, P., Hawkes, K. (2017, April). The Effects of Acid Rain and Soil Pollution on the Growth of Brassica rapa. In Proceedings of the Plant Biology Symposium (Vol. 1, No. 1).

Best Christmas Quotes

Best Christmas Quotes When Christmas is here, you can hardly contain your excitement. There is so much happening around you that it is impossible to stay isolated from the merrymaking. Presents have to be bought, guests have to be invited to the Christmas party, Christmas tree has to be decorated, and Christmas feast has to be prepared. And you want nothing but the best. Make the most of your Christmas celebrations by enjoying every moment. Here are some of the best Christmas quotes that you have ever read. The reason I think that these are the best Christmas quotes is that they truly convey the joy of Christmas. Enjoy these Christmas quotes and spread the Christmas cheer. Edna Ferber, Roast Beef MediumChristmas isnt a season. Its a feeling.Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of YearsChristmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.Lenora Mattingly Weber, ExtensionChristmas is for children. But it is for grownups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.Louisa May AlcottThe rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.Charles N. BarnardThe perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!Charles Dickens, A Christmas CarolBut I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the ye ar, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely. W. J. Tucker, Pulpit PreachingFor centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.Mary Ellen ChaseChristmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.Dr. SeussAnd the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadnt before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesnt come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?G. K. ChestertonWhen we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?Dale EvansChristmas, my child, is love in action.Andy RooneyOne of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Chri stmas day. Dont clean it up too quickly.Hugh DownsSomething about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.Freya StarkChristmas is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of ones home that one carries in ones heart.Marjorie HolmesAt Christmas, all roads lead home.

Abdellahs theory of Practice Model of Nursing Research Paper

Abdellahs theory of Practice Model of Nursing - Research Paper Example Among the gains of nursing theories in the practice, include that they aim to describe, explain and predict a phenomenon of nursing (Meleis, 2011). Thus, through such theory, it is easy for the nurses to identify the cause of suffering of the patient, and relate accordingly in explaining or predicting the condition the patient is suffering. Therefore, this aspect of nursing theory helps in simplifying the work of the nurses and reducing repetitive work within the practice. Thus, it speeds operations within the working of the nurses who practice application of the theories of nursing (Meleis, 2011).   Secondly, nursing theories provide the foundations; they help in generating further knowledge and indicating the direction of developing nursing in the future, within the nursing practice. Therefore, in view of this, the nursing theories facilitate the learning process of nurses even at work as it helps them decide what they know and do not know. Thus, the nursing theories direct and d etermine the future practice of nursing and facilitate increment of knowledge in the practice, enhancing the quality of service delivery in the practice (Meleis, 2011). Moreover, nursing practice explicitly describes nursing, thus, helping to distinguish the basis of the practice. This constitutes benefits such as enhancing the professional status of the nurses, facilitating better patient care, improving the communication between nurses to nurses and nurses and patients. In addition, it facilitates guidance for further research and education.

Social determinants of health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social determinants of health - Essay Example The reason for such a step was to annul the mounting disparities that were arising in the health status of people all over the world. The Commission observed that these disparities were primarily due to the differences in the living conditions of the people as well as the resources they had access to. According to the Commission, inequity is recognized as unfair or unjust disparities that exist in health status that can be averted and so can be solved (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). The WHO defines social determinants of health as the social conditions in which people live and can have an impact on their health. The factors that influence the possibility of people living a healthy life include poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, education, poor housing and poor employment (Farrell, McAvoy, Wilde, & Agency, 2008). Structural determinants trace their origin to the socioeconomic and political conditions at both the national and international scale. Such determinants are connected to elements that are governed by sheer power and authority with respect to the ownership and distribution of resources as well as the status and reputation associated with it. These relationships are required to promote health and prosperity in the area. The economic conditions of the country as well as the political, historical and environmental conditions are some of the determinants of health. These determinants are mirrored in the social determinants, which are defined as the living conditions of the people which may influence their lives (Who Regional Office for the Eastern Medi, 2008). Health inequities arise as a result of the marginalization, paucity and bigotry that a certain class of people is subject to. The situation does not exist in developing countries solely. In relatively advanced countries such as Australia, where people have access to, and a greater

Reflection journals Ch2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflection journals Ch2 - Essay Example I will definitely use this valuable information when teaching. In the first place, I will use the approach to test my students’ knowledge and understanding. I will interview individuals and students in small groups. I would like to check whether group interviews can be as effective as interviewing individuals, as I have doubts that all children will be equally active. I believe I will also have to make sure that each child calls his/her name before answering the question (as this will be crucial during transcribing). Apart from that, I will be able to use some techniques described during my classes. The ability to put the right questions is a valuable skill for any educator. Thus, I will be able to monitor progress of some students during classes. I will choose the right words to encourage students to talk. I will be able to understand what students know and whether there are any gaps in their

Walkers Crisps Analysis | SWOT and PESTEL

Walkers Crisps Analysis | SWOT and PESTEL Jump to: Marketing Mix Analysis of Walkers | SWOT Analysis of Walkers Crisps | Product Lifecycle of Walkers Crisps | Importance of PESTEL Analysis | PESTEL Analysis of Walkers Crisps Introduction PepsiCo is a world leader in convenient snacks, foods and beverages with revenue of more than $43 billion and over 198,000 employees. PepsiCo took social and environment responsibility and provide hygienic products to their customers. They are committed to delivering sustainable growth and build trust with people. They have unique value because they bring people of different culture and diverse brands in different culture. To understand different culture is the advantage. They are integrated with suppliers, consumer, retail customer and communities. PepsiCo identify needs of customers and put right thing in right market place. Employing over 48,000 people and bringing in over $11 billion of business, Frito-Lay invigorates PepsiCos portfolio of products with plenty of good food and good fun. Frito Lay producing snacks on earth starting with simple, farm grown ingredients. They put their effort to minimize environmental factors and improving their snacks. Frito Lay provide best testy chips with less fats because they used natural ingredients, no using artificial flavor, color, and other ingredients that are associated with hygienic. Walkers Crisps History Henry walker (1880s) was a butcher as professionally. He belonged to a town Midlands near to the Leicester. In 1945 meat was scarce than Henry began cooking slices of potato. In 1954 first flavor crisps were introduced with ingredient cheese and onion. After that Henry Walker convert into crisps brand Walkers. Now Walkers has been introduced different brands in crisps and very famous in consumers who like snacks with different taste. Walkers Crisps are made from a good old British spuds. British land condition and temperature are suitable for potatoes production. Rain and mud are perfect for potatoes growing. Introduction of task In this task identify a type of growth for Walkers and requirement two marketing strategies and justify how Walkers can achieve competitive advantages and long term growth to use these strategies. Market Market refers to the group of consumers or organizations that is interested in the product, has resources to purchase the product, and is permitted by law and other regulations to acquire the product. Marketing Marketing is a management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably. Growth for Walkers Henry Walkers took step in crisps world and introduced different brands in market. Walkers created natural flavors and ingredients like sun seed oil (naturally lower in saturates) and capture potential market. According to survey conducted for marketing magazine by TNS that Walkers is biggest brand in UK. It sales was 505 million. One of the most important elements of growth is how to give leverage to their customer and which type of bond you build with your customers. Companies first step to build strong relation with customers. It is a good year for Walkers Crisps, which made 3rd place out of 100 grocery brands. With a 5.2% growth in brand value now Walkers brand worth 424.5 million pounds and previous figure was 403.6 million pounds. Walkers Crisps Marketing Mix Analysis The 5ps Products Walkers have introduced variety of products and produced new products and can see their products on market Walkers French fries Walkers lite Walkers sensations Walkers square Walkers quavers Walkers max Walkers monster munch Walkers cheese onion Walkers grilled bacon Walkers ham cheese Walkers saltsn shake Walkers success base on these products. Price In UK the price of Walkers Crisps around 30 p to 2.50 pound. In some places or stores their prices vary according to market. We see their price differ in hospitals, health club, and social club as compare to regular market. Place Places where the crisps are sold like stores, mini market, super market, retail stores or public places. Personnel Now over 5,200 employees are working in 15 locations. Only good quality potatoes are selected for making crisps. Every individual are attached with machine that peels the potatoes other in charge of slicing machine, frying, seal of approval, weighting. All work are done under supervision of management and finally loaded on truck. It takes approximately 20 min to full a tuck with crisps. Promotion Promotion is the part of marketing. Walkers promote crisps through media like television; newspapers etc. promotion is the key element of strategy to attract customers. In this era without promotion company can not be succeed because customer did not aware about brand without advertising. Main promotion of crisps is television and internet because its target market is child and young people and those who like salty things. Walkers Crisps SWOT Analysis (S)trengths Own potatoes production Sun seed oil (saturated fat) Natural ingredients. Provide range of taste in crisps Has taken steps to reduce carbon footprint. Biggest brand according to TNS. 3rd place out of 100 grocery brand. Good quality Lower priced products. Strong brands (W)eaknesses Create new product with high expenses People like healthy eating. (O)pportunities Go multinational Update technology Outturn every other company (T)hreats employees could go on strike high competition forcing people life style customer needs government influence potential entrance Walkers Crisps Product Life Cycle Now Walkers Crisps is in its maturity position because it is a biggest UK brand but when product get high position than its sales graph decline after maturity. Marketers develop new products. Walkers went to maturity after competition started its sales decline because competitors had introduced better quality crisps in low price in market. But it was no end of Walkers, it create new flavors and taste and push right button at right time. Marketing strategies for Walkers Walkers can adapt two strategies to achieve their objectives market development market penetration Market development strategies Every one is familiar with the Walkers brand. Walkers has strong brand in UK and captured 100% crisps market. They have proved their sales and good promotion. Walkers have established a very strong, compatible, reliable, qualitative brand. Walkers need to current products in new market because it is strong weakness that they dont focuses on new market. Other hand new market has potential like Asian market. Market penetration Walkers are working in UK, it has established its brand in current market but after maturity product naturally decline because new competitors enter in current market and provide resistance to the current market leader. At this situation R D department innovate new products t achieve competitive advantages. Walkers will try to come up with even more great flavored crisps. Justification for Walkers Intensive growth: Walker should adapt intensive growth to maximize its profit. Market penetration strategy Encourage new customer to buy more through advertising. Attract competitor customers to own products by new taste and style in current products Attract new users to tell them that its for you and essential for you. Market development strategy Expend new market where crisps like but few competitors Have additional distribution channel both including direct or indirect Sell new locations Above mention two strategies market development market penetration must be adapt to achieve long term objectives. Only few companies operating in Europe, Asia, Africa and others. It means that market have potential. Task 2 Introduction of task In this task discuss PESTEL analysis for Walkers. Assess the impact of technological change and globalization for the companys market planning in the next three years. What is a PESTEL analysis? PESTEL is the abbreviation of: P: Political E: Economic S: Sociological T: Technological L: Legal E: Environmental Many are factors that influence in macro environment of any organization. These factors effect on decision of managers of the organizations. For example, change in Tax, new laws, geographic factors, demographic factors (income change, style change, fashion change etc.), change in government policy are the factors that influence on organization. PESTEL analysis help the decision maker to analysis these factors and make solid decision. Example PESTEL Analysis: Political e.g. the pound, international trade, taxation policy Economic e.g. interest rates, exchange rates, national income, inflation, unemployment, Stock Market Social e.g. ageing population, attitudes to work, income distribution Technological e.g. innovation, new product development, rate of technological obsolescence Environmental e.g. global warming, environmental issues Legal e.g. competition law, health and safety, employment law Before making decision, it is necessary to predict micro and macro environment factors. Micro factors influence on the organization internal environment whereas macro factors influence on externally. Organization can not affect on these factors, nor do these factors directly influence on profitability of an organization. But through these factors, organization can minimize weakness and maximize strengths internally because strength and weakness affect organization internally while threats opportunity affects externally. PESTEL analysis is the useful tool to understand the broad picture of the environment in which an organization is operating. This is also tells about risk that are associated with market. Using PESTEL analysis: Internal environment is nor more complex as compare to external environment because to identify competitive change in landscape. So it is needs to undertake PESTEL analysis in regular base and for managers, using PESTEL analysis must be prepared to look all around them. Walkers Crisps PESTEL Analysis Now using PESTEL analysis of Walkers in UK: (P)olitical: These refer to government policy that may be change such as degree of invention in the economy. Identify in which environment you operate including tax policy, employment laws, trade policy, tariff, and political stability. If we analysis UK political system which is stable and perfect. National and international investors invest in UK. Because it is best place where numerous visitors and students are came. Political decision impacts on many areas in business environment. May be tax policy discourage investors and investors can switch off or any other political disability. In UK include face a big problem a recession. Walkers also face this problem. (E)conomics: Economic factors include interest rate, taxation, economic growth, inflation, exchange rates etc. High interest rates affect investor decision because investors borrow from bank to invest in his business but he will pay high amount to the bank. Inflation can affect, labors and employees demand high rates and they will purchase raw material in high cost. High national income growth may boost demand for firms products We are discussing the new market for Walkers to develop their market or launching new product in current market. (S)ociological: Change in social trends can impact on demand. Social factor is important. In UK population has been aging. This factor is caused increase in cost of organization. Staff is spent long time in organization that cause in increase salary and other benefits and retirement employees get benefit in the form of pension. In sociological environment culture values and norms directly affects on organization. Beside this others factor like health, population growth rate, career, security safety, global warming factors influence on organization. some countries very conscious on health issues and Walkers focus on this issue and has implemented clean environment plan. (T)echnological: Technological change impacts on business. New businesses create new products services and replace old technology. Innovation brings improvement in business and business take competitive advantage and capture new market and customers. Before online transition, customer was paid cash but now we can purchase every thing through online. Online shopping, bar coding, and other improvement in technology bring satisfaction both customers organization. Business can expand through new technology and make quick decision financially. It is necessary to Walkers to update new technology but technology change should not cause health and other related issues. (E)nvironmental: If we discuss environment it means we focus all environment factors. Now global warming is the biggest issue. This factor get high important among industries all focus on this issue and trying to minimize this factors. Firms are creating environmental friend products. It is necessary to Walkers to introduce such products which provide protection to the environment. (L)egal: It is related to legal environment in which firms operate. In UK, many legal changes that have been affected firms behavior. UK government has revised wages plan. This change has been impacted on firms cost. This may impact employment, resources, import/export, taxation etc. A Walker is UK Company so change in legal policy may not affect on it. Impact of Technological change: In modern ear technological has got great important. Every day new invention is going and organization updating their technologies. In past FORDISM change create great impact on all world and Fordism concept was is the combination of mass production to produce sustained economic growth and widespread material advancement. During this period, the system of organization of production and consumption has, perhaps, undergone a second transformation. Which when mature promises a second burst of economic growth. Now distance shrink and communication become fast and world become smaller. Internet has got great importance in this era and business are attached with business. E business has got significant importance in developed countries and developing countries are going to E. business. Most of the organizations are adapting produces and models that will helpful in future. Business making strategies for developing their strength and minimize weakness. Conclusion Recommendation: Walkers have very good market in UK, providing their customers good crispy products having twelve brands of snacks and crisps. They have captured forty three percent of UK market; have very good marketing strategy like having a former England football team captain as Walkers brand ambassador. But they have very potential growth opportunities which will need to be availed by having improved marketing strategy and addressing the hidden markets to penetrate in those areas, and also try to attract new customers into market, also the customers of their competitors. Also they need to keep updating on their system and technologies both for information sharing, marketing and product preparation to have improved quality of products and achieve the organizational goals and objectives.

Gun Control: Opposing the Removal of Guns from American Citizens Essay

Because of many incidents involving handguns, and any other type of gun, the government has been trying to push a gun ban law. As a result of this rumor and possible law, there have been numerous outbursts of support and resistance. Some people believe that banning firearms would be a benefit to our nation’s safety and its population’s safety, while others oppose this proposal and say that guns are not the ones that need to be controlled, people should be the ones that are controlled. During this decision, people from different organizations have expressed their own views and thoughts. Gun control has both positive and negative effects on U.S. citizens. Some organizations report that the removal of firearms will reduce crime rates, deaths, and injuries from guns(Handgun Control Debate). An organization known as â€Å"The Brady Center† says that the Second Amendment does not state that people can carry and own handguns and be protected by its laws(Handgun Control Debate). The Brady Center also argues that if a larger amount of guns are available to a child’s reach, there will be more injuries and fatalities among minorities, so they are also trying to present laws and proposals that will protect children from handgun injuries(Handgun Control Debate). Claire Safran states that in Seattle, Washington, guns are plentiful and that there could be more deaths and injuries in that city than others because of the amount of illegal handguns in the city that owned by gangs and criminal organizations(Roleff, 17). Carl T. Bogus, a visiting professor at Rutgers University School of Law Enforcement in Camden, New Jersey says that private ownership of guns is hazardous to American citizen’s safety, and suggests that all handguns should be o... ...As we know it, this law on either protecting gun rights or taking them and the guns away will surely change the United States future. Works Cited Cold Comfort: A Interview With John R. Lott. Lynch, Michael W., and Jacob Sullum. Reason. 3 Dec. 2009. . Elder, Larry. â€Å"More Gun Control, Please!† Capitalism Magazine. 24 Oct. 2002. 1 Dec. 2009. â€Å"Gun Control.† Encyclopedia4U. 2005. 1 Dec. 2009. Handgun Control Debate. Awesome Library. 1 Dec. 2009. Roleff, Tamara L., ed. Gun Control: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997.

Privatized School Systems

Our society, as a whole, has been heading toward a decentralized system of conducting its affairs. Large corporations have been getting larger , meanwhile governments have been giving up increasing amounts of their control. This decentralization has affected even former mainstays of government control, such as phone and power companies. As decentralization becomes more of a reality, there has been a great deal of debate over what controls the government should maintain or relinquish. The public school system has long been a source of frustration. Many feel the schools would be run more efficiently and with better results if privately run companies were to take over. They feel that with the existing large, encumbering bureaucracy, the government is simply unable to provide the proper base that is necessary to support a successful school system. The proponents of privatized school systems have long maintained that governments are not as knowledgeable about individual school environments as those who and they have to manage many schools, whereas the owners of a specific private subsidized school would be well informed about the school's circumstances and can concentrate on that school alone. They say that the governments role should become that of regulator, not schoolmaster, and that since the private schools do not face the political constraints that the municipal governments face,they would be more able to adapt to change. Since the operation of public schools is more bureaucratic and centralized than private subsidized schools, it is expected to inhibit rather than promote educational innovation. Private schools, being less bureaucratic and more decentralized, are expected to be more efficient organizations and to have a better perspective than their public school counterparts. They are also expected to provide a greater incentive and opportunity to come up with more innovative programs than public schools in order to stay competitive. Bureaucracy is expected to hinder initiative and efficiency, whereas the private sector in general is expected to be more dynamic and responsive because of their need to stay competitive. It is hoped that this competitiveness will foster innovation. On the other side of the debate is the group that favors continued government control over the school system. They argue that privatizing the schools would lead to a decreased focus on the needs of the children with an increased emphasis placed on the bottom line. They maintain that the companies taking over for the government would focus their attention more on cutting corners to make larger profits rather than on the education of children. With continued government control over the school system, there will remain a stability that is necessary to insure a full and equal educational opportunity for all. Having the education system privatized would create inequalities in the method that education would be provided. Those who oppose privatization agree that not only would municipal control maintain stability, but would also ensure fair and equal teatment for all. The same would not hold true if the schools were placed in private hands. Schools that do not make a profit along with teachers that are no longer needed would simply let go in order to save money or maintain profits. I can see that there are several benefits on both sides. The economic benefits are obviously in favor of a decentralized school structure. There be no bureaucracy to wade through to make the simplest decisions, in the system would allow teachers to make important ground level decisions as they see fit. This increased efficiency includes many benefits, but with what cost? What about the special needs children, or the under privileged, will the private companies take care of them? What happens when these companies don't make enough money on a school, will they close it down? The children whose schools have been closed will have to travel further and further just to get to school, if they even go. Maybe there should just be mega-schools were ten schools are combined into one, all to save the managing company money. With government control, there may not be efficiency but there is some stability. That is the important thing. Companies can open and close their doors in a day, but schools are more important than companies. Education is the key to our futures, can we afford to gamble with what is a stake? The government must become more efficient at doing its job in managing our schools, and business has proven itself to be efficient. Maybe there is a way to combine the two and receive the best of both worlds.

Free Essays on Art-Ahdaf Soeuif-

â€Å"A Reflection in the Looking Glass: A Parallel with the Past† An analytical analysis of Ahdaf Soueif’s In the Eye of the Sun Universally and historically female writers have addressed issues regarding their female sexuality and women’s role in society, per their cultural norms. Since this has long been the case many cultural norms and mores have been introduced to other societies. For instance, Gabrielle Colette’s The Vagabond forces readers to view the main character’s struggle with her own sexual identity in addition to grappling with her own views of what a â€Å"proper woman† should do and not do within her surrounding society. In doing so, the reader must come to grips with a side of France that had not and is not typically discussed; the vaudeville lifestyle. Ahdaf Soueif addresses this issue, as well. The main character of In the Eye of the Sun, Asya, struggles with her own sexual identity while trying to wrestle with her instilled cultural criteria. Her ethnic background pushes her towards finding and obtaining an â€Å"ideal lifestyle,† which includes a bread-winning husband and a â€Å"baby on one arm† (Soueif, 529). Soueif apparently looks to historical fiction writing that parallels with social female issues. Her book, Eye in the Sun, includes a story pulled straight from a nineteenth or early twentieth century novel penned by a female. These periods embodied extreme separation of gendered identities and domains. Romantic novels tended to make the contrast between the domestic enclosure of women - their spatial and social immobility - and the mobility of men central to the narrative. The heroine/ main character lingers, dreams and hopes - the hero (man unattainable) has an active life, occupies some place in the public world, and must be drawn into the private world of feeling if her happiness is to be achieved. This particular convention is shown throughout Soueif’s novel via Asy... Free Essays on Art-Ahdaf Soeuif- Free Essays on Art-Ahdaf Soeuif- â€Å"A Reflection in the Looking Glass: A Parallel with the Past† An analytical analysis of Ahdaf Soueif’s In the Eye of the Sun Universally and historically female writers have addressed issues regarding their female sexuality and women’s role in society, per their cultural norms. Since this has long been the case many cultural norms and mores have been introduced to other societies. For instance, Gabrielle Colette’s The Vagabond forces readers to view the main character’s struggle with her own sexual identity in addition to grappling with her own views of what a â€Å"proper woman† should do and not do within her surrounding society. In doing so, the reader must come to grips with a side of France that had not and is not typically discussed; the vaudeville lifestyle. Ahdaf Soueif addresses this issue, as well. The main character of In the Eye of the Sun, Asya, struggles with her own sexual identity while trying to wrestle with her instilled cultural criteria. Her ethnic background pushes her towards finding and obtaining an â€Å"ideal lifestyle,† which includes a bread-winning husband and a â€Å"baby on one arm† (Soueif, 529). Soueif apparently looks to historical fiction writing that parallels with social female issues. Her book, Eye in the Sun, includes a story pulled straight from a nineteenth or early twentieth century novel penned by a female. These periods embodied extreme separation of gendered identities and domains. Romantic novels tended to make the contrast between the domestic enclosure of women - their spatial and social immobility - and the mobility of men central to the narrative. The heroine/ main character lingers, dreams and hopes - the hero (man unattainable) has an active life, occupies some place in the public world, and must be drawn into the private world of feeling if her happiness is to be achieved. This particular convention is shown throughout Soueif’s novel via Asy...

Definition and Examples of Judicial Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Judicial Rhetoric According to Aristotle, judicial rhetoric is one of the three main branches of rhetoric: speech or writing that considers the justice or injustice of a certain charge or accusation. (The other two branches are deliberative and epideictic.) Also known as  forensic, legal, or judicial discourse. In the modern era, judicial  discourse is primarily employed by lawyers in trials decided by a judge or jury. See the observations below. Also see: ArgumentClassical RhetoricDeclamationDefinitions of Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and RomeWhat Are the Three Branches of Rhetoric? Etymology:  From the Latin, judgment. Judicial Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Rome Anyone reading the classical rhetorics soon discovers that the branch of rhetoric that received the most attention was the judicial, the oratory of the courtroom. Litigations in court in Greece and Rome were an extremely common experience for even the ordinary free citizenusually the male head of a householdand it was a rare citizen who did not go to court at least a half a dozen times during the course of his adult life. Moreover, the ordinary citizen was often expected to serve as his own advocate before a judge or jury. The ordinary citizen did not possess the comprehensive knowledge of the law and its technicalities that the professional lawyer did, but it was greatly to his advantage to have a general knowledge of the strategies of defense and prosecution. As a result the schools of rhetoric did a flourishing business in training the layperson to defend himself in court or to prosecute an offending neighbor.(Edward P.J. Corbett and Robert J. Connors, Classical Rhetoric for the M odern Student, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 1999) Aristotle on Judicial Rhetoric and the Enthymeme [J]udicial rhetoric promotes justice and identifies injustice by appealing to the law. Forensic speech accepts as given the laws of the polis, so the section on judicial rhetoric uses enthymemes to adjust particular cases to general laws (Aristotles Rhetoric). Aristotle addresses accusation and defense as well as the sources from which their enthymemes should be drawn, investigating for what, and how many, purposes people do wrong . . . how these persons are [mentally] disposed, and what kind of persons they wrong and what these people are like (On Rhetoric, 1. 10. 1368b). Because Aristotle is interested in causation in order to explain wrong-doing, he finds enthymemes particularly useful in judicial rhetoric.(Wendy Olmsted, Rhetoric: An Historical Introduction. Blackwell, 2006) The Focus on the Past in Judicial Rhetoric Judicial rhetoric concerns only past fact and the application of uncontentious moral principles, so that it affords the ideal Aristotelian orator no grounds for uncertainty. But perhaps deliberative rhetoric, since it concerns future contingencies and the more or less likely outcomes of alternative policies, is a better prospect for comparison with dialectic.(Robert Wardy, Mighty Is the Truth and It Shall Prevail? Essays on Aristotles Rhetoric, ed. by Amà ©lie Oksenberg Rorty. University of California Press, 1996) Prosecution and Defense in Judicial Rhetoric In judicial rhetoric, prosecutors often try to evoke assent to the truth of a statement such as the following: John killed Mary. That is, prosecutors try to persuade their audiences to agree with their representations of reality. Some form of resistance to their arguments is implicit in their situations because opposing arguments are expected from the defense. Aristotle emphasized the notion of dispute or debate inherent in judicial rhetoric: In the law court there is either accusation or defense; for it is necessary for the disputants to offer one or the other of these (Rhetoric, I,3,3). This sense of the word persuasion is among its more common senses.(Merrill Whitburn, Rhetorical Scope and Performance. Ablex, 2000) The Model for Practical Reason While contemporary students of practical reasoning rarely think about rhetoric, judicial reasoning is the model for modern practical reason. We typically assume that practical reasoning has to proceed from rule to case and that the point of practical reasoning is to justify our actions. . . . For Aristotle deliberation is the model for practical reason because there the Aristotelian combination of the personal and the moral is real and fundamental, while in judicial rhetoric that combination is only created by the speaker.(Eugene Carver, Aristotles Practical Reason. Rereading Aristotles Rhetoric, ed. by Alan G. Gross and Arthur E. Walzer. Southern Illinois University Press, 2000) Pronunciation: joo-dish-ul

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Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example The integration of trade into the world economy has really proved helpful for the developing countries as they can promote economic growth, development as well as poverty reduction within themselves. Organizations which are ready to use upgrade their human resources regimes are thus the ones which have found success in all relevant quarters of their business. With this necessary incorporation, they have been able to look at the ethical side of things as well since the moral grounds have been set in a proper manner and there are as such no apprehensions to state the least in the present times. The importance of adopting best practices within the human resources unit has gained a lot of significance over the years and there are efforts being made now to have the said regimes in place before further new innovations and technological advances happen in the related management field. Best fit HRM practices are now much more needed than ever before as they seem to present the sort of practi ces which were not present in the yesteryears and which will have a marked difference within the realms of the HR departments that are working in different organizations all over the world. The work culture can be developed in a manner which suits the interests of the organization in the best form possible. For this to happen, it is necessary to understand that resources department has got an immense role to play in the related equation. We must understand that we live in a global world where human resources has of late been instrumental at dramatically changing the way we perceive the way in which people think, act and feel on the job. The basic dogma on which the dot com companies work is to reach out to the greatest amount of people and make those people as their clients within a short duration of time. This would be on the expense of not being at

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Higher National Diploma in Business, Managing Financial Resources and Decisions - Assignment Example The funding of a company’s operations through the use of debentures has become a commonly followed practice in the United Kingdom. Therefore, Excellence Solution Plc. can access debentures as a mode of funding. Share capital is a main form of external financing for a private limited company. Since Excellence Solution Plc. is listed in a premium stock exchange like London Stock Exchange, it would be comparatively easy for the company to sell its shares in the capital market to raise the required finances. Bank loans are usually considered as easily accessible sources of financing. The company may take a term loan which would be repayable at equal monthly instalments and which would carry a predefined interest rate. A bank loan is tax deductible and is feasible for the company because it would help to meet the goal of the company to pay back the loan in a year’s time. The bank loans would be easily accessible by Excellence Solution Plc. This is because, the company is an established company and banks and other types of financial institutions are much interested to extend financing to an established public limited company as compared to the small business entities. Taking loans from the bank would ensure that the company does not experience any dilution of control because the banks do not have any say in the decisions and management of the company. The interests paid on bank loans are tax deductible which would be highly advantageous for a company with high scale operations. But, in case of bankruptcy, the loan would act as a major burden because it is obligatory for the company to pay back the loan irrespective of its financial position. For an established public limited company like the case company, it would be very easy to access share capital. Not only are the shares capable of generating high amounts in the capital markets but also, they are likely to be bought by the shareholders in

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Financial Analysis of Sainsbury PLC Essay Example for Free

Financial Analysis of Sainsbury PLC Essay This report will focus upon the financial performance over a two year period of a FTSE 100 company. It will seek to ascertain how well the company has performed by scrutinizing profitability, liquidity, efficiency, gearing ratios and working capital. In addition to the aforementioned points, it will dwell upon economic factors to discuss the impact they have had upon the performance of the business. The FTSE 100 started in the year of 1984 and was based upon the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange, and it is seen as an emblematic indicator for the strength of the British economy (iforex, trading section). FTSE 100 companies represent about 81% of the market capitalization of the London Stock Exchange (Nationwide Building Society, glossary section). Within it lies a substantial contribution to the UK economy and the economic power of these firms mean they would have a fairly large ripple effect upon the nation’s economy should there financial performance reach a state of discontentment. Subject company and history The subject company for this report will be J Sainsbury Plc which was founded in 1869 by John Sainsbury and his wife, Mary Ann Sainsbury in London (Sainsbury Plc, history section). The organization has grown to be one of the UK’s most eminent supermarkets. Some of its remarkable aspects include launching TU clothing in 2004, launching Try Something New Today in 2005 to promote healthy eating, and becoming the world’s largest fairtrade retailer in the year 2010 (it is understood that almost one in every four pounds spent on fairtrade products is at Sainsbury), in 2012 the organization became the proud sponsor to the Paralympic games (this will be diligently examined later in the report to see what effect, if any it has had upon the company’s revenue) (Sainsbury Plc, history section). In an industry predominantly owned by Tesco (a market share of 29.9% as of January 2012 according to BBC Business News), Sainsbury has had to work hard to stay in competition. Its persistency has been a key component to its contrivance in the industry and other ventures to which Sainsbury has embarked upon, namely, its banking venture (a 50/50 venture with Lloyds TSB) which commenced trading on the 19th day of February 1997 (Sainsbury Bank plc). The firm lost its position as market leader in the year of 1995 to its rival Tesco and subsequently dropped to third in market share after ASDA experienced a 5% rise in profits (BBC, Business News section). As at March 31 2012, Sainsbury’s has a total number of 440 convenience stores and 572 supermarkets which is currently due to increase (Sainsbury, Store Portfolio section). The question is, how much has its expansionary policy supported its profits whilst maintaining equilibrium with costs? Profitability Within this report, diligent focus will be shown to the financial year of 2010 and the final year of 2011 as the profitability, liquidity, efficiency, gearing ratios and working capital is examined. The profit from disposal of properties in 2010 was  £27m and  £108m in 2011 which shows a dramatic appreciation in profit when compared. Moreover, the company also showed an increase in combined profit from  £585m in 2010 to  £640m in 2011 (Sainsbury, Income Statement 2011 section). This shows that the company’s overall performance has improved over the course of 12 months by 9.4%. Further to the aforesaid points, the greater percentage of revenue was derived from the sale of products and services, standing in at  £22,943m in 2011 (Sainsbury, Income Statement 2011 section). This shows an increase in product purchases and an increase in market share (an increase of 16.1%, Telegraph, September 2011) leading to more sales, demonstrating that the firm’s strategy has worked for the financial year when compared to the sales of 2010 of  £21,421m (Sainsbury, Income Statement 2010 section). Return on Capital Employed can be defined as follows: â€Å"Return on capital employed is a fundamental measure of business performance as it compares the operating profit with the total capital used to generate that profit.† (Black, 2009, p.212). For Sainsbury, this figure was 11% in the financial year of 2010 and 11.1% in the year of 2011 (Sainsbury, Annual Report 2011 section). Such a minor change doesn’t manifest a huge degree of progress. In the annual report for 2011 p4, the company does give an account for this and state that growth was lower than the previous year due to the cumulative effect of its accelerated investment in space growth which started June 2009. The company also holds seventh place for volume market share in the clothing industry and now has clothing sales growing faster than food, 17% to be exact with year on-year growth (Sainsbury, Annual Report 2011 section). Celebrity fashion icon, Gok Wan has been a huge support in inciting growth of the TU brand by launching a clothing range at Sainsbury in 2011 which has been the main source of sales boost. (gok wan, Sainsbury TU section). In addition to the appreciation of sales, the cost of sales rose from  £19,964m in 2010 to  £21,102m in 2011. Prominent contributing factors towards the rise in costs are the variation in Fiscal policy (Sainsbury’s, Directors report 2011 section) which increased the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% on the 4th day of January 2011 (HM Revenue and Customs, 2011) along with the increase of the company’s workforce due to its addition of 1.5 million square feet of space from 2011-2012 (The Independent, news section). As the profitability of the organization is scrutinized, it is important to look deeper into what has resulted in an increase in profit from the year 2010 to 2011. From an economic perspective, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (hereinafter referred to as MPC) changed the discount rate to 0.5% on the 5th day of March 2009, positively influencing public spending and reducing the cost of borrowing (Bank of England, 2009). The concept upon the reduction in the cost of borrowing is that more customers have resorted to using credit to fund their purchases (According to a study conducted by Visa Vanquis, consumer spending on credit increased by 3% in September 2011 when compared with statistics for 2010). It is understood that the variation eluded to above has been of support to the company in its financial borrowing, enabling it to fund its expansion referred to in the above paragraph. The downside is that it has had a fundamental impact upon its banking venture namely, profits attained are not what they could be if the discount rate was higher, notwithstanding the fact that, the bank reported a 9% increase in profits in 2011 (This is money, news section) possibly due to the abovestated research on consumer spending. A higher base rate would mean higher priced loans leading to greater profits accrued (other factors being equal). Taking into consideration the above-mentioned point, the company had the opportunity to utilize the reduced interest rate in support of its expansion and other purchases to aid the loss of profit (due to low interest rates) from the sales of loans and credit cards. In criticism of the 0.5% base rate set by the MPC, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive stated it was the wrong decision to reduce it, the small businesses that supply Sainsbury were struggling to borrow and this of course had a substantial ripple effect upon the company’s financial performance (Daily Telegraph, news section). This gives a clear indication that the profit accumulated for 2011 could of been higher without the economic discontentment. It gives some direction to why the cost of sales were high due to the purchasing price of products from smaller businesses to which supply Sainsbury. Having analyzed the profitability of Sainsbury, its within good reason to compare this data with that of its main competition, namely, Tesco for which happens to be a pivotal comparison due to them standing within similar grounds in terms of business models and future company goals. Tesco UK gained  £56,910m in sales for the financial year 2010 and saw an increase for year 2011 with sales in at  £60,931m (Tesco, Annual Report 2011 section). There is a substantial difference in sales, however Tesco have 3,054 UK stores in comparison to Sainsbury’s combined 1,012 stores, in addition it has the greater market share (Tesco, storefinder section). Tesco’s Return on Capital Employed for 2010 stood at 12.1% and 12.9% for the financial year 2011 (Tesco, Annual Report 2011 section) and according to the directors report the company has set itself a target to increment this to 14.6% by 2014/15. This, together with its sales exhibits better performance than that of Sainsbury and epitomizes the comprehension to why the company holds the greatest share of the market. It shows clarity that Tesco did better with capital than that of Sainsbury, however Sainsbury used a large amount on expansion which the results of will be shown at a later date. Liquidity With liquidity being the second focal point, it is necessary to look at the credit facilities available to the organization in question. ‘Sainsbury has overall debt and credit facilities of  £3 billion at its disposal’, the principle element of Sainsbury’s core funding comprises of two long-term loans of  £1,069m due 2018 and  £840m due 2031, secured over property assets (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011). Further to the previous stated loans, the company has unsecured debt of  £180m and  £50m due between 2012 and 2015 along with  £190m of convertible bonds due July 2014 (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011). The Current Ratio for Sainsbury in the financial year of 2010 was 0.64 and 0.58 in the financial year 2011. A Current Ratio may be defined as a measure of an organization’s ability to pay its shortterm debts, ideally it should stand in at 2:1 (Atrill McAllen, 2008). The ratio for 2010 indicates that the company would be in a better position at paying off its obligations if they were due at that point in time. However due to the ratio for both years being under 1, it shows the company is not in a good position. Ironically however, having ascertained the available credit to the organization, this states otherwise. In comparison to its competition, Tesco had a current ratio of 0.73 in the financial year 2010 and 0.65 in the financial year 2011. This is somewhat similar with Sainsbury as there is only a gap of .2 in difference. Both companies figures look worrying, however the ability to turn stock into cash is another focal point to which will be later scrutinized. Having revisited the company’s balance sheet, its Net debt stood at  £1,549m in 2010 and  £1,814m in 2011 (an increase of  £265m). This difference quintessentially indicates that the company has been expanding over the course of a year. In the firm’s annual report for 2011 it shows the increment was due to rapid estate development (the addition of new Sainsbury Convenience stores) which was to an incontrovertible extent funded by the sale of leasebacks and advanced working capital (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p5). The appreciation in debt manifests the fact that Sainsbury hans’t cleared its existing debt, yet only continued to borrow more. Astonishingly however, the amount borrowed has been put to positive use in funding the expansion of the organization’s convenience stores. According to the Independent in March earlier this year, the company grew its market share of the convenience store market in 2011 with sales up 20% following the opening of 15 new stores. Further to the above-mentioned points, the company pursued further borrowing to enhance its profitability by expanding (proven to be a remunerative venture), enabling the firm to pay back its source of funding when required to do so. The idea of this long-term investment is that Sainsbury will gain a larger market share (forcing other less competitive companies to abdicate there share of the market) and increased profits both short and long-term. In criticism of the technique, the company should take into consideration the unforeseen changes in the market, namely demand for its products and services and of course future economic changes. How does it justify itself financially should there be a decrease in demand? The epitome lies with XL Airways, according to BBC News in 2008, the company hit financial discontentment after failing to secure further funding (up until that point it was in the process of expanding) due to unanticipated changes in the economy. Efficiency With regard to the organization’s efficiency, it is difficult to ascertain the overall effectiveness of performance without conducting in-depth research as it can be fairly arduous to gather enough data from ratio analysis. However, the business’s average inventory turnover (calculated by sales divided by inventories, Agyei-Boapeah, 2012) for the financial year 2010 was 30.5 (Sainsbury’s Income Statement 2010, p16), compared with 28.2 for the financial year 2011 (Sainsbury’s Income Statement 2011, p18) shows a minimal difference. The figures imply a poorer performance from the company in 2011, yet sales had subsequently increased in that year, furthermore, it was part of the organization’s goals to increment the sale of non food products which gives an account for the less frequent replacement of inventories (Sainsbury’s Income Statement 2011, p2; Sainsbury’s Annual Report 2011, notes 16). In order to gain a greater interpretation of the company’s efficiency its necessary to look at other ratios. Asset turnover (calculated by revenue divided by total assets, Agyei-Boapeah, 2012) for the financial year 2010 was 1.83 and 1.85 for the financial year 2011 (Sainsbury Group Income Statement 2011, p1). The higher the figure, the better. Having scrutinized these figures, it is clear to see a slight inclination in sales generated from assets for 2011. Although, the company has only seen a small contribution of profit accrued from the sale of assets. This may be understood by reviewing the firm’s growth policy once again and recalling that they have spent more on expanding and accumulating assets than selling assets (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p5). A comprehension of the above-mentioned points give clarity that the company’s management have conducted there duties efficiently. The prominence lies within sales performance and the ever growing multitude of stores to which the firm has within its ownership. The increased space exhibits a positive rate of expansion (15.9% according to Sainsbury Income Statement 2011, p2), furthermore, only a small percentage in change on the sale of assets and a lower inventory replacement. Further to the aforesaid point referring to replacement of inventories, it could be interpreted that as the firm sees a continuity of expansion, more goods are purchased through economies of scale (greater sized orders at lower prices, meaning less reordering) as is it the case that the company is introducing further non food products, namely televisions which aren’t everyday purchases. Yet of course it is likely to be the latter having previously identified company intentions (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p2). Finally it is prudent to take the ratios and compare them with that of Tesco. In the financial year of 2010, 20.8 was Tesco’s inventory turnover ratio and 19.2 in the financial year of 2011 (Tesco Annual Report 2011, p94). Again these figures represent an even poorer performance, but Tesco as do Sainsbury, sell a number of non food-products, 22% of sales are non-food products and the company is the UK’s largest non-food retailer (Tescopoly.org, Our Business section). Asset turnover for Tesco in the financial year of 2010 was 1.56 and 3.18 for the financial year 2011 (Tesco Annual Report 2011, p106). This shows some disparity in business efficiency and shows the company performed better in the year of 2011 when compared with 2010 and it also performed much better than Sainsbury (however it is mandatory to consider the company’s goals in comparison to that of Sainsbury). Asset Turnover comparison of Sainsbury with Tesco. Gearing Ratios The gearing ratios (Long-term liabilities) for Sainsbury on the 20th day of March 2010 were 32.86 compared with 30.79 on the 19th day of March 2011 (Telegraph shares, p1). This implies the company’s rate of borrowing to fund its activities was higher in the year of 2010 and as a result of the increase in profit for 2011 as eluded to above, activities were self-funded more often. The ratios referred to in the above paragraph doesn’t have the greatest of difference, meaning there was still a substantial amount funded by borrowed funds in 2011. A contribution to the high rate of borrowing is carefully examined by looking at the Office of National Statistics for 2010 and 2011. According to the Office of National Statistics, Consumer Price Index (hereinafter referred to as CPI) in the 12 months up to September 2010 saw a 5.2% increase in alcohol and tobacco products, a 5.1% increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages, 4.4% increase in communication and a 2.5% increase in other goods and services, including fuel (Office of National Statistics 2010/2011 Report, p1). Such increases may have caused customers to abstain from certain purchases or make less frequent purchases, this as a ripple effect would significantly impact upon the organization’s functioning. Ironically however, in 2011 CPI was at 5.2% in September, compared with 3.1% in September 2010 (Office of National Statistics 2011 Report, p1). A significant increase would anticipant further borrowing, yet this isn’t the case due to above-mentioned facts in this report. Sainsbury’s strategy to invest in expanding has given support to its profits for 2011 and enabled the business to reinvest these into its activities. This therefore negates the argument/concern over economic impact upon trading for 2011 and shows a return on investment when compared to company sales and profits with an amalgamated comparison of 2010/2011 financial performance (Sainsbury Income Statement 2011, p1-p5). Working Capital Management Moving on to the final focal point in this report, working capital. This is the measure of both a company’s efficiency and its short-term financial health (Agyei-bopeah, 2012). The working capital of the organization has seen a substantial increase in the financial year of 2011. The firm’s working capital increased by  £78m for 2011, which it states was primarily due to increased inventories which is  £110m higher than that at March 20th 2010 (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p1). An examination of ratios will help to ascertain the effectiveness of the firm’s working capital management, however it appeared difficult to derive this information from Tesco due to discrepancies to way in which data was laid out. Working Capital to Sales ratio can be calculated by taking working capital and dividing it by sales X 100 (Agyei-Bopeah, 2012). In the financial year of 2010 this figure was 1.5.7 and 1.2.8 for 2011. This manifests a less appreciated rate of performance for the year 2011, however the company did introduce a substantial number of non-food products. The company successfully managed to make cost savings of  £50m in the year 2011 (Sainsbury Interim Results 2011, p1). In an argument against this successful business practice, is it ethical for the company to pay farmers the minimal amount per gallon of milk to keep its customer want’s satisfied? Herein lies a problematic issue to which the organization faces in its ever growing desire to reduce costs. As a result it has led to pragmatism in critics of the firm’s fairtrade brand image and to what extent it coincides with the image. British farmers are forced to pay the price of supermarket price wars (The guardian, Saturday 2 July 2011, p48). With such concern over how much the firm should be saving on costs to attain a better position with working capital, it fails to take into consideration its ethos on fairtrade. It transpires to be the case that in order to make huge savings to support its growth in working capital, the company must continuously force its suppliers to drive the price of their products down as other factors change (cost of production, economic variations, energy/fuel prices and the cost of raw materials). On a more positive note, the company has managed to increase its working capital from the financial year of 2010 to 2011, this indicates positive changes in its business activity and demonstrates that it has good working capital management. As a result of the increase,  £12m in debt was paid off in the year of 2011. Yet as this section happens to coincide with efficiency, it epitomizes the effectiveness of the company strategy for 2011. Conclusion Sainsbury has set itself a fair number of targets to which are laid out in the company annual report for 2011. One being to increase space growth of 15% in two years set in the year of 2009 (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p1). The company exceeded this target percentage by .9% (Sainsbury Annual Report 2011, p1) which indicates its able to meet its targets, yet it also indicates more capital was spent on expanding and possibly more than it intended. As eluded to in the above sections, Sainsbury’s decision to rapidly expand has proven to be a remunerative venture and shown a slight increase in company profits for short-term comparisons between the financial years 2010 and 2011 where sales have grown by 9.4% (Sainsbury’s Income Statement 2011, p1). Such developments in the business will only give adequate comparisons after a greater interval enabling the researcher to comprehend as to how much the accelerated growth has had on the firm. In addition to the company’s growth in size it saw a huge appreciation in demand for its clothing brand, TU. It is understood that since fashion icon Gok Wan introduced a range of clothing, sales saw a growth of 17% as a year on year comparison for 2011 (Sainsbury’s Media, Latest Stories, p1). It is likely that this will continue to grow and complement the company’s expansion. Further to the above points, the liquidity ratios of the company are poor at this point in time which is due to accelerated growth (therefore negates the argument of poor performance). However when the firm finishes its expansion it is highly likely that the ratio will improve which is subject to no further large projects. Further to information ascertained from the company Annual Report of 2011, the company should be capable of repaying its loans as of there due dates thanks to its increased number of stores accumulating further profit. In addition to aforementioned points in the beginning of the conclusion, Sainsbury’s have five focus areas, great food at fair prices, accelerating the growth of complementary non-food ranges and services, reaching more customers through additional channels and growing supermarket space (Sainsbury’s Annual Report 2011, p3). Having already acknowledged the prosperity of its space growth, this also happens to coincide with its focus on reaching customers through additional channels as 37 new convenience stores were opened in the latter part of 2010 to the beginning of 2011 (Sainsbury’s Media, Latest Stores section). Since analyzing the company gearing ratios and how much it has in long-term debts, it is clear to see it could be a perilous problem for Sainsbury. The firm has made an audacious decision to invest in expanding in the hope for substantial returns in the not to distant future, yet this is not guaranteed income. If demand falls for the company’s products and services or there is a problem to which later impacts upon its brand image (the company is disproved to be a fairtrade retailer for example) the firm may find itself being liquidated if it is unable to repay the loans. Points eluded to in the above paragraph are a matter of deep concern to the organization and from research administered it doesn’t transpire to be the case that the firm has a contingency plan to support them with potential depreciation in demand. A contingency plan and in addition, a contingency fund is something to which Sainsbury should take into the highest of consideration should one not have already been devised (yet it is unlikely this would be the case). It will be of support to the firm in planning for unforeseen changes. 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