Cash Flows Essay

â€Å"The statement of cash flows reports the cash receipts, cash payments, and net change in cash resulting from operating, investing, and financing activities during a period† (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 614). Companies are required to prepare a statement of cash flow because it contains important information about the company that deems useful for external sources, such as investors, to make educated decisions about a company. The information contained in the cash flow, such as the company’s ability to generate cash and meet obligations, assists creditors and investors to determine the adequate decision regarding extending credit or investing. The statement of cash flows is divided into three sections: Operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Each of these sections have reflect their own characteristics of transactions and other events. First, operating activities include transactions that create revenues and expenses; these are included in the determination of net income (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Second, investing activities has two purposes: includes the acquisition and disposing of investments and property, plant, and equipment, and lending money and collecting the loans (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Third, financing activities include two purposes: obtaining cash from issuing debt and repaying the amounts borrowed, and obtaining cash from stockholders, repurchasing shares, and paying dividends (Weygandt, et al, 2010, p. 615). Operating activities, which include income statement items are: Cash inflows – from sale of goods and services, and from interest received from dividends received; Cash outflows – to suppliers for inventory, employees for services, and others for expenses (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). Investing activities – investments and long-term assets: Cash inflows – from sale of property, plant, and equipment, and collections on loans to other entities; Cash outflows – to purchase property, plant, and equipment, purchas e investments in debt, and making loans to other entities (Weygandt,  Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). Financing activities involves long-term liabilities and stockholders’ equity: Cash inflows – from sale of common stock, and from issuance of long-term debt; Cash outflows – to stockholders as dividends, and to redeem long-term debt or reacquire capital stock (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). References Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., & Kieso, D. E. (2010). Financial accounting (7th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Internal & External Conflict Essay

Struggle, struggle, struggle! We live in a time of conflict, external and internal. External conflict is a struggle between man and an outside force. Internal conflict is a struggle between man and self. Dealing with each conflict can be difficult, but there’s always a way to deal with it nonetheless. Dealing with internal conflict can be more difficult because you’re dealing with your own emotions and it can sometimes lead to depression. Don’t push away your thoughts if you are dealing with internal conflict. Pushing away your thoughts would make the situation more intense. Think about ways you can manage it instead of pushing the thoughts away. It can help if you write the conflict down or don’t let your mind fight itself. Dealing with external conflict is sometimes more simple. Effective listening is a way to deal with external conflict. It’s important to listen and understand the other person’s point of view. Effective listening doesnâ₠¬â„¢t always work out which is why communication is key. It’s important to clearly communicate your own feelings without putting the other person on the defensive. The conflicts I have dealt with in my life are mostly internal. I try my best to keep my problems within myself so that the conflict I’m dealing with doesn’t become another person’s problem. I wouldn’t want an internal conflict to become an external conflict, so I manage my problems myself. Growing up, I’ve always found it difficult to choose between one choice and the other. My most common line I’ve used is â€Å"It doesn’t matter†. I have always been scared of choosing one thing and having it become the wrong choice. Even up to now, I still use that line. I know it’s going to become a problem. Real soon, I would have to stop using that line and start making choices myself. The choices I have to choose from could be as little as which flavor of ice cream I want to as big as choosing when I want to start driving classes. I have to stop having other people choose for me and start choosing for myself because one day, itâ₠¬â„¢s going to become an even bigger problem. Other than that, if something personal were really hitting me hard, I would draw or read just to get through the problem. I would most likely read to escape reality because being in the book’s world is a place I would rather be in at that moment. I rarely deal with external conflict. When I do, I take it really hard because I haven’t dealt with much external conflict in my life. I try my best to be a good person and prevent myself into getting into situations with another person. If I were ever dealing with external conflict, it would most likely be a disagreement with another person. I’m that person who stands their ground. If I had an opinion or a chance to prove someone wrong, I would. It’s not about being right; it’s about preventing another person into believing something else when it’s wrong. Yes, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but sometimes that opinion of something is not right. I have a lot of patience, so I wouldn’t snap at someone right when there’s a disagreement. If someone were really getting on my nerves, I would stand my ground. I would say what I have to say then stop and walk away because sometimes, it’s just not worth it. One external conflict I always have to deal with is plain and simple, my brother. I have three older brothers, but one specific brother of mine is a complete nuisance. We fight on a daily basis and sometimes standing my ground isn’t even worth it. One night, we had a disagreement on school. My brother believes that school is a waste of time and being book smart is not as beneficial as having common sense. He says that being book smart isn’t going to get you anywhere in life and that common sense will make you more successful. I disagree with him completely because nowadays, you need an education to have a successful life. I just want to prove to him that I’m not going to be a failure and striving to do my best is going to pay off. Everyone is going to have to encounter a conflict in his or her life. Nobody’s perfect and everyone’s different so there’s always going to be problems. Conflict isn’t a bad thing. The only kind of bad conflict is unresolved conflict. Getting through a conflict will make you stronger and you’ll be able to conquer life more successfully. Internal conflict is harder to deal with in my own opinion because with internal conflict, no one can help you but yourself. You can get help to deal with an internal conflict, but at the end of the day, it’s up to yourself to get through the problem. When it comes to external conflict, there will always have someone who has your back and will help you out, which is why internal conflict is worst. One conflict can become stronger than the other if you are better at handling one conflict and getting past it than the other. The best ways to deal with internal conflict is to talk about the problem or do something to get your mind off it. The best ways to deal with external conflict is think about a way to solve the conflict without making it worst, walk away, or once again, do something to get your mind off it. One little tip, attitude will only make the conflict worst. Conflict is inevitable and it’s needed. Conflict develops a character. If there weren’t conflict in the world, life would be a bore.

Succubus Revealed Chapter 6

Fortunately, no dictionaries or bats ever came into play, and Seth and I spent a pleasant night together. He sent me off that weekend in a good mood, and during the time I was with him, it was easy to believe this might all end well. Once I began the tedious parts of travel by myself, the doubts began to set in. The ride to the airport, security, safety instructions . . . all little things in and of themselves, but each one began to weigh on me. I just couldn't see Seth moving to Las Vegas – not anytime soon, at least. That left long-distance dating, and it was hard to imagine us going through a trip like this every . . . hell, I didn't know how often. And that was another problem. What exactly did long-distance dating mean? Visits every week? Every month? Too-frequent visits meant the irritation of travel. Too few put us in danger of out-of-sight, out-of-mind complications. So, naturally, I was all worked up by the time my flight landed in Las Vegas. And strangely, I took comfort remembering Jerome's words, of all things. If Seth and I had survived the huge problem of immortal?Cmortal dating, then really, what was a two-hour plane ride compared to that? We could make this work. We had to. â€Å"There she is!† A familiar, booming voice startled me as I was waiting at the baggage claim. I spun around and found myself looking up at the tanned good looks of Luis, Archdemon of Las Vegas. I let him wrap me up in a giant hug, something he managed with remarkable delicacy, considering what a bear of a man he was. â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked, once those muscled arms had released me. Realization hit me. â€Å"You're not here to pick me up, are you? I mean, don't you have people who have people to do that kind of thing?† Luis grinned at me, his dark eyes sparkling. â€Å"Sure, but I couldn't trust an underling to pick up my favorite succubus.† â€Å"Oh, stop,† I groaned. My bag came around the carousel, but when I went for it, Luis brushed me aside and easily lifted it up. As I followed him toward the parking garage, I couldn't even begin to picture Jerome doing something like this. â€Å"You scoff, but most of the succubi around here bore me to tears. Hell, most of our staff here does,† Luis said. â€Å"You get a full range of personalities and talent levels with so many. The exceptional and the unexceptional. You, my dear, are exceptional.† â€Å"You don't have to try to sweet-talk me into the job,† I said, smiling in spite of myself. â€Å"Not like I have a choice.† â€Å"True,† he agreed. â€Å"But I want you to be happy here. I want everyone who works for me carrying stories about how awesome I am. It ups my cred at the annual company conference.† â€Å"Jerome's trying to up his by having us beat Nanette's employees in bowling.† Luis laughed at that and led us out to a gleaming black Jaguar double-parked in the handicapped zone. Once he'd stowed my suitcase, he even went so far as to open the door for me. Before starting the car, he leaned over conspiratorially and whispered loudly, â€Å"If you want to shape-shift into something else, now's your chance while we're still inside.† â€Å"Shape-shift into what?† He shrugged. â€Å"You're in Vegas. Live the lifestyle. No need to resign yourself to jeans and sensible shoes. Give yourself a cocktail dress. Sequins. A corset. I mean, look at me.† Luis gestured grandly at himself, just in case it was possible to miss the gorgeous and undoubtedly custom Italian suit he was wearing. â€Å"It's barely noon,† I pointed out. â€Å"Doesn't matter. I dress like this the instant I get out of bed.† With a self-conscious look around the garage outside, I quickly shape-shifted out of my travel clothes and into a one-shoulder minidress that wrapped around me like a Grecian gown. The fabric glittered silvery when it caught the light just right. My long, light brown hair turned equally glam. Luis nodded in approval. â€Å"Now you're ready for the Bellagio.† â€Å"The Bellagio?† I asked, impressed. â€Å"I figured I'd be shoved off to some crappy motel ten miles from the Strip.† I amped up my makeup for good measure. â€Å"Well,† he said, backing the car out, â€Å"that is actually what the normal budget allows for when it comes to new employee visits. I was able to pull some extra funds – and dip into my own pockets – to upgrade you a bit.† â€Å"You didn't have to do that,† I exclaimed. â€Å"I could have paid for my own room somewhere.† Yet, even as I said it, I knew that if accruing funds over the centuries was easy for someone like me, it was a million times easier for someone with Luis's lifespan. The car and his suit were probably bought with pocket change from his income. He waved off my concerns. â€Å"It's nothing. Besides, my car would probably get stolen if I parked it at one of the ‘budget-friendly' places.† The car's readout told me the outside temperature wasn't that far off from Seattle's in December. The difference was in the light. â€Å"Oh my God,† I said, squinting out the window. â€Å"I haven't seen the sun in two months.† Luis chuckled. â€Å"Ah, just you wait until high summer, when the temps hit triple digits. It cooks most people alive, but for someone like you, you'll love it. Hot and dry. Doesn't get below eighty at night.† I loved Seattle. Even without Seth in the picture, I could have been happy there for many, many years. But, I had to admit, my one weakness with the region was the weather. Relative to the extremes of the East Coast, Seattle was a very mild climate to live in. That meant it didn't get very anything. Not very cold, and certainly not very warm. The hot weather we got in midsummer was fleeting, and then the mildness of the winter was marred with rain and clouds. By February, I was usually ready to start consuming entire bottles of vitamin D. I'd grown up on the beaches of the Mediterranean and still missed them. â€Å"This is great,† I said. â€Å"I wish I were visiting while it was warmer.† â€Å"Oh, you don't have long to wait,† he told me. â€Å"Another month like this, and then the temperature will start going up. You can break out your bikini by March.† I thought that might be kind of an exaggeration but returned his grin nonetheless. We were approaching the Strip and all its glory. The buildings became more flamboyant and expensive looking. Sidewalks and streets grew more crowded. Billboards advertised every form of entertainment imaginable. It was like an adult-oriented theme park. â€Å"You seem pretty happy here,† I said. â€Å"Yup,† Luis agreed. â€Å"I lucked out. Not only is the place great, but I command one of the largest groups of Hellish servants in the world. When I saw your name come up, I thought, ‘I've got to get her in on this.' â€Å" Something in his words put a crack in the rose-colored glasses I was viewing the wondrous sights around me through. â€Å"When my name came up?† â€Å"Sure. We get e-mails all the time about transfers, job openings, whatever. When I saw you were being moved out of Seattle, I tossed my hat into the ring.† I turned toward the side window so he couldn't see my face. â€Å"How long ago was that?† â€Å"Oh, I don't know. A while ago.† He chuckled. â€Å"You know how long these things take.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, trying to keep my voice light. â€Å"I do.† It was exactly what Roman and I had talked about: the painstakingly long time Hell took with personnel decisions. Roman swore the circumstances surrounding this transfer were suspicious and implied a rush. Yet Luis was behaving as though everything had gone along according to perfect procedure. Was it possible there really had just been some oversight with Jerome's notification about my transfer? It was also possible, I knew, that Luis was lying. I didn't want to believe that of him, but I knew that no matter how friendly and likable he seemed, he was still a demon at the end of the day. I couldn't allow myself to be lulled into complete trust by his charm. We had a favorite saying among my friends: How can you tell if a demon is lying? His lips are moving. â€Å"I was surprised to be transferred at all,† I said. â€Å"I've been happy in Seattle. Jerome said . . . well, he said it was because I was a slacker employee. That I was being moved for bad behavior.† Luis snorted and pulled into the driveway for the Bellagio. â€Å"He did, huh? Well, don't beat yourself up, honey. If you want a reason for them pulling you out, my guess is that it has something to do with Jerome getting himself summoned and letting nephilim and dream creatures run rampant with his succubus.† I had nothing to say to that, but fortunately, we reached the hotel's entrance and yielded the car to a valet driver who seemed familiar with Luis and his generous tips. Entering the Bellagio, I was soon awash in stimuli – color and sound and life. A lot of the people moving in and out were dressed as glamorously as us, but plenty of average â€Å"everyday† people walked through as well. It was a mixing of all social classes and cultures, all here and united in search of enjoyment. Equally overwhelming was the intense wave of human emotion. I didn't have any magic power to let me â€Å"see† emotion, exactly, but I was very good at reading faces and expressions. It was that same knack that had let me pick out the desperate and hopeless at the mall. This was the same, except magnified a hundred times. People swung the full gamut of hope and excitement. Some were joyous and eager, either high off of triumph or ready to risk it all for triumph to come. Others had clearly attempted it – and failed. Their faces were full of despair, disbelief at how they'd ended up in this situation and sorrow over their inability to fix things. Just as obvious were the good marks. Some guys were so blatantly trolling for a hookup that I could have propositioned them then and there. Others were ideal succubus bait, guys who had come here saying they were going to keep themselves in line – but who could easily step off the edge of temptation with the right finessing. Even with my heart tied up with Seth, I couldn't help but take in and thrive under all the admiring looks I got. I was suddenly glad I'd taken Luis up on his shape-shifting suggestion. â€Å"So easy,† I murmured, staring around as we waited for an elevator. â€Å"They're just there like . . .† â€Å"Cattle?† suggested Luis. I made a face. â€Å"Not quite the word I wanted.† â€Å"Not much difference.† An elevator opened, and a cute twenty-something guy gestured me forward. I smiled winningly at him, loving the effect I had. After he exited on his floor, Luis winked at me and leaned over to whisper in my ear. â€Å"Easy to get used to, huh?† Our floor came next, and Luis nodded to our right when the door opened. A few steps down the hall, I realized something. â€Å"I have a suite?† I asked, startled. â€Å"That's a little much, even to make a good impression.† â€Å"Ah, well, that's what I didn't get a chance to tell you yet. You have a suite because it has more room. You have to share it with another new employee.† I nearly came screeching to a halt. Here it was, the catch in what was otherwise a sugar-coated fantasy. I envisioned myself rooming with another succubus and immediately knew I'd be seeking other accommodations. Succubi forced into close proximity put reality show drama to shame. â€Å"I don't want to impose on anyone's privacy,† I said delicately, wondering how I could get out of this. Luis reached a door and took out a keycard. â€Å"Nah, the place is huge. Two bedrooms and a living room and kitchen that go on forever.† He unlocked the door and opened it. â€Å"You could avoid each other all weekend if you wanted to. But somehow, I don't think you will.† I was about to question that, but suddenly, there was no need. We'd stepped into a living room as expansive as Luis had promised, all sleek lines and modern furniture, colored in shades of gold and green with dark wood trim. A long window offered a sweeping view of the city, and a man stood in front of it, admiring the panorama. I couldn't see his face, and something told me that even if I could, I probably wouldn't recognize it. That didn't matter. I knew him by his immortal signature, the unique sensory markers that distinguished him from everyone else. I could scarcely believe it, even as he turned around and smiled at me. â€Å"Bastien?† I exclaimed.

Final Strategy Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Strategy Plan - Essay Example A company pursues differentiation and low-cost under this strategy. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. also known as Walmart since 2008, is a US based multinational retail corporation operating a chain of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. According to Forbes Global 2000, it is the 18th largest corporation of the world and the largest corporation by revenue. The major control of the company is in the hands of the Walton family owing 48% stake in the company (Worstall, 2011). Walmart holds a dominant position in the brick-mortar based retail stores. However, realizing the importance and expansion of online selling, Walmart began its online store back in 2000. Initially, it was assumed that being the retail giant it is, it would soon become an online retail giant as well. Walmart could not be as successful in online selling as it has been with its offline stores. According to company analysts, they thought that the online consumer base is particularly different from the conventio nal Walmart shoppers. Hence, the company needed a new strategy where it could create a differential advantage while keeping the costs at a minimum. 6 Paths Framework Industry – Most companies operate under the assumption that they are in a particular industry having its own norms and ways, which limits their expansion. Walmart belongs to the retail store business; the company sells products belonging to various categories. Walmart online can look itself as being in the business of selling all kinds of products online. It needs to look at itself as an online business having a strong brick-and-mortar business for support. Look across strategic group – Walmart online needs to compete not only with giant online retailers such as Ebay, Amazon.com, it also needs to compete with other smaller online retailers selling specific products. Walmart online needs to become the best online retailer in every category of product. Look across complementary services and offering – A seller needs to take into account the things needed to finish the purchase. For example, while buying online, a consumer would need a credit or a debit card to make the purchase. Walmart can form alliances with banks providing specific services and offers to its customers so that they can take advantage while using Walmart online. They also need to have better delivery and reduce shipment times. Look across functional/Emotional Appeal to buyers – Walmart online needs to create a connect with its offline customers and persuade them to shop online while bringing in new customers as well. Look across time – Walmart online should be able to foresee trends and proactively design strategies. In this regard, a major emerging trend would be online shopping. More and more consumers are shifting from offline to online shopping. Hence, Walmart needs to strengthen its online business to retain its existing customers and cater to new ones (Berg, 2011). Becoming an i-business Wal mart has struggled as an online retailer and although, initially it did not matter but in a time when low income households are moving towards ecommerce, Walmart needs to strengthen Walmart online. The biggest differential edge that Walmart had was that it had the lowest price on broadest assortment of goods. They need to transform this advantage online. The steps they can take in this regard: Home delivery of fresh groceries Integration of social media and mobile apps along with

Software Project Management (Managing a Mobile Website Project) Essay

Software Project Management (Managing a Mobile Website Project) - Essay Example No sooner is the plan accomplished than someone comes along to change it. These same naysayers would also argue that the plan, once completed is disregarded and merely put on the shelf so the team can get down to doing some real work. To people management, we mean the planning activity that involves deciding on the types of people in form of resources that are compulsory to perform the requirements of the project. In other words the types of skills and number of workers we need to complete the project (kwysocki, 1997). Whenever we talk about the methods mixed up in the project management we in general refer those methods towards the management of people as well as resources. The management of people is the management of workers. Management of people guides us about the roles and duties that a worker can perform in a project for making a project successful. It also guides management what type of staff should reserve for a specific project (Kerzner, 2003). As a project manager I have t he responsibility to prepare a configuration management plan for this project and also address the risk analysis, quality control, and software configuration aspects of the this mobile website project. In this mobile website we have lots of risks which are related to website development, compatibility, feasibility, etc. we have to address all of these before we are going to launch the website. Though we have a software development team of knowledgeable developers and artistic designers those are able to employ mobile applications for handheld devices of changeable convolution, but there are risks of building function seamlessly between PDA’s and Cell Phones of different types. 1We have to concentrate on this point that there are lot of different types of PDA’s and Cell Phones in the market and all of those have different type of compatibility and functionality levels. We have to choose format of website that can support all the types and also compatible to

Is Prvnt_on lwys Bttr thn Cur The case of Brst Cncr Scrn_ng Assignment

Is Prvnt_on lwys Bttr thn Cur The case of Brst Cncr Scrn_ng - Assignment Example The introduction of the new health care policy in the 1970’s which emphasized on health promotion as the proposed strategy for the prevention of diseases, in particular diseases in which lifestyle factors had a definitive causative role, marked the beginning of this new era of preventive medicine (Larsen, 2010). Over the centuries, there has been a widespread belief amongst both the health care providers and the general population that prevention is better than cure. However, the effectiveness of such an approach towards health care is oft debated and more recently, the term ‘Preventionitis,’ which challenges this belief, has evolved and has gained popularity. Preventionitis’ is a political term that seeks to question the commonly held belief that prevention is a better and a more cost effective method, than curing a range of the nation’s health problems. In the view of many, some preventative medicine works whilst much does not. In addition, the cos ts of failure are high and this challenges the dogma that prevention is cheaper than cure (Le Fanu & Social Affairs Unit, 1994). The provision of preventive health services falls under the domain of public health. Public health is an umbrella term which encompasses a wide range of health services offered to the public and has been defined as ‘The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organised efforts of the society (Ewles & Simnett, 2003).’ Preventive Medicine offers a wide range of services for the public, including and not limited to, personal health checks, family planning and immunization (Ewles & Simnett, 2003). In addition, other services offered include health education, screening for various diseases, counselling regarding health care and adaptation of healthy behaviours, and provision of preventive medications in cases where it is available (USPSTF, 2010). It is important to remember, however, that public health is a multidisciplinary and multifaceted phenomenon and its scope is not just limited to the aforementioned services. The opponents of the preventive approach to health care present several arguments against the effectiveness of preventive strategies in health promotion. It is believed that prevention of illness is limited by the fact that most of us live out our natural lifespan and die of disease that is determined by the ageing process; since this is a predetermined phenomenon, any improvement in an individual’s lifespan or quality of life is small (Le Fanu & Social Affairs Unit, 1994). Studies have revealed that the increase in life expectancy by preventing or curing all cancers for those between the ages of 15 and 65, even if this were possible, would be only seven months. Moreover, the limitation of prevention policies by epidemiology, which raises association between disease and life style factors, is unhelpful in providing proof (Le Fanu & Social Affairs Unit, 1994). Thu s, all these factors have contributed towards the questionable nature of the efficacy of preventive health services being offered to the public. An important aspect of preventive health is health awareness which can be achieved by health education. An effective strategy in promoting screening modalities for cancers amongst the general public is by means of mass awareness campaigns. Awareness campaigns relating to cancer are common at the present

Describe how the web(www.gilt.com ) is used by a real corporation Assignment

Describe how the web(www.gilt.com ) is used by a real corporation - Assignment Example The website offers various discounts to its customers and only those customers can access these discounts who have subscribed with the website. There are various ways in which the website can be helpful for various brands located within and outside United States. Real world organizations such as Saint Laurent and various other organizations can benefit from Gilt Groupe in several ways. Gilt Groupe website is similar to the local small sized retail stores that are located in various areas. These stores purchase various products from different manufacturers at discounted prices and then they sell these products directly to the customers. In return the manufacturers selling their products derive many benefits including advertisement benefit, research benefit, cost cutting benefit and targeting benefit. The organizations that connect with the Gilt Groupe website can obtain same benefits from the website (Ostapenko 64). One way through which high end brands such as Saint Laurent can use the Gilt Groupe website is that such brands can directly reach their target market without compromising the image they had developed over the years. The members who are subscribing with Gilt include individuals who are educated and at least have a bachelor’s level degree and belong to higher income earning groups (The Business of Fashion 1). Brands such as Saint Laurent sell their offerings at very high prices and the customer base of Gilt are the main target markets of these brands. Another benefit that brands including Saint Laurent can benefit from Gilt website is that they can reach a higher consumer base and can easily attract new consumers that had been previously shopping with their competitors. The target market that is catered by Gilt mostly includes those consumers who are very brand loyal and only purchase from a certain brand. But organizations such as Saint Laurent can sell their products through the Gilt website and even gain the attention of customers who

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

International trade - Essay Example claim for the insured amount in correspondence to the losses incurred by Emma, the eventual happenings indicate that Abbe Insurers, the insurance company, have denied Emma for the payable because she has only paid 70 percentage of the total purchase amount. Subsequently, this discussion will focus on unfolding all the legal aspects regarding the terms mentioned within the Institute Cargo Clauses (A) 2009 and determining whether Emma will be liable for the insurance amount. The applicable laws in the aforesaid case scenario can be identified as the claiming policies mentioned within the Institute Cargo Clauses (A) 2009. This law was enacted as an international trade law with the prime intention of safeguarding the interests of both the insurance agencies as well as the buyers of the goods (Richards Hogg Lindley, 2009; Chuah, 2009). With reference to the referred case scenario, it is noteworthy that Institute Cargo Clauses (A) 2009 comprises of multiple sections based on the evaluation of which, the claimed amount can be ruled as deliverable or otherwise by the court. For instance, the guidelines concerning this law state that the insurance companies will have to provide a full coverage to any form of damage to the purchased or the transported goods, only if the damage conditions and the factors does not fall under the clauses 4, 5 6 and 7 (Hodges, 2013). Thus, it can be stated that if the reasons related to Emma’s loss does not coincide with the se four mentioned clauses, she will be liable for the insurance amount from Abbe Insurers. The detailed explanations of these clauses have been provided in the later sections (Richards Hogg Lindley, 2009). The mentioned terms within section 4.1 states that the insurance company will not be liable to pay the insured amount for any loss or damage to the goods that have been insured if the damage appears to have been incurred intentionally. In simple words, based on the enquiry that will be conducted by the Abbe Insurers,

IT Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IT - Research Paper Example However, every system has its own advantages and disadvantages. Certain components easily get corrupted due to many reasons like improper handling and heat. Therefore, the factors causing damage must be carefully analyzed and techniques to reduce and to protect the data must be adopted. Role of Information Technology Information Technology plays a key role globally. It deals with computing technology, such as the internet, software, hardware or networking system. In other words, it is the tool of managing information using different software and hardware devices (Agarwal & Prasad, 2012). At present, information technology is used in varied sectors like medical and health, education and widely in corporate sectors. Information technology has become an inseparable part of private as well as public sector institutions. Consequently, the risk of media failure and data losses has been a serious matter of concern. Thus, creating the needs for reliable backup media to avoid data losses is q uite imperative (Chau & Hu, 2001). Backup Media Backup is usually an activity of copying databases in order to preserve that database in case a system failure takes place. Backup is a routine operation for the IT users. Backup prevents the users when catastrophe occurs in the system. The file when retrieved back to the system, it is called restoring. Various types of physical backup media are used to backup files, such as Optical DVD media, Internal Hard Disk, External Hard Disk and Flash memory (Hagen & Bieringer, 2001). Optical DVD Media Optical media comprises recordable/rewritable as well as dual layer formats DVD and CD disks. Optical Disc Drives use electromagnetic or laser light waves for reading and writing data. These devices are reasonably cost effective media to store small amount of data. In present times, nearly each and every personal computer comes with DVD or CD burners or writers. Data can be written and stored easily in a few minutes. Data can be stored in the form of documents, audio, video or in digital form. DVD rewritable permits the user to write discs and then erase and rewrite. DVD recordable provides permanent record for the data copied. Optical discs do not provide enough data storage space when compared to other media storages. Optical disks are not suitable for full system backup as it does not have sufficient capacity to store data .It needs certain special drives to write or read. Data stored in optical media gets destroyed, if it is scratched or exposed to heat. Thus, long-term reliability of optical DVD media cannot be assured (Hagen & Bieringer, 2001). Internal Hard Disk or A Second Hard Disk, Mounted Internally Internal Hard Disk is used for storing and retrieving digital information in the computer system. The hard disk may result in failure in many ways and cause loss of data either partly or totally. Internal hard disks are within the computer system and are easily available. Moving of files in case of internal hard disk i s easy and fast. The benefit of using internal hard disk is that its cost is low and the data transfer is easy. Data can be kept stored in the internal hard disk for considerable amount of time in various types of data format. It is highly vulnerable to virus attacks and malware. Trojans and power loss can cause data corruption and in such circumstances it

Crestwood Hills Cooperative Nursery School Essay Example for Free

Crestwood Hills Cooperative Nursery School Essay Crestwood Hills Cooperative Nursery School is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing education for pre-schoolers and toddlers with minimal supervision. While they have their own staff comprising of very qualified teachers, they also require active involvement from parents. The schools job is to support childrens needs with consideration for each childs uniqueness. Landing on a cooperative nursery school job is basically the same with other nursery schools. An instructor should be a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, as they will be primarily involved in pre-schoolers and toddlers. Also, some schools do require their staff to have some experience before they can be hired. Working in a cooperative nursery school has its advantages over regular nursery schools. The ratio of teachers to children is low because of the small population of the children. Teachers also have the support of the parents because of the nature of the school, which makes dealing with children easier and less stressful. While it can be said that pre-schoolers and toddlers can become a handful for one person, it is the satisfaction that contributing to the childs development can give is more important. It can be said that the main key of their success is due to the working together of teachers and parents for the childrens learning and growth. Regular schools require little participation of parents with their childrens education. In a cooperative nursery school like Crestwood Hills, they have programs where parents are required to attend. They have parent workdays, where parents assist teachers in the classroom. There is also weekend workdays where families can meet and maintenance of the school is done. Cooperative schools believe that parents should not depend their childrens learning only to teachers and the school (California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools, Inc. ). It is believed that cooperative nursery schools are very successful because of the nature of their organization. Aside from letting the pre-schoolers and toddlers grow and socialize in their own way just like any other nursery school, giving the parents the opportunity to be involved in their childs education is very helpful. It makes the children know that they are important to their parents. Showing support is also necessary for their confidence. Also, because cooperative schools are non-profit organizations, it can be said that parents do own the school and their involvement is greatly expected. Cooperative nursery schools are increasing in number these days. It is very fortunate to those parents who want to be a part of their childrens learning process that this kind of institutions are being put up. The early stages of development of a child is a very critical stage because this can become the foundation of who they can become. This is why it is important to be involved at that stage. Children can learn faster and better when they know that they are being supported by the people that surrounds them. It is admitted that there are some parents who would prefer regular nursery schools because of the amount of involvement required, and not all parents can give this because of their busy schedules. But, while cooperative nursery schools are made especially for the children, a lot can also be learned by the parents themselves. They can learn how to interact with their children better. They would be able to understand their young ones better through the help of the school. Also, they can spend more quality time with their kids. Educators for a cooperative nursery school has the most responsibility in this situation. They have to have knowledge about early childhood. They should be patient when dealing with the students and should be able to have a healthy relationship with the parents. They should not present a negative attitude towards the children that would make the children discouraged with learning. They should always be available whenever the children need help. As well, teachers should be able to monitor each childs development. And although experience can be their best tool, it would also help if they can extend their knowledge about children by learning more. This can either be through further education or just by learning from books or articles that are very much available anywhere. Teachers should understand that they are the biggest contributor to a childs growth and development, especially at an early stage. It is fortunate that they belong to a cooperative nursery school because the burden can be lifted a little off their shoulders because of the participation of the parents. It can then be said that everyone gains in a cooperative nursery school. Learning should always be fun and easy, and this could be achieved through any school, but cooperative nursery schools have an edge to it because of the involvement of the parents. Education should be the top priority of every parent. Teachers priority should be the learning process of the kids. This is why cooperative nursery schools like Crestwood Hills Cooperative Nursery School are successful and preferred by most. Reference California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools, Inc. Retrieved February 22,

The Performance Appraisal: Advantages and Disadvantages

The Performance Appraisal: Advantages and Disadvantages Shari M. Kern   The performance assessment is the procedure through which employee performance is assessed, feedback is provided to the employee, and corrective action plans are designed (Youssef, 2015, Section 6.2, What is Performance Appraisal and Why is it Important? para 1). Performance appraisal is deemed an important means for decision-making needs of todays businesses. The performance appraisal is the method by which businesses appraise job performance. Typically, a performance appraisal system involves a manager to assess each employees performance corresponding to performance benchmarks that have previously been set up over a period of time. Performance appraisal methods also present a foundation for forecasting improvement, as well as a means for determining merit, raises, new positions within the business and even dismissals. Strategic Advantage of Performance Appraisals One of the several advantages of performance appraisal is, in the hustle and hectic working life, it extends a valuable opportunity for a manager and subordinate to have break for a private conversation about matters positive or negative that otherwise may not be spoken about. Performance appraisal proposes a good effort to focus on job accomplishments and targets, to discern and improve current problems, and to inspire improved future performance. For example, performance appraisals can have a profound effect on motivation and morale, it offers an excellent opportunity for managers to recognize and reach an agreement on individual training and development necessities, and it can examine the success of a businesss recruitment and orientation procedures. The Potential Forms of Bias Within Appraisals Systems Bias can impact employee performance appraisals in extraordinarily damaging ways. A good manager must be impartial about the performance of their workers. A performance appraisal bias can misrepresent a managers and a businesss assessment of how a worker is doing. Some biases are stereotyping (inaccurate results against certain employees belonging to a group), halo effect (erroneous judgments about an employee based on a limited number of performance dimensions), self-fulling prophecies (We tend to see what we expect to see. Research shows that when other things are equal, if managers poorly judge employees to be failures and expect these employees to fail, then the employees are likely to fail. On the other hand, if a manager believes in an employee and expects him or her to succeed, then he or she will be likely to succeed), and the fundamental attribution error (Employee blames others for their failures but do not give them enough credit for their successes. If left unchecked, thi s common attributional bias can be detrimental to performance appraisal) (Youssef, 2015, Section 6.6, Opportunities, Challenges and Recent Developments in Performance Management, para 16). Performance Appraisals Contribute to the Achievement of Strategic Objectives The success of a performance appraisal can be assessed in how good it accomplishes its strategic objectives. Performance objectives determine how a business strategy will be attained. Performance objectives also perform a key function in distinguishing the final outcomes required because of employees intense work and commitment. Performance objectives are a requirement in aligning well-defined objectives for employees. Performance objectives challenge employees to attain the greatest outcomes to encourage business development and make constant progress to meet the challenges and shifting demands of the marketplace. Performance objectives should be well-defined and direct engagement. Knowing the strategic objectives in performance appraisals can support a business to modify performance appraisals to meet business desires. In conclusion, performance appraisal is deemed an important tool for decision-making needs of todays businesses. The performance appraisal is the method by which businesses appraise job performance. When done successfully, employee performance appraisals are incredibly advantageous to the efficiency of a business. Performance appraisals offer a business with the methods to gather data and share business and specific objectives to each employee. These appraisals are methods that can make all employees more beneficial and involved in their work and thus make the business more prosperous. References Youssef, C. (2015). Human resource management. (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Quality management of executive holloware

Quality management of executive holloware 1 Why is quality important to Executive Holloware? Quality is important to Executive Holloware because they are one of the UKs leading suppliers of top-quality holloware. They describe themselves as selling to a top end market. As a result their products are priced high. Executive Holloware say their most important product was a handmade silver-plated Georgian tea set priced at over  £400. It is implied that this is the most expensive product and thats why they thought it was the most important. This could be a misguided opinion. It could have been the companys trademark, the item which made the brand; in this case you could have called it the most important because without it, there was no brand. The entire product range was hand-made and it looks like this was a big part of Executive Hollowares brand image. Holloware is a term that refers to table service items such as sugar bowls, coffee pots, teapots and other metal items that go on a table. Holloware is traditionally constructed to last a long time. It is typically made with thicker walls and more layers of silver-plate than other silverware. [1] 2 What do you understand by the term quality? The ISO9000 system describes Quality as: The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements[3] The American society for Quality describes Quality as: A subjective term for which each person has his or her own definition[4] In reality the definition of quality depends on your viewpoint. A customer may look at quality in terms of design, how the product performs, or whether it lasts as expected. A producer may look at quality in terms of conformance to requirements and the cost of quality i.e. scrap and profits. A government may see quality in terms of safety or environment. In industry, quality is often measured using values e.g. number of features, reliability, aesthetics etc. The majority of definitions seem to agree that regardless of your viewpoint, there is a set of requirements, whether it is conscious or sub-conscious, for which conformance is the goal. It is important to understand a range of peoples requirements both for a products customer base and within the company in design, manufacturing and other departments. 3 How would you specify quality for executive holloware? A quality product for Executive Holloware is a product that is free from: * Dimensional inaccuracies * Scratches * Bruises The product must be free from defects if a customer is to be proud of presenting it on their dinner table. Customers use the product to give their dinner tables a touch of class and give their guests the impression that no expense has been spared. In terms of the Georgian tea set, the product should be made of a layered silver-plate, other products are made from pewter or stainless steel. 4 What are the underlying causes of the problems at Executive Holloware? One of the main problems is that there is no dimensional / defect inspection carried out until the product is ready for shipment. Too many problems are getting ignored during the manufacturing processes and the product is getting passed down the line with defects. It appears that there is no quality control data generated during the processes until the end of the production line. For this company, the data would not have to be complex, just a numerical count of defects and possible reasons. There definitely seems to be a lack of control chart knowledge. The problems with defects are causing a massive amount of rework, which costs the company money as work is being done twice, this should be virtually unnecessary. The culture of the workforce is wrong. It appears that this stems from the top as the Production Director, Andrew Keegan, is constantly pressuring them to speed up production. This will not work if the quality is not under control. It will only multiply the problem or even increase the percentage of rework. It is a reactive culture with people only reacting to problems with the finished product. There seems to be a blame culture affecting the workforce too. Nobody wants to help with the root causes of the problem; they just want to blame somebody else. This could be because the workforce doesnt feel empowered to do anything about the quality problems. They cant stop production if they notice a problem because they will get blamed for a loss of production time. The workforce may be paid per item they get through their station. This is the case in so many industries of this kind. The problem with that is that the workforce is inclined to rush jobs because they know that if there is rework then they will get paid again. Another problem is that when a defect is found the workforce has no way of knowing if it is out of tolerance or not because there is no specification. There are no limits. 5 How should Executive Holloware measure quality at each stage of the process? Statistical Process Control should be used to take periodic samples from the processes and plot sample points on a control chart. It can then be determined whether the process is within limits. Variability is inherent in production processes and the aim is to lessen the variability to random causes. Three quality characteristics have been highlighted in section 3 which can be measured. A specification needs to be drawn up so that the workforce can decide which defects are failures and which are not. There needs to be a set of tolerances for problems like dimensional inaccuracies. The workforce also needs to be provided with measuring equipment to assist with this. A process control chart can be used as shown in Figure 5‑1. The process would be in control if no sample points lie outside the limits, most points are near the average, and there are an equal number of points above and below the centre line. A histogram can then be created to visually show which problems are most significant. A Pareto analysis could also be done to work out which problem is costing the most. Using control charts at each stage it will be possible to pinpoint at which stage defects are caused. A Fishbone diagram could then be used to show all the causes of a particular quality problem. All these visual aids are useful for meetings to aid effectively communicating the message to everybody present. Another approach to quality control is acceptance sampling. This can also be used on a random basis to measure the % defective. As the products are intended to be top quality and supplied to a top end market, this is not really suitable; especially with the large number of non-conforming products. 6 What steps would you advise Paul Stone to take to improve quality? The basic four steps from the Total Quality Management theory should be used: * Step 1: Collect and organize data * Step 2: Identify problematic components or maintenance processes * Step 3: Analyse data after maintenance process monitoring * Step 4: Action plan [5] The management should ask themselves the 5 Whys each time there is a problem with quality. The 5 Whys is a technique that doesnt involve advanced statistical tools, and in many cases can be completed without a data collection plan. By repeatedly asking the question Why at least five times, you can peel away the layers of symptoms which can lead to the root cause of a problem. [6] Paul should advise management to instil a new culture into the workforce. The workforce should be empowered to report problems and stop production if they feel there is a problem. They should also be involved with problem resolution because it has been proven that if a workforce feels more involved then they are more likely to use their process knowledge to come up with solutions for themselves. This would increase morale and is a basic TQM (Total Quality Management) philosophy. There could be daily meetings for each production unit to go through control chart data. There could then be monthly meetings for the entire staff which will make everyone feel involved and issues can be discussed between departments. Installing a continuous improvement mentality should be the goal. Quality control data as discussed in section 5 should be analysed and used to direct resources for improvement efforts. Specifications need to be created for each product stating tolerances for defects of different types and in different locations on the product. Appropriate metrics need to be identified so that problems can be measured against a standard. There could be cause for a pay restructuring so that workers are paid a fixed rate instead of per item. Bonuses could be introduced based on quality production targets as a different type of incentive. Andrew Keegan should be advised that if the efficiency of the process is increased, then this will bring an increase in productivity. Cycle time should also be increased because there will be fewer problems during processes and rework should be rare. The spare capacity introduced from the lack of rework could then be used to increase production and for new product development. It may be possible to reduce manpower which will lower costs and increase profitability. Increased production means increased turnover. One study by the University of Manchester states that success in applying the quality tools and techniques discussed relies on: * In-depth knowledge of the process * Formal training in problem solving techniques * Appropriateness of tools selected for use * Application of simple models at all levels in the organisation to aid communication and learning [7] If this is true then there needs to be formal training of statistical process control and problem solving techniques generally. There must also be involvement from all levels of the organisation. The Six Sigma theory can be used to help this organisation as well and can be applied to all stages of the problem solving process. The DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) methodology can be used. Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects and minimizing variability in manufacturing, which is exactly what this company needs to do. As quality assurance manager, Paul should take the lead role in this. The six sigma tools matrix (see Table 6‑1) can present a clear roadmap for the problem solver, especially if the problem solver is a novice (Black Belt or Green Belt). Six Sigma may be an appropriate strategy to base the work on but not in place of TQM because, as Dr Rick L. Edgeman from the University of Idaho said: Six Sigma is a highly structured, information-driven strategy for product, system and enterprise innovation and design. In contrast I would say that TQM seeks to satisfy customer needs continuously by providing what they desire at the lowest possible cost as a result of involving a critical mass of the organizations human resource. [8] Different aspects of both of these methodologies / strategies will be helpful for this company. The steps discussed in this section should have a positive effect on the shops as they will be more confident in the product they are selling, and the end users. Works Cited 1. Encyclopedia Britannica. Holloware Article. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. [Online] [Cited: 7 December 2009.] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/269441/hollowware. 2. AtlanticHospitality.com. Holloware. Atlantic Hospitality. [Online] 2003. [Cited: 7 December 2009.] http://atlantichospitalityinc.com/images/on_halloware/EJAZZ.JPG. 3. International Organization for Standardization. Quality management systems Fundamentals and vocabulary. 2005. ISO 9000:2005. 4. American Society for Quality. ASQ Glossary Entry: Quality. 5. E. Vassilakis, G. Besseris. An application of TQM tools at a maintenance division of a large aerospace company. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering. 2009, Vol. 15, 1. 6. EMS Consulting Group. Problem Solving. Lean Manufacturing Consulting and Training. [Online] 1 February 2006. [Cited: 7 December 2009.] http://www.emsstrategies.com/dd020106article.html. 7. Greatbanks, David R. Bamford and Richard W. The use of quality management tools and techniques: a study of application in everyday situations. International Journal of Quality Reliability Management. 2005, Vol. 22, 4. 8. Antony, Jiju. Six Sigma vs TQM: some perspectives from leading practitioners and academics. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 2009, Vol. 58, 3. 9. Catherine Hagemeyer, John K. Gershenson, Dana M. Johnson. Classification and application of problem solving quality tools. The TQM Magazine. 2006, Vol. 18, 5.

An Analysis of the Media and Culture Issues of Society :: Media Cultural Essays

The issue of the relationship between the mass media and the popular culture has always been a controversial issue in social sciences. The political economists insist on the role of the media industry in the creation of this phenomenon of the twentieth century. Though, advocates such as John Fiske, argue that popular culture is actually the creation of the populous itself, and is independent of the capitalist production process of the communication sector. Basing his argument on the immense interpretive power of the people, Fiske believes that the audience is able to break all the indented meanings within a media message. He also believes- by giving new meanings to that specific message they can oppose the power block that is trying to impose its ideology to the public. Consequently, this anarchistic activity of the audience creates the popular culture as a defence mechanism. Even when we accept Fiske’s ideas, we can not disregard the manipulative power of the media and it s effects on cultural and social life. Everyday we are exposed to millions of different visual messages, which tell us what to eat, what to wear, what to watch and what to listen. No matter how hard we try to avoid being influenced by these directives, we can only protect ourselves to a certain point. After that, no interpretive power can be helpful. Media then leads us to a path that ends up in the same department store with our neighbour, with whom we have probably never spoken to before. Ironically, we are holding the same pair of socks or CDs, and we might never want to recall the TV commercial that had opened the gates to this path. The United States is the biggest economical power in the world today, and consequently has also the strongest and largest media industry. Therefore, it is essential to take a look at the crucial relationship between the media and the popular culture within the social context of the United States for a better understanding of the issue. For a simpler analysis of the subject we shall divide the media industry into three main branches: Entertainment, News and Commercials (which is the essential device for the survival of the industry, and shall be considered in integration with Entertainment). Researches have shown that the most popular reason behind TV viewing is relaxation and emptying the mind.

The Economic Effects Tourism Has on New Zealand Essay -- New Zealand T

The Economic Effects Tourism Has on New Zealand The following report provides an accurate and informative overview of the nature of tourism, its history and growth, the structure of the New Zealand industry and the impact of tourism from a New Zealand perspective. The report will draw a conclusion which Highlights area of consideration in tourism planning. Conclusion and Recommendations For New Zealand tourism has a lot to offer but at the same time, care has to be taken not to mistreat it. The social and cultural impacts of tourism on New Zealand so far have been on the whole beneficial but as tourism continues to grow this could change. Non-economic benefits of tourism are maximized when visitors and hosts share mutual interests and when trade is relatively small. However these factors limit potential tourist markets and income. One solution to this problem could be promotion of New Zealand as a high quality destination at a higher price, i.e. less tourists spending more money. New Zealand tourism is largely reliant on 'Eco-tourism' so to maintain the tourism industry it is imperative that our environment is conserved. However tourism itself can have negative effects on the environment. The tourism sector must act responsibly in its use of the environment and any use must be sustainable. It is the economic effects of tourism which bring the most benefit to the host nation. Tourism is a low import user which means more of the money earned here stays here. The government is earning money through tourist taxes such as the airport tax, increased export earnings and income tax revenue from people employed by the industry. A balance must be struck between these benefits and associated negative impacts on the community and the environment. If New Zealand is to see more growth in tourism we must try and make the country more attractive to visit. More flights, low visa requirements, favorable exchange rates are all facilitators that will make New Zealand more appealing. With a high level of promotions overseas that will motivate tourists to think of our country as a destination which will be able to satisfy their needs. The Nature of Tourism There is not really a universally accepted definition of tourism. In 1994 the World Tourism Organization (WTO) revised its definition. It says the tourism comprises of 'the activities of persons travelli... ...ourism has an influence on most areas of society, employment, environment, health, economic stability and quality of life. Therefore it is the concern of governments, the public sector, is to ensure the negative consequences is minimized. At the 1968 UN Conference on International Travel and Tourism it was made clear the government intervention and management is required for the smooth running tourist activities between countries. In New Zealand the biggest participants in creating the creating the tourism product are from the private sector, that is individual operators like airlines, accommodation chains, attractions and tour operators. These sectors have their own organizations. For example hotels are represented by the Hotel Association of New Zealand (HANZ). The sales sector has groups like the travel agents Association of New Zealand or the Inbound Tourism Organizations Council. In Turn they all feed into the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association (NZTIA). The NZTIA can then represent their interests to the New Zealand Tourism Board (NZTB) , which is the country's national tourism Organization, or the ministry of commerce, which is responsible for tourism legislation.