Treasury and risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treasury and risk management - Essay Example 60 165 28 -$28.00 Do Not Exercise $32.00 Long Share Profit or Loss = Current Stock Price – Spot Share Price For instance, when current stock price is $121 and the Purchase price is $171, the Long Share Profit or Loss = $(121-171) = -$50. Option Value = Strike Price – Current Stock Price For Instance, when the strike price is $165 and the current stock price is $121, the Option Value = $(165-121) = $44 (In-the-Money) Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(Option Value – Premium paid), Premium paid] For Instance, when the premium paid is $28, Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(44-28), -28] = $16 The option will be exercised only when there is a Long Put Profit otherwise the option will not be exercised and the loss will be limited to the initial premium paid. Hence, this strategy is also known as the ‘Protective put’ strategy. For instance, when current stock price is $121 and premium paid is $28, the option should be exercised. Similarly, for different current st ock prices, the protective put strategy can be computed. ... e), Premium paid] = Max [(165-121), -28] = $34 So, from the above it can be said that if the put is at $121, only loss of $34 and if put is not exercised, loss will be $50. Hence, the breakeven share price is $199. It implies that the hedger will start to make profit after crossing the breakeven point of $199 when all premiums are paid and initial purchasing cost of shares are taken into consideration. Section (c) The protective put strategy diagram along with the breakeven point is shown below, Answer 2. Section (a) Introduction Many analysts believe that the European economy is likely to face more turmoil before it finally gets better. Greece owes a total debt of â‚ ¬490 billion to various banks in Euro zone. Analysts believe that if Greece fails to repay its debt then the impact of default will be directly felt by the small as well as the large businesses in UK. With such a huge amount of debt, if Greece really fails to repay and leave Euro, then the consequence of that will be mostly felt by the various banks in UK and Euro to whom Greece owes. Argument Defaulting of Greece or separating Greece from the Euro zone may not be suitable options to revive the European economy since the implication of both outcomes will paralyze the European economy as well as the global markets. This is mainly because of the fact that the banks do not work in isolation. They are connected to each other through debt guarantees or collaterals and insurance products (Mylonas, 2011, pp.81-84). Assuming that the Greece will default and then the most probable impact will be that about eighty percent of British banks will have less money to lend out to individuals and businesses. Consequently, if the bank’s lending slows down then the consumer consumption will decline leading to deflation in

The novel Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

The novel Frankenstein Essay In chapter fifteen, just before the ceremony the commander reads several extracts from the bible. The Bible the Commander reads from is locked in a brass bound leather box; this is a practice that was widespread during the Dark Ages. The Commander reads selected sections of the Bible that could be used to support the Ceremony and the role of the Handmaids. Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth Give me children, or else I dies Behold my maid Bilhah. She shall bear upon my knees that I may also have children by her. The Commander reads numerous sections from the book of Genesis and also an extract from Zechariah. Much like the censored television broadcasts the Commander is limiting the truth. The sections chosen have been picked to support the idea of handmaids. The commander has decided to ignore such things as the Ten Commandments, in which one them is thou shalt not commit adultery but abuses the bible for his own cause. Offred discovers a cushion with the word FAITH on it, as reading is banned the cushion should not be allowed in Offreds room. In chapter nineteen Offred considers that her FAITH cushion would have been a set of three. There must have been three once. HOPE and CHARITY, where have they been stowed? This is a direct reference to I Corinthians 13:13 So faith, hope, love; abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. The cushion is a very significant symbol in the book as it represents the fact that Offred has been denied hope and love but is told that she must have faith. Hope and love are what Offred thrives for, however she has very little hope, apart from the faintest of belief that her husband and daughter are still alive. In chapter twenty-one a handmaid named Janine (or Ofwarren) gives birth, there are numerous religious implications leading up and during the birth. In chapter nineteen Offred describes to the reader how anaesthetics and caesareans are no longer a part of childbirth, but how in a society based on religion women are supposed to feel the pain of childbirth. Aunt Elizabeth said it was better for the baby, but also: I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children. Gilead has obviously dismissed medicine and science, probably because they can be used as arguments against the existence of God. Despite the technology being available Gilead dismisses it using Gods punishment on Eve as evidence to dismiss science rather than science dismissing religion. In chapter twenty-one when Janine gives birth she is required to deliver the child on a two-tiered birthing stool, so that she can fulfil the biblical practice of the maid giving birth on the knees of the wife. Two others lead Janine to the birthing stool, where she sits on the lower of two seats. The other seat is for the commanders wife who sits above Janine and acts as if she is the one giving birth. Gilead demonstrates a total lack of tolerance for other religions, not only do they battle with other branches of Christianity, but in chapter thirty-one we see how they react to other religions. Gilead justifies deporting Jews by claiming they are sons of Jacob and therefore special the reader learns about how Jews were given the choice to emigrate or to convert. The reader is also told how people who pretend to convert are treated raids at night, secret hoards of Jewish things dragged out from under beds and hung for their beliefs. Gilead is a completely totalitarian society that mirrors many of the fascist views held by the Nazis. It is odd that this society should choose to make an example of Jews though, considering their own religion is based on the Jewish faith and many of the extracts they use to govern come from the old testament. However, Jews dont take obscure references from the Old Testament as literally as the powers in Gilead, and it is likely that an alternative faith was deemed threatening. Atwood uses religion to its greatest possible literary power by exploiting it and demonstrating what the reader doesnt think would ever be possible. Religion is at the core of Gilead and appears to be all that is left of America. The wars between branches of Christianity mirror the problems in Northern Ireland and numerous references mirror Gilead society with the Nazi regime. Atwood portrays religion as something very powerful; it is so powerful that it is able to govern an entire country. However a country governed by the bibles teaching sounds like something of a utopia, Atwood chooses to display how religion can be abused, twisted and altered to suit individuals and suppress others. The Handmaids Tale doesnt seem too far fetched, the reader would be familiar with religion being abused, in fact the historical notes refer to one of Professor Pieixotos famous studies Iran and Gilead: Two Late-Twentieth-Century Monotheocracies, as Seen Through Diaries. Linking Gilead with Irans conservative Islamic revolution, something the reader may be familiar with. The conservative Islamic revolution involved de-modernization and severe restrictions on the freedoms of women, just like Gilead.

Essay --

The function of proto-oncogenes in cells is to dictate the specific cell type and how often it divides. So, a proto-oncogene that undergoes a mutation â€Å"may† become an oncogene. Just because a gene undergoes a mutation does not make it a malignancy. Normally, cells that undergo mutations are detected and destroyed. However, the undetected/discovered oncogene are believed to contribute to the possibility and probability of developing cancer. â€Å"Normal genes, or proto-oncogenes, are transformed into activated oncogenes in certain malignancies through the actions of viruses, irradiation, or excessive amounts of new genetic material through amplification or over expression of the involved gene† (Neville, 2009). Furthermore, there are several well identified behavioral factors that increase the rate of development of oncogenes. â€Å"It’s major risk factors in the western world include smoking and drinking alcohol, whereas in Asia, it is primarily caused by tobacco/arecanut/betel leaf chewing and/or human papilloma virus (HPV) infections† (Mishra, 2012). Proto-oncogenes can be induced to undergo a mutation and form an oncogene in a variety of ways. â€Å"Before oral cancer appears, it undergoes several stages of oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) with varying types of dysplasia. Though these OPLs are very common precursors of OSCC, some oral cancers appear de novo from histologically normal oral epithelium. Oral cancer is very aggressive and commonly migrates invading distant organs.† (Mishra, 2012). Currently, the primary method of detecting oral cancers is via visual inspection/exam. However, it is essentially impossible to visually detect cellular changes that progress to the development of a malignancy. â€Å"Pain is a common symptom in oral cancer... ...iagnostic techniques than visual inspection, so that we can treat oral cancers sooner. Even with the current treatment option(s) biopsy/radiation/chemotherapy, earlier and better detection will surely improve the prognosis for oral cancers. â€Å"The overall 5-year survival rate in OSCC has not significantly increased in the last few years. The overall and disease-free survival rates are 56% and 58%, respectively. The most important task is to establish an early diagnosis at the first stages of the disease,† (Jose Bagan, 2010). â€Å"Although the epidemiology of oral cancer is well-established, the prognosis and survival rates for oral cancer patients have not improved significantly over the past three decades, (S.C. Cheong, 2009). Lastly, a better understanding of oncogenes for oral cancer will have additional benefits for diagnosing/managing/treating other forms of cancer.

Carlos P. Garcia Term Paper

PRESIDENT CARLOS P. GARCIA A TERM PAPER PRESENTED TO MS. EMELITA P. SAMALA HISTORY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS ALFREDO M. VELAYO COLLEGE OF ACCOUNTANCY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PHISTPG 1ST SEMESTER S. Y. 2012-2013 BY KELVIN ANGELES SHAIRA BRAVO AIA CHAN ANA DOCALLOS SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 INTRODUCTION Carlos P. Garcia is the eighth president of the Philippines and the fourth president of the Third Republic of the Philippines after he succeeded the remaining eight months of the term left by Pres. Ramon Magsasysay after dying from a plane crash.He was president again after winning the 1957 election. He was one of the presidents who has been exposed to politics for long and have had many experiences. He has been a governor, congressman, senator, and vice- president. Indeed, he is one of those educated presidents, proven by a Law degree. Even before he was president, he has already shown his willingness to make Philippines a better country. He was one of those who helped in collaborating with USA to seek for assistance just for the recovery and reconstruction of the Philippines from the war.The highlights of his administration were the Filipino First Policy (which is said to be what he is known for), Austerity Program (that didn’t became that successful), Bohlen–Serrano Agreement, and many more. They said that the main focus of his administration is to improve the economy of the Philippines and make it independent to other countries from its needs. Can we really consider former Pres. C. P. Garcia one of the best presidents of the Philippines? Did his programs and laws benefited and made Philippines a better country? Did he fulfill conscientiously all his duties as a president?Let us know more about the economic policies Pres. C. P. Garcia has made for the improvement of the Philippines. But first, let us discover who Carlos P. Garcia before he became a president. BIOGRAPHY Carlos Polistico Garcia was born in Talibon, Bohol o n November 4, 1896. His parents, Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia Polistico, were both natives of Bangued, Abra. His father, Policronio was a sailor and farmer who became the town mayor of Talibon for fifteen consecutive years. While his mother, Ambrosia was a devout Catholic and an exemplary housewife who was proficient in leading the novena or prayers for the patron saints.He had four brothers; Leoncio, Cosme, Cipriano and Lucio and one sister named Primitiva being him the second to the oldest. Garcia pursued the primary course in the Talibon Central Elementary School during the school year 1903-1904. His first teacher in Spanish and the vernacular was Catalina Auguis Torrefiel (â€Å"Maestra Talina†). Lucio Alingasa, Sr. was his first teacher in English. He completed his elementary education in Talibon graduating at the head of his class in 1910. He then studied in the Cebu High School completing only the second of the secondary course.His father Policronio, advised him to b ecome a public school teacher in the belief that at the age of sixteen he was yet too young to pursue his studies. After two years of teaching in the public schools of Trinidad and Ubay, he resigned to continue his studies. As a classroom teacher, he was under regular status at P25. 00 per month. He took his third year secondary studies at Silliman Institute in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. In his senior year in high school, he decided to return to the Cebu High School graduating as class valedictorian in 1916.It was during this time when he won the Carlock gold medal for excellence in oratory. He was once an editor of the school paper when he was in the Cebu High School. He was at the same time a reporter of Cebu’s weekly newspapers in English. He took law at Philippine Law School, now Philippine College of Criminology in the school year 1919-1923. He was permitted to pursue the law course because at that time a preparatory law course was not required for admission. He obtaine d many titles and won prizes in different contests. In 1919, he was elected president of the freshman class.He was also elected speaker pro-tempore of the Junior House and senator of the Junior Senate. He became secretary of the law school’s Club Cervatino, member of the Lex Club, and the 1921 winner of the Callaghan prize in oratory. In 1922, he was awarded the West Publishing Company prize for obtaining the highest general average during his first year in the College of Law. The Lawyer’s cooperative Publishing Company Prize was awarded to him as law class valedictorian in 1923. He had been recipient of the Malcolm’s four-year law course scholarship prizes for academic excellence.He finished the Bachelor of Laws degree in 1923, at the Philippine Law School as Valedictorian (magna cum laude). He placed 7th in the bar examinations of 1923 despite serious illness, obtaining the highest rating among the Manila law class valedictorians of that year. Rather than prac tice law right away, he worked as a teacher for two years at Bohol Provincial High School. He became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where he earned the nickname â€Å"Prince of Visayan Poets† and the â€Å"Bard from Bohol†. He started his political career on 1925.In 1925, he was elected as Congressman of the third District of Bohol and served for three consecutive terms. In 1933, he was elected as Governor of Bohol. He was elected as a senator in 1941, but his service was interrupted by the war in the Pacific. But he did not surrender and he did not serve in the government sponsored by Japanese of the Philippines. He joined the guerillas and went to the mountains. He was married to Leonila Dimataga on May 24, 1933. Leonila was known as â€Å"Inday†, a native of Opon and a professional pharmacist. They had only one child named Linda Garcia-Ocampos.When the Commonwealth government was re-instated, he reassumed his position as a senator and became the Majority Flo or Leader. He participated in several missions to Washington to work for the approval of the Philippine Rehabilitation and War Damage Claims. He was a delegate to the World Conference at San Francisco to draft the charter of the United Nations Organization in May 1945. He was elected again as a senator in the 1946 elections. When he was in the Senate, he was chairman and member of numerous key committees, among them government reorganization, foreign affairs, public works, army and navy, and justice.He was also a member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. From 1947 to 1953 he was vice president of the Nacionalista party directorate Garcia He was the running mate of Ramon Magsaysay in the presidential election of 1953. He was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Ramon Magsaysay, for four years concurrently serving as vice-president. As secretary of foreign affairs, he negotiated to Japan to end the nine-year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leadi ng to an agreement in April 1954. He maintained the strong ties with the United States and stood for opposition of communism.He acted as chairman of the Southeast Asian Security Conference held in Manila in September 1954, which led to the development of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, known as SEATO. He was in a conference in Australia when President Magsaysay died in an airplane accident on March 17, 1957 in Cebu. He became his successor, having been elected vice president in November 1953. He became president of the Philippines starting March 18, 1957 and lasted for eight months. In the elections of 1957 he won over three other candidates and became fourth president of the republic since its independence in 1946.He exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known and popularized the â€Å"Buy Filipino† program. This policy heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investors. Programs were initiated to improve Filipino production. He also encourag ed the renewal of interest in Philippine culture. He also initiated what has been called â€Å"The Austerity Program† that characterized his administration. However, he was criticized for his travels at the time of Austerity Program. He was accused of graft and corruption which had damaged his image. He was defeated in the 1961 presidential elections to Diosdado Macapagal partly due to these ontroversies. Garcia lived as a private citizen in Tagbilaran, Bohol after his defeat from the election. Garcia was elected delegate of the 1971 Constitutional Convention on June 1, 1971. The convention delegates elected him as the President of the Convention. However, just days after his election, he passed away. He died because of heart attack on June 14, 1971 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Garcia became the first president to have his remains lie in-state at the Manila Cathedral and the first president to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. STRENGTHS OF HIS ADMINISTRATIONCarlos P. Gar cia’s significance in the Philippine history is that he has made Philippines to be one of the innovative countries in Asia during his administration. Philippines was just recovering. And because of this, Pres. Carlos Garcia made programs that helped Philippines, especially with its current situation. He saw the need for economic independence because Philippines depended on products from America although they can produce with their own. Among these is the Filipino First Policy that is said to be the most significant act during his administration.It gave Filipino businessmen opportunities to widen their business and provide for the Filipinos. Their products were preferred more than imported ones and was given more priority. Through this act, local products were expanded and favored. This gave way for the Philippines to supply their own personal need for everyday living and it also helped in improving the economy that time. He wanted the Filipinos to provide for their own so the re would not need imports from foreign countries. Thus, it would lessen their expenses.One of the Filipino businessmen who was benefited with the Filipino First Policy was Filemon Rodriguez, who founded a management company and became the co-founder of FILOIL, the first Filipino-owned oil refining company. The concern of his administration was to make Philippines a self sustaining and independent country. Also one of the strength of his term is that he was able to revive the culture. He placed an emphasis to our culture because colonization took over and he felt that he needed to revive it. This helped the Filipinos to know their own culture and to be proud of it.He awarded some Filipino artists, scientist, historians and writers to encourage them. Although there were many economic problems arising, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia managed his country well enough. He was able to prioritize Filipinos and made laws that would increase the economic growth in the Philippines. Pres. Carlos Garcia did his part for the improvement of the Philippines. He promoted our local products and at the same time promoted it worldwide. It showed how much he is really aiming for the improvement of the lives of his Filipino people. The Garcia administration supported the local industries.He was able to shape and have Philippines to its good condition. Stated below are some of the achievements of Carlos P. Garcia’s administration. ACHIEVEMENTS There were many achievements made by President Carlo P. Garcia. These are as follows; As secretary of foreign affairs, he opened formal reparation negotiations in an effort to end the nine-year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to an agreement in April 1954. During the Geneva Conference on Korean unification and other Asian problems, Garcia as chairman of the Philippine delegation attacked communist promises in Asia and defended the U.S. policy in the Far East. In a speech on May 7, 1954, the day of the fall of Di en Bien Phu, Garcia repeated the Philippine stand for nationalism and opposition of communism. After much discussion, both official and public, the Congress of the Philippines, finally, approved a bill outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines. Despite the pressure exerted against the congressional measure, President Carlos P. Garcia signed the said bill into law as Republic Act No. 1700 on June 19, 1957. With this legislative piece, the sustained government campaign for peace and order achieved considerable progress and success.He also acted on the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement which shortened the lease of the US Bases from 99 years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five years. President Garcia initiated what has been called â€Å"The Austerity Program†. Garcia's administration was characterized by its austerity program and its insistence on a comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he affirmed the need for complete economic freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests (especially American) in the national economy.He promised to shake off â€Å"the yoke of alien domination in business, trade, commerce and industry. † Garcia was also credited with his role in reviving Filipino cultural arts. The main points of the Austerity Program were: 1) The government would tighten up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of exports under license and in under-pricing as well. 2) There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments. 3) Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items. 4) The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum. ) An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the importation of gasoline and spare parts. 6) The tax system would be revised so as to attain more equitable distribution of the payment-burden and achieve more effective coll ection from those with ability to pay. 7)There would be an intensification of food production. President Garcia exercised the Resolution No. 204 also called as the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investors.From the word itself, Filipinos and local products were prioritized more than foreign and imported products. Local enterprises were also given assistance. It also encouraged the Filipino businessmen to be part in the economy in the Philippines. Through this, the country was able to provide their own needs and lessen the imported products from foreign countries. In line with the Filipino First Policy, he also made Laws for local Industries like the Republic Act 2207 that is about the Rice and Corn Import Ban that prohibited imported rice and corn by any corporation.This helped the local producers to broaden their business. The effects of these are shown with the informations we have browsed. â€Å"Since i ts enactment in 1958, new Filipino-owned business organizations continued tosprout. Total capital investments of new Filipino businesses in 1958 was only P108,831,000whereas the Americans had P2,537,000. By 1959, new Filipinos businesses’ investments rose toP143,012,000 and those of the Americans declined to P2,433,000. In the 1960, the trendcontinued. Filipinos had P157,631,000 and Americans had P1,375,000. Although, investments of newAmerican businesses rose to P2,881,000 in 1961, those of Filipinos still had the bigger advantage with an increase to P209,398,000. † Not only that, his administration increased the employment rate and reduced the unemployment rate too. There is no perfect administration. President C. P. Garcia also faced many controversies. Which will be discussed in the next. WEAKNESSES/ ISSUES/ CONTROVERSIES During the time of Carlos P. Garcia, he made the policy called â€Å"Pilipino Muna†. In this policy as stated above, he wanted to steer awa y the country from a colonial dependence.He limited the imports so that the domestic industry would be encouraged and its production will increase. Magsaysay is a Business oligarch. He restricted foreign ownership so that the Americans could only own 40 % of the business. Compared to the countries that can be considered progressive, this policy the ‘’foreign owner restriction’’, is not a good policy if you want your country to make your country progressive. The only mistake Carlos P. Garcia made during his term is for being an anti-US business platform. And due to this there were many who criticized him and there is also much hearsay about that.Many people hated Garcia just like Macapagal, who said that Garcia was just using economic nationalism to cover up the corruption on his own government. The policy ‘Filipino First’ by Garcia should have been first consulted to the Americans. This policy hurt the Americans, which are why they are against the administration of Garcia. During Garcia’s administration, there’s always a room for misunderstanding between Garcia and foreign business importers (especially Americans) that thought that the aim of this policy is just a cover up of his fallacies. And this resulted many oppositions to Carlos Garcia.One of these is the American CIA, who again misunderstood the objective of Garcia. That’s why the US disliked Garcia and wanted another Magsaysay. And his Magsaysay that will be the follower of Americans that will agree on whatever the Americans want. And it’s Diosdado Macapagal, vice president during the time of Garcia, who is the next opponent of Garcia on the 1961 elections. CONCLUSION Throughout Garcia’s administration, he was faced with a great challenge, specifically in its economis issues. He stated the problems and made solutions to fix this.Philippines was dependent to foreign countries, resulting to some disadvantages like higher exchange rates. He was known for Filipino First Policy. It was because he wanted Philippines to be independent, industrialized, self-sustaining and wouldn’t rely to anyone but themselves for everyday needs. He didn’t tolerate foreign and imported products because he wants local firms to expand nationally so that local stocks would increase and will help in the economy growth of the Philppines and thus he was successful because employment rate increased, there has been imrovement and growth in the economy.He was able to make Philippines in a good shape, but not in best. Also through his Austerity Program, he tried to lessen and if possible, eliminate graft and corruption that was exisiting in the past administration and also to his as well, and also to teach moral values to the leaders of the country. Garcia was also known as he revived Filipino cultural arts. At the end of his term, Garcia was criticized by many because they say that programs were not enough for the common peop le. That is why he lost the elections to Pres. Diosdado Macapagal. VALUES LEARNEDEverything you do, there are people what you love to do. Just like Carlos P. Garcia, he was hated by the Americans by helping his fellow Filipinos. (Kelvin Angeles) The value that i learned from Carlos P. Garcia is to love my own country. He emphasized nationalism. He was the one who exercised the Filipino First Policy, wherein Filipinos where given priority over foreign investors. He passed bills that made the Philppines more peaceful and inorder. He gave importance to the Filipino businesses and gave them the economic freedom that they've wanted for a long time.He taught me to patronize local goods over imported products, which i usually buy because i thought that it was stronger and safer to use. He taught me to give importance to our country and be proud to be a Filipino. (Shaira Bravo) I learned that the environment you grew up really affects the way you act and think. Former Carlos P. Garcia grew up in a middle class family that enabled him to study in school. Having also a father that was a farmer then became a politician, he saw how the poor and the rich lived and acted. He was opened to a broad environment and saw the world not a simple place to live.He learned that this world composed of different class of people and each class had responsibilities to perform service in the country. This knowledge led him to take up public service as his life career. He lived his life serving Filipinos. I also learned that Garcia was a man that lived with his principles. He fought for what he knows right for the people. He was a symbol of nationalism and an epitome of democracy and justice. (Ahiah Chan) I can say that by doing this term paper, I have browsed the Speech made by former President Carlos Garcia. And in the concluding part, I read this†¦But man is finite and God is infinite and eternal and so we need Him in all our national efforts. Let us therefore pray for His guidance and mercy and that He abide with us forever and fill our days with the abundance of His blessings. â€Å"For His Kingdom is a Kingdom of all ages, and dominion endureth throughout all generations. They shall publish the memory of the abundance of His sweetness and shall rejoice in His Justice. † (Psalm 144) With Him nothing is impossible; without Him nothing. I thank you. It tells me that in whatever we do; God will always be with us.Anything is possible if we keep on believing in God. Pres. C. P. Garcia did not forget God and he put his trust on God so he would be successful in attaining all his plans for the Philippines. Also in His Austerity program, he focused not only in the economy but also for the values of the Filipinos, teaching them to be thrift, to be efficient, to save money, and to live simply, avoiding luxurious materials. It showed that he was also after the morals of the Filipinos. (Ana Docallos) REFERENCES Carlos Garcia. (n. d. ) Retrieved on Sept 17, 2012, http://www. cribd. com/doc/72422288/ CARLOS-GARCIA Carlos P. Garcia. (n. d. ) Retrieved on September 18, 2012, http://www. scribd. com/doc/37537872/ Carlos-P-Garcia Carlos P. Garcia biography. (n. d. ) Retrieved on September 18, 2012, http://www. bookrags. com/ biography/carlos-p-garcia/ Carlos P. Garcia. (n. d. ) Retrieved on September 18, 2012, http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Carlos_P. _Garcia Philippine Economy under President Garcia. (n. d. ) Retrieved on September 16, 2012,http://www. scribd. com/doc/36176205/Philippine-Economy-under-President-Garcia

History of Zen and Japanese Gardens

The art of Japanese gardens dates back to at least 592 AD, during the reign of Empress Suiko. There is documented evidence that suggests the art had actually been progressing long before then, because these early gardens were very well-developed. Early gardens contained artificial hills, ornamental pools, and many other features of Japanese gardens today. The first major development in the history of Japanese gardens came in the Nara period (646-794 AD), when trade with China began in earnest. This brought many changes to Japanese culture, and even more elaborate gardens in the castles of Japanis elite class. These gardens included animals, birds and fish to provide movement, and were used as sites for feasts and parties given by noblemen. As the fascination with other cultures began to wear off in the Heian period (794-1185 AD), those who could afford to build gardens had a renewed interest in traditional Japanese styles and customs. This change brought an elegant mix of Chinese customs and Japanese style to gardens, known as Shinden. The layout of these gardens was dictated by myth and legend; for example, streams had to run from east to west because in ancient Chinese lore, the East was the source of purity and the West was the outlet of impurities. Japanese garden. Not many changes were made to the Shinden style until the middle of the Kamakura period (1185-1392) when Zen Buddhist priests began creating gardens for meditation instead of merely for entertainment. Decorativeness was played down in favor of meditative qualities; gardens in this era tended to include stones, water and evergreens, remaining constant throughout the year. This minimalist theory was carried to even greater extremes in the Muromachi and Higashiyama periods (1392-1573) when gardens contained only stones. Created in the style of the monochrome landscape paintings popular during the time, these gardens used specially picked stones as metaphors for objects in nature. Also developed during this time was the flat garden, or the Hira-niwa. During the Momoyama period, most likely as a reaction to the frugality of the Zen garden design, royal gardens once again became vibrant and lush. These gardens were full of hills, waterfalls, and a variety of plants. However, the old Zen tradition lived on in tea gardens. Walking gardens were invented, constructed so as to be pleasing to the eye from any angle, and paths had to be woven into the structure of the garden itself. The result, right up to the modern day, is a great variety in Japanese gardens. From Zen rock gardens to tea gardens to walking gardens, the art of Japanese gardens is still very much alive.

Gagadon - Facts and Figures

Gagadon - Facts and Figures If youre announcing a new genus of artiodactyl, it helps to come up with a distinctive name, since even-toed mammals were thick on the ground in early Eocene North America (about 55 to 50 million years ago). Enter Gagadon minimonstrum, aka the Lady Gaga-toothed mini-monster, the lower jaw of which was discovered in Wyoming in 1988, but which wasnt announced to the world until May of 2014- presumably when paleontologists Richard K. Stucky and Herbert H. Covey deemed the roster of high-powered pop stars to be suitably impressive. (See a slideshow of 10 Real-Life Dinosaurs Named After Celebrities) The most notable feature of Gagadon was the unique accessory cusps on its teeth, which was doubtless an adaptation to its preferred grass diet (though presumably Lady Gaga herself enjoys a more varied menu). Described by Stucky and Covey as a dramatic departure from the other ungulates of early Eocene North America, these teeth were clearly a speedy evolutionary development, as early hooved mammals rapidly adapted to the changing conditions on earth a mere 10 million years after the dinosaurs went extinct. In fact, small, inoffensive mammals like Gagadon were fated to evolve, tens of millions of years down the line, into such varied creatures as elks, camels, deers and giraffes- rather the way Lady Gaga herself has spawned countless imitators, idolaters and high-powered pop stars. Name Gagadon  minimonstrum  (the Gaga-toothed mini-monster, after pop star Lady Gaga); pronounced GAH-gah-don  mih-nee-MON-strum Habitat Plains of North America Historical Epoch Early Eocene (55-45 million years ago) Size and Weight Undisclosed, but small Diet Grass Distinguishing Characteristics Petite size; quadrupedal posture; unique tooth structure

The Catcher in the Rye2 essays

The Catcher in the Rye2 essays The Catcher in the Rye is about a man named Holden Caulfield, who is narrating the story. Holden is in a psychiatric hospital in California, where at the given moment he was spending his time. He then had a flashback of when he was a young man at the age of sixteen. The story starts off at Pencey Prep, Holden's present school at which he was flunking out of. Holden had only a few more days before his expulsion from Pencey, so he had been paying his final dues to his admired instructors, such as Mr. Spencer, Holdens elderly History teacher. After spending some bothersome hours with Mr. Spencer, Holden returned to his room in Ossenburger Memorial Hall. There he was visited by Robert Ackley whom he disliked with a great passion, however he still had a conversation with him about school matters. While having an unpleasant discussion with Ackley, the conversation was then soon interrupted by Ward Stradlater, Holdens roommate. Stradlater notified Holden that he was going on a date with Jane Gallagher that night, an Holden had agreed to write a paper for Stradlater while he was on the date. After eating dinner, Holden began to write the paper and while doing so, became immersed in old memories of his brother Allie whom he loved dearly, but sadly had passed away. When Stradlater had arrived back at the dorm, Holden interrogated him about the date he had with Jane hoping that Stradlater and Jane did not have a sexual interlude with each other. Stradlater was upset by Holdens line of questioning and the two boys ended up in a confrontation and physical fight together. Holden lost the altercation trying to protect his old girlfriend. After the fight that Holden had with Stradlater, he attempted, without success, to befriend Ackley, for he didnt want to leave Pency Prep without a friend. However it seemed that Ackley was neither interested nor concerned about the fight that the...

Helping Verbs

Helping Verbs Helping Verbs Helping Verbs By Maeve Maddox A reader of the post on the uses of the past participle wonders, How did English come to require helping verbs? Isn’t that unusual among languages? Helping verbs are not unique to English. Also called â€Å"auxiliary verbs,† helping verbs are common in analytical languages like English. (An analytical language has lost most of its inflexions.) Auxiliaries are used with main verbs to help express grammatical tense, mood, and voice.    tense: forms or modifications (or word-groups) in the conjugation of a verb to indicate time (past, present, or future). mood: a form or set of forms of a verb in an inflected language, serving to indicate whether the verb expresses fact, command, wish, conditionality, etc.; the quality of a verb as represented or distinguished by a particular mood. For example, the sentence â€Å"Get thee gone!† is in imperative mood because it expresses a command. For the difference between tense and mood, see †Mood vs Tense.† voice: a category used in the classification of verb forms serving to indicate the relation of the subject to the action. For the difference between active and passive voice, see â€Å"Verbs Voice.† A highly inflected synthetic language like Latin, on the other hand, combines tense, mood, and voice into a single compounded word. Take, for example, the English sentence â€Å"I had sung.† Each of the three words conveys a significant piece of information. The free-standing pronoun I identifies the subject as the speaker; the past participle form sung, with the helping verb had, places the action in the past previous to another action. All of these ideas are expressed by one Latin word: cantaveram. Helping verbs rock. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar 101 category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to KnowEmail EtiquetteUsing "May" in a Question

Violent Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Violent Media - Essay Example Their mind gets perplexed due to such exposures and they do not know how to react. Either they become aggressive and retaliate or they develop fear psychosis and feel frightened, insecure and unsafe. They may even resist going to the school. In such cases, the parents should not neglect the situation and accompany the child to the school find out the root cause of violence and tackle the situation in a peaceful manner by taking assistance from the school administrators. Parents are the first arbitrators for any complicated situations the children face in the school or in the neighborhood.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Parents are certainly the most important persons in the life of children and they will listen to their counsel more than what they are willing to accommodate the articulations of the TV anchors. Parents need to develop open communication with the children, encourager and support, provide positive reinforcements and save them from being exposed to negativities. Never try to o utsmart the children with dishonest or evasive replies. When they find out the truth about the issue, they will have poor opinion about your honesty. In the next opportune moment, they may not trust you at all even if you give the correct information to them. Talk to them again and again, lovingly and in a persuasive manner. What happens when children are exposed to negative side of life? â€Å"The dual-identity concept at the heart of many superhero stories helps kids negotiate the conflicts between the inner self and the public self.

How Can Motivation Reduce Employee Turnover in the Banking Sector Dissertation

How Can Motivation Reduce Employee Turnover in the Banking Sector - Dissertation Example For this purpose, the researcher identified the importance of motivation by analysing past literature and available information. This helped in understanding the fact that motivation often impacts in a positive way leading to better understanding and performances of employees. The researcher also conducted primary and secondary research that further helped in understanding the role and importance of motivation in controlling and managing employee turnover. The secondary research is based on the understanding of motivation theories that include reinforcement theory and its advantages and disadvantages in motivating employees, incentive theory and its impact in improving the performance and satisfaction level of employees, equity theory and its impact in enhancing the satisfaction, trust and loyalty level, goals setting theory and its impact in offering direction to employees along with guiding and motivating them and need hierarch theory based on understanding and fulfilling the needs and demands of employees in an effective and expected way. The researcher also conducted primary research that helped in collecting views and responses of five human resource managers through structured interviews. The analysis of primary and secondary research offered relevant findings revealing the fact that motivation helps in enhancing skills and performances of employees if used in a positive and honest manner. However, there was no information and confirmation on the direct relationship of motivation and employee turnover. Overall, it was assumed that motivation is just a tool in enhancing the skills and performance of employees that may reduce employee turnover to an extent depending on the strategies and actions implemented by... The intention of this study is motivation as a term that refers to a process that controls and manages human behaviour in a positive way. Motivation can be defined as a series of phenomenon affecting human behaviour based on psychological, cognitive and social factors. Motivation helps in creating positive energy and feeling that in turn helps in enhancing the overall mood and behaviour of individuals. In organsiations, employees need to be motivates at every stage in order to achieve the organsiational goals and objectives. Motivation has been defined under certain concepts that need to be mentioned and examined in terms of reducing employee turnover within organisations. Initially, the researcher believes that basic concepts of motivation like intrinsic and extrinsic need to be discussed and later other concepts like push and pull and self control will be discussed in detail. Intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation that is developed deep within by individuals. When individual s start taking interest in certain tasks along with enjoying them; they are automatically motivated. Intrinsic motivation does not require any push or strategy and is often felt by individuals. Intrinsic motivation is all about deriving pleasure from activities that help individuals to grow and develop rather than depending on extrinsic factors like rewards and strategies. It is all about engaging individuals in tasks that they enjoy rather than offering tasks that do not appeal much to them. In the context of the banking sector, there are a number of tasks and activities that need to be executed and managed by employees.

Cystic Fibrosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cystic Fibrosis - Essay Example Hence, the normal movement of chloride ions is disrupted, producing thick aggregates of mucus that clog air passages resulting in breathing difficulty and chronic bacterial infections. Since mucus also accumulates in ducts of the digestive tract, the normal release of digestive enzymes is also affected, causing nutrient malabsorption. Furthermore, cystic fibrosis also causes too much salt to be excreted in the sweat glands, resulting in electrolyte imbalance. The pattern of inheritance for cystic fibrosis is homozygous recessive. This means that the disease manifests only when two copies of the defective gene is inherited from the parents. Those people who harbor the mutation in one of the two copies do not present with symptoms and are called carriers. Although these carriers are technically not affected by the disease, they can still pass the defective gene to their offsprings. The standard approach to the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis is made by measuring the chloride content of an individual’s sweat. A value of more than 60 mEq/L salt concentration is diagnostic of this condition and differentiates cystic fibrosis from other disease entities that also present with salty sweat. However, detecting CRTF mutations through DNA testing is still considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis of this disease. Like the rest of single-gene disorders, cystic fibrosis can be cured theoretically by replacing the faulty gene with a functional one in a technique called genetic therapy. However, as of the moment, this modality is far from complete. Hence, the current management of cystic fibrosis consists of symptomatic treatments such as airway clearance therapy, antibiotic treatments to control infections, regular administration of bronchodilators, and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to improve digestion. It is estimated that more than 10 million individuals carry one

Role of Labor in Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of Labor in Texas - Essay Example Labor is not only composed of the citizen of a certain city or country. Labor is a mobile factor of production, which migrates from one place to another for better opportunities, adding to the productive capacity of their new society. However, there is also a downside to the migration of labor. While they may satisfy the labor needs of their new place and may also improve the quality and quantity of labor and products (by increasing competition for the existing labor), their migration may aggravate housing, sanitation, and health problems. Their presence may also give rise to tensions and riots between the locals and migrants. Agriculture is one of sectors of US economy that is highly dependent on migrant labor. This is because the native-born Americans are not attracted to this sector due to its seasonal nature and physical requirements. One of states, where this phenomenon is most evident is Texas. Migrant labor controls the agricultural sector in Texas. They fulfill the fruit and vegetable requirements of the country. Because of the latest fears about in-land safety, the American government has tightened its immigration policies. However, this may have dire consequences for agricultural sector. ... America will have to import what it previously produced, if the migrant labor is send back or the cut down. Thus, the migrant labor play an important role in American agricultural sector and their absence will be felt greatly by society, agriculture and U.S. economy. (Stallman) Cultural Imperialism: Cultural imperialism is the process of promoting and injecting culture of one country into another. This usually happens with one powerful nation injecting its culture into a less powerful nation. Dominating another country's, influencing its people, language and media for political and economic gains. United States of America has been the Super Power since the fall of Soviet Union. It is, at present, the largest economy and the biggest military power in the world. Through the chants of " globalization", it has been injecting its ideas into the less-developing countries; to promote its interests and prevent them from growing economically, militarily, culturally etc. This has been done through media, multinationals, Internet and lately in the name of " war on terrorism." Though there has been a number of organizations that are working to promote the culture and languages of less developing countries, however they have not be very effective. Secondly, one of most prominent feature of these organizations is to promote better understanding between United States and the developing countries. Thus, in a way they have been reinforcing the very phenomenon they are fighting against-Western Imperialism. By targeting "Islam", promoting it as "a terrorist's religion", by attacking Iraq and Afghanistan, by capturing endless innocent Muslims for being "Jihadis", America and the West has been trying to culturally, politically, economically and militarily suppress the

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or Personal Statement - 1

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below - Personal Statement Example My game improved and I ate free lunches for almost the entire summer! This is the type of challenge that best describes me. Other activities that I enjoy are downhill skiing and horseback riding. I am a novice a riding and am looking forward to improving. I have been told that I am too competitive by friends, but that is simply how I am wired. I never stoop to being a poor sport, and I have never lost a friend because of my competitive nature, so I guess I’m not too overbearing with my desire to always do my best. I am the sort of person that cannot relax by relaxing or giving something a half-effort. I relax by giving each challenge all of my effort and then enjoying the benefits of my hard work. This is why I love a good challenge. In the end, I’m a better more relaxed person because of the effort needed to overcome the

Managing Time As An Adult Learner Research Paper

Managing Time As An Adult Learner - Research Paper Example Poor time management may result in poor academic performance, poor work performance or deterioration of familial relations. In such a case, many adult learners opt to drop out of college because their family and their work have the highest priority to them in the short run (MacCann, Fogarty & Roberts, 2012). However, it is possible to prevent matters from deteriorating to that level. Dropping out of college should not be the preferred option because a college degree is of vital importance in this age. Higher academic qualifications provide individuals with a strong framework to advance their careers, and the family also benefits tremendously from this advancement. Effective time management makes it possible for adult learners to register exemplary performance in both their studies and their work, and still find enough time for their families. The following tips make it possible for adult learners to manage their time effectively (Van Der Meer, Jansen & Torenbeek, 2010). Create a Time Schedule – The adult learner should create a time schedule of the tasks he intends to undertake every day in the morning before setting out on the day’s activities. Reminders increase the chances of getting planned activities carried out. Checking things off as they get done provides a feeling of accomplishment which provides motivation for undertaking the next task. Avoid interruptions – Frequent interruptions can eat excessively into study time and reduce the level of concentration. The adult learner can avoid interruptions by studying at a place that has the minimum possibility of presenting interruptions. In addition, he can make it known to roommates, friends, or family that he wishes not to be disturbed when studying. Phones can be put on voice mail, and unexpected visitors can be requested to return when the studying to done (Siebert & Karr, 2008). Use a

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or Personal Statement - 1

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below - Personal Statement Example My game improved and I ate free lunches for almost the entire summer! This is the type of challenge that best describes me. Other activities that I enjoy are downhill skiing and horseback riding. I am a novice a riding and am looking forward to improving. I have been told that I am too competitive by friends, but that is simply how I am wired. I never stoop to being a poor sport, and I have never lost a friend because of my competitive nature, so I guess I’m not too overbearing with my desire to always do my best. I am the sort of person that cannot relax by relaxing or giving something a half-effort. I relax by giving each challenge all of my effort and then enjoying the benefits of my hard work. This is why I love a good challenge. In the end, I’m a better more relaxed person because of the effort needed to overcome the

Maryland's Ecosystems and Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Maryland's Ecosystems and Environment - Essay Example Maryland’s Local and Surrounding Ecologies and Environments In an article entitled â€Å"Maryland’s Environment: A 20,000 Year History of Change† published online, it was revealed that the state exhibits an ecologically diverse landscape accurately described to include river systems in areas such as the Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware River, and the Ohio River drainages; mountain ranges; granite bedrocks; unconsolidated sediments; among others (Maryland's Environment, n.d.). Likewise, it was also noted from the discourse that Maryland’s flora share the same diversity as these evolved from growth spurring from a variety of soils, climates and the state’s local hydrology (Maryland's Environment: A 20,000 Year History of Change, n.d.). In another published report, the ecologies and environments at Maryland were also described as varying natural resources from oceans, barrier islands, beaches, tide marshes, estuaries, low-lying farmlands, rolling hills, mo untain ranges, valleys and plateaus (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 2003). Specific Factors that Distinguish Maryland’s Ecology and Environment From the historical background, it was evident that the specific factors that distinguished Maryland’s ecology and environment include: large scale, massive climatic change, human settlers and their changes in adapting and adjusting to the environment, and contact and colonization of North America, among others. As emphasized, there was manifested destruction in habitat due to hunting activities that were found to be unregulated. In addition, other factors such as â€Å"increased competition from introduced exotic species and diseases resulted in the wholesale decline in wilderness-dependent species and a corresponding rise in species that favored agricultural landscapes and human habitation sites. This decline and loss has significantly disturbed Maryland’s ecological balance† (Maryland's Environment: A 20,000 Year History of Change, n.d., p. 10). How Human Activities have Affected Maryland’s Ecosystems Human activities have affected Maryland’s ecosystems through an interplay of related acts of men; ranging from the basic physiological needs (food, clothing, shelter) to improving sources of livelihood and transportation. As population increased, the local natural resources were utilized to the point of exploiting their maximum potentials. This fact was corroborated by the Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources which identified tremendous increases in population and in converting land uses from agricultural to industrial have significantly affected and altered the original state of Mayland’s natural resources and ecosystems. As revealed, from the reported historical events of Maryland, the description of the natural environment included â€Å"a rich estuary flanked by marsh and swamplands, intertwining waterways, a gentle plain of locally-diverse f orests, and a network of human communities concentrated in riverside villages where Native Americans plied waterways and trails and managed hunting grounds, nut groves, and gardens† (Maryland's Environment, n.d., p. 7). Ways that Global Warming might Affect Maryland’s Ecosystems According to the report published by the National Audubon Society (2012), global warming significantly affects all facets of human life, including the lives of other organisms,

Analysis of Decline and Rise of Various Business Activities in the U.K. Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Decline and Rise of Various Business Activities in the U.K. Essay In this task, I will need to decide what the core activity is in each of my two businesses and whether they are dealing with products, services or both. In the UK some of these business activities are becoming more common and others are becoming less common. I will need to find out the broad trends for these business activities and how they affect the businesses that I am investigating. The legal status of Freelance Audio Productions is an equal partnership between Martin and Nikki Rider. The company was set up in 1986, but has only been trading as Freelance Audio Productions for four years. The company doesnt make a product, the service it provides is audio production based which includes performance arts, supplying of equipment and supplying of production services and facilities. FAP falls into the category of the Tertiary Sector. There are many departments that operate within FAP, but there are two departments that control most of Freelance Audio Productions. These are Stage sound and Showbiz. Stage Sound. FAP Stage Sound has been in operation for fourteen years but has only been working under Freelance Audio Productions for the last four years. FAP Stage Sound specialises in renting out sound equipment and educating young trainees. FAP Stage Sound is a continuously growing business which is also shown in the trend of the tertiary sector. Showbiz. FAP Showbiz controls all of the private singing and dancing lessons and the Pop School. FAP Pop School is the newest addition to Freelance Audio Productions. The main target of this is to educate people, mainly children, form the ages of two upwards in the field of music and dance. Girls and boys of all ages learn to sing and dance and put together routines. Shows are then put on as large events where many tickets are sold but little profit is made. Graph showing the Tertiary sector total. (See Appendix 1) FAP and connections with the sectors. Freelance Audio Productions works under the tertiary sector in the departments of other services and education. The Stage Sound aspect of FAP comes under other services, and the private lessons and Pop School comes under education. (See Appendix 2) Freelance Audio has no direct connections with any of the other sectors, but, the other departments in the Tertiary Sector play a large part in the success or failure of FAP. Martin Rider has a community web site on the Internet, and does a lot of theatrical work. As the Internet industry is doing very well at the moment, and FAP is hoping to spread all over the UK, communications help a lot to promote this business. The best way to promote the business locally is while shows are going on. The department leisure includes theatre and public events, and locally, FAP is involved with all theatrical work and most public events. Leisure is one of the fastest growing industries in the tertiary sector which gives an indication on how well FAP should be doing. (Appendix 4) FAP can be affected by the secondary sector. The only way that FAP is affected by any other sectors is the fluctuations in manufacturing of electrical goods in the secondary sector. This can cause problems when attempting to purchase specialised equipment for shows or upgrading the current range of products. Conclusion. Although currently small, Freelance Audio Productions is growing very fast as a result of the tertiary sector departments that it is part of. Over the next few years, new contacts with other businesses in the UK will be made, and maybe other sectors will come as a part of the company. The legal status of Lantra is a charitable limited company. Lantra is owned and run by a board of directors. If Lantra goes bust or bankrupt, each director has a liability of one pound. Lantra has a very complicated range of services. Most of the services is education, training and policy work for the government. Most of the work is in the land based sector, which is to do with farming, agriculture and environmental conservation. Lantra sets the standards that the GNVQs are set upon. The GNVQs for land based studies is set by Lantra. There are three operating Companies which work under the umbrella company, Lantra. These are called, Lantra Awards, Lantra National Training Organisation and Lantra Agenda. These are explained in depth in the following text. Lantra Awards. Lantra Awards is a new organisation within the Lantra. The aim of this company is to provide an innovative and responsive awarding service. Lantra Awards assesses trainees, and if the needed standards are met, appropriate awards are rewarded to them. The awards given are recognised by the government and can help acquire a job or an apprenticeship. Lantra Agenda. Lantra Agenda training specialises in management training and consultancy services and the co-ordination of work based training. Agenda courses range from increasing personal dynamics and communication effectiveness to waste management and include a range of health, safety and quality assurance courses. Below are some of the services that Lantra Agenda Provide. Although some are training, they are referred to as a product as they are sold to external agencies also. Management training and business consultancy Business development consultancy Benchmarking Management and supervisory training Train the trainer programmes Vocational Programmes National Traineeships Modern Apprenticeships (Skillseekers in Scotland) Approves centre for N/SVQs Assessment and certification in key skills, hazardous operations and safety training and management. Lantra National Training Organisation (Lantra NTO). Lantra NTO has a wide ranging selection of activities which spans from conducting labour market research to supporting local training providers. The key role of Lantra NOT is to link government and industry. There are eleven industry groups that work in Lantra NTO. These are: agricultural crops agricultural livestock production horticulture landscaping environmental conservation game conservation fish farming agricultural and garden machinery fencing floristry professions allied to veterinary science Graph showing the Tertiary sector total. (See Appendix 1) Lantra and connections with the sectors. Lantra is a peculiar organisation as it is based in not only the tertiary sector, but the primary sector also. Lantra is primarily based in the tertiary sector as it deals with training, education, and the selling of a product, retail. Previously, Lantra was a primary sector, land based organisation. As recent trends show, the primary sector is in rapid decline (Appendix 3) so the company had to think up a new idea to save the business. This is when selling training courses as a product and the company Lantra Awards came into play. These two ideas brought Lantra into the Tertiary sector which is an overall higher earning sector (Appendix 1). This would have both increased the companies value and broadened the types of customers. If the Primary sector decreases, Lantra will be injured as the company still relies mainly on the land based agricultural departments. If the need for more farms arrives, this would be perfect for the training aspect of Lantra as the business would rocket. Conclusion. Even though Lantra is in the primary sector, which is decreasing, the departments which are in the tertiary sector provide a safety net and a higher income. I think that Awards and Agenda will take over and NTO will slowly disappear as the need for agricultural based activities is in decline.

The Abnormal Aspect of Othello :: Othello essays

The Abnormal Aspect of Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚   Let us in this essay discuss the abnormal outlook on life found in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. Is a distorted view on life expressed only by the villain?    Iago is generally recognized as the one character possessing and operating by abnormal psychology. But Lily B. Campbell in Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes tells of the time when the hero himself approached â€Å"madness†:    Othello himself cries:    thou hast set me on the rack. I swear ‘t is better to be much abus’d Than but to know a little.    And then we find him torturing himself with the thoughts of Cassio’s kisses on Desdemona’s lips, and he reiterates the property idea in his talk of being robbed. From this time on, Othello has become the slave of passion. As he cries farewell to the tranquil mind, to content, to war and his occupation, as he demands that Iago prove his love a whore, as he threatens Iago and begs for proof at the same time, he is finally led almost to the verge of madness [. . .] . (165)    Fortunately the protagonist regains his equilibrium, and when he does kill, it is for the noble reason of cleansing the world of a â€Å"strumpet.† On the other hand, the baseness of the villain Iago never alters. David Bevington in William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies describes the irrationality and self-destructiveness of the ancient’s behavior:    Emilia understands that jealousy is not a rational affliction but a self-induced disease of the mind. Jealous persons, she tells Desdemona, â€Å"are not ever jealous for the cause, / But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster / Begot upon itself, born on itself† (3.4.161 – 163). Iago’s own testimonial bears this out, for his jealousy is at once wholly irrational and agonizingly self-destructive. â€Å"I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leaped into my seat, the thought thereof / Doth , like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my innards† (2.1.296 – 298). (223)    Blanche Coles in Shakespeare’s Four Giants affirms the Bard’s commitment to abnormal psychology, and his employment of same in this play:    That Shakespeare was keenly interested in the study of the abnormal mind is commonly accepted among students. [. . .] The suggestion that Iago may have been intentionally drawn as a psychopathic personality is not new. [. . .] Even a casual scrutiny of a book on case histories of psychopathic patients will find Iago peeping out from many of its pages.

Emergency Contraception Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Emergency Contraception There are many myths surrounding the use of emergency contraception. The question of what it is and when to use it is just a fraction of the controversy surrounding this arguably new practice. Emergency contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy after the act of unprotected sexual intercourse. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. However, emergency contraception can not be obtained without a prescription. Why does the US government not trust women with the choice of making sure they do not get pregnant after having unprotected sex? If abortion is a choice and abortion terminates a life, why can women not have the choice to make sure they do not need an abortion? What is wrong with preventing an unwanted pregnancy? There are two types of emergency contraception, pills (ECP's) or copper T intrauterine devices (IUD). There are two distinct pill types, the brand name "Preven" and the brand name "Plan B". Preven contains the same hormones as regular birth control, estrogen and progestin. (1) It causes more instances of nausea and vomiting than Plan Bs, and decreases the chances of pregnancy by 75%. However, Preven can be used as an ongoing form of birth control. Plan B only contains the hormone progestin. It is more effective, decreasing chances of pregnancy by 89%, and has less of a chance for side effects. (1) These pills can be taken immediately after the sex, or up to 72 hours later. (2). The other form of emergency contraception, IUD, can be inserted up to five days after the unprotected sex and is more effective than the pills (99% decreased chance of pregnancy). (1) An IUD can be left in for up to 10 years as a form of birth control, but in some cases can lead to pe... ...e. The American government still denies the request for these to be readily available for American women. Why is this so? In a country where abortion is such a moral issue, you would think that an alternative to having to end a life would be widely welcomed by all sides of the issue. WWW Sources 1) emergency contraception at princeton http://ec.princeton.edu/info/eciud.html 2) teen forum on ec, myth/fact based site http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f03/web1/www.cfoc.org/3_teen/3_emergency.cfm 3) publication paper, stand on emergency contraception http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f03/web1/www.amwa-doc.org 4) ec connection, valuable resource http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f03/web1/www.ecconnection.org 5) plannedparenthood, good price list http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f03/web1/www.plannedparenthood.com

Peer Acceptance Essay

As Sentse, Lindenberg, Omvlee, Ormel & Veenstra (2009) stated, the need to belong is one of the most important need of an individual, and during adolescence, the closest group of people that an adolescent could have strong attachments with is his/her family and friends. In a study by Khurshid & Rehman (2006), those who have low self-esteem were reported to have higher peer stressors as compared to others having high self-esteem. Their findings suggested that those who have low self-esteem face more problems with their peers; that because they lack in self-confidence, their peers would see them as inferior, considered them as a boring personality and that they always felt uncomfortable in the company of strangers, even among their friends. According to the study conducted by Parker et al. as cited in Kistner, David & Repper, 2007), the perception of an individual to be accepted by peers would contribute to his/her adjustment in school or in any other areas of his/her life. Rejected individuals who perceived themselves to be accepted by their peers tend to cope with and initiate social interactions better, than those who were rejected having negative perceptions of themselves being accepted (Rabiner & Coie as cited in Kistner, David & Repper, 2007). It was stated by Furman & Robbins (as cited in Kingery, Erdley & Marshall, 2011) that having the companion of peers would provide intimacy, affection and a source of reliance for an individual, thus helping in his/her adjustment and help enhance self-esteem. Behavioral Indicators: Individual feels that she belongs to a certain group; feels that she is not alone in life; accepts criticisms from other people; does not find it difficult to socialize with peers.

Fedex vs. Ups

THE BATTLE FOR VALUE, 2004: FEDEX CORP. VS. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. Executive Summary: As the U. S. package delivery business segment matured, International segment became the battle ground for the two package delivery giants – FedEx and UPS. FedEx is considered to be the innovative, entrepreneurial, inventor of customer logistical management, and an operational leader. UPS, on the other hand, is considered to be big, bureaucratic, and industry follower, although UPS is shedding this negative image with newer innovations. FedEx Corp. started in 1971, by the end of 2003; it had nearly $15. billion in assets, net income of $830 million on revenues of about $22. 5 billion and shipped more than 5. 4 million packages daily. UPS, Inc. founded in 1907, by the end of 2003; it had $28. 9 billion in assets, net income of $2. 9 billion on revenues of $33. 4 billion, and with excellent (AAA) bond rating. The struggle to deliver value and dominate the package delivery market between Fe dEx and UPS has reached titanic proportions and clearly evident from their respective expenditures. Between 1992 and 2003, capital expenditures for FedEx and UPS rose at an annualized rate of 34. 64% and 36. 78%, respectively. Currently both companies are matching each other’s investments in capital almost exactly. Placing ourselves in the center of the battle of giants and using the data provided in the Exhibits 1 through 11, we try to answer the following questions in this case analysis. 1: Who is creating more value and how? 2: Who is destroying the value? FedEx’s growth strategy is â€Å"Produce superior financial returns for shareholders by providing high value added supply chain, transportation, business and related information services through focused operating companies competing collectively, and managed collaboratively under FedEx brand†. UPS’s growth strategy is â€Å"Serve the evaluation distribution, logistics and commerce needs of customers with excellence and value in all services. With strong financials and broad employee ownership provide long-term competitive returns to the shareholders†. FedEx’s financial ratios are improving while UPS has far better ratios in liquidity, leverage, and profitability. UPS has consistently paid and increased dividends while FedEx just started paying dividends in 2003. FedEx’s EPS comp. annual growth rate (CAGR) 1992 -2003 is 27. 54% compared to UPS’s 13. 9%. However, since going public 1999, UPS has better EPS Compounded Annual growth rate (CAGR) compared to FedEx– 34. 30% vs. 6. 98%. UPS has far better Cum. Total market returns than FedEx – 705. 95% vs. 528. 02%. UPS has far better EVA(2003) compared to FedEx – $1,195 million vs. $170 million. MVA(2003) for UPS also far better than FedEx – $11,816 million vs. $69,31 5 million. By looking at the calculations above we can clearly say that both UPS and FedEx created value, but UPS has created more value for shareholders than FedEx. Case Analysis Detail: We start with analyzing both companies using the data provided in the book in the exhibits 1 through 11. We start the Economic profit analysis of both FedEx and UPS by review and analyzing the Return on Net Assets (RONA). A Return on Net Assets Ratio determines whether the institution is financially better off than in previous years by measuring total economic return. A decline in this ratio may be appropriate and even warranted if it reflects a strategy to better fulfill the institution's mission. An improving trend in this ratio indicates that the institution is increasing its net assets and s likely to be able to set aside financial resources [pic] to strengthen its future financial flexibility. Looking at the graph generated from data presented in Exhibits 9 & 10, shows from 1992 to 1994 the ratio for FedEx is improving while it is decreasing for UPS, although it is still well below UPS figures. A quick look at Exhibit 4, we did not find any competitive developments to support th e movement of the ratio for both companies. To get more insight into this movement for FedEx and UPS we check the Activity Analysis specifically the Asset turn over ratios for both companies. Review the Fixed asset turnover and Total asset turnover for FedEx and UPS for the period 1992-1994, it is observed that UPS is utilizing its assets better during this period – see graph below. [pic] Although by itself this ratio number can be misleading, since companies with lower margins can have higher asset turnover rations. In order to understand the real impact of asset turnover ratio we need to combine with margin ratio and then determine if it’s pricing strategy by UPS that is generating this high ratio or in fact UPS is much more efficient in using its assets than FedEx. Looking at the numbers for this period for both companies using Exhibits 2&3, we observed that UPS has far better Net profit margins compared [pic] to FedEx’s, that points to high asset turnover due to its pricing strategy. As we see in the above graph, UPS Asset ratios are declining while FedEx assets ratios are improving and correspondingly FedEx-RONA is also improving though lacking behind UPS’s RONA ratio even though FedEx has greatly improved their asset turnover ratios, the Net Profit margins are still well below UPS (see Net Profit Margin graph above). Does this mean UPS is creating more value than FedEx as shown by RONA graph? We need more concrete data to answer this question. Although RONA has a strong virtue of usage, as compared to traditional methods for measuring company success, is that it also considers the assets a company uses to achieve its output. However, RONA can’t alone be used to determine who is creating value to destroying value, because managers might bypass value-creating activities because they would reduce RONA (a risk if RONA is greater than WACC), or they might undertake value-destroying activities because they would increase RONA (if RONA is less than WACC). Moreover, since RONA does not explicitly measures capital charges, we need to analyze Economic Value Added to determine who is creating or destroying value. Ultimately maximizing EVA should rather be seen as the key financial success than maximizing RONA. [pic] Above graph shows from 1992 to 1994 both companies were destroying Economic value, UPS less than FedEx. 1995 UPS created $217 million value while FedEx was still in the negative territory. This is when UPS launched â€Å"guaranteed 8 A. M. overnight delivery† (Exhibit 4 – Timeline of Competitive Developments). This was frontal attack on FedEx who has â€Å"offers 10 A. M. delivery† (Exhibit 4 – Timeline of Competitive Developments). UPS EVA dropped to negative $138 million due to the strike by its union workers which cost UPS $700 million revenues. Interesting to see from the graph is that FedEx could not capitalize on this opportunity as its EVA was down by $215 million. In fact the graph shows, FedEx destroyed EVA from 1992 till 2002 and the only year it was able to create EVA was in 2003 by the amount of $170 million compared to UPS of $1,195 million. In year 2003, UPS EVA was whopping 703% more than FedEx. Reviewing numbers and graph, in the tech bubble of 2000-2002, UPS still maintain positive EVA while FedEx delivered negative EVA. Looking at the above graph and correlating it against the Exhibit 4, the positive EVA of FedEx can be lined up with Kinko’s Purchase in year 2003. [pic] Analyzing the cumulative Economic Value Added (EVA-Cum) graph, from year 1992 to 2003, FedEx destroyed $2. 2 billion ($2,252 Million) economic value while UPS has created $4. billion ($4,328 million) in economic value. This answers the questions put forward in the executive summary. But we will go further and analyze the Market Value Added (MVA) for each company to support our argument that UPS created more value than FedEx. [pic] Since going public in 1999, UPS has created close to $70 billion in Market Value Added (MVA) as compared FedEx’s $11 billion MVA. This shows UPS has created substantial values for the shareholders far better t han FedEx. Since FedEx’s MVA is not negative, it shows they did not destroyed value for the shareholders but UPS created more value for the shareholders. This is amazing achievement for UPS that is considered big and bureaucratic while FedEx is considered the innovative. What is the key to UPS’s success even being heavily unionized? The Key is efficiency. Business week wrote â€Å"Every route is timed down to the traffic light. Each Vehicle was engineered to exacting specifications. And the drivers endure a daily routine calibrated down to the minute. We can analyze UPS’s efficiency by analyzing the ratios and comparing them against FedEx’s financial and analytical ratios. Using exhibits 2 and 3, graphing the data, comparison shows UPS activity ratios are weakening and FedEx is doing great job in improving. [pic] The Average days outstanding for UPS have increased from approximately 25 in 1992 to over 50 in 2003. FedEx on the other hand, has done better job to manag e the average days outstanding. Average Days outstanding by itself doesn’t mean much and it must be analyzed with other activity ratios to conclude result. pic] The working capital turnover comparison shows except for 1993 FedEx has done better compared to UPS. The WC_Turnover for FedEx was 41. 25 in 2003 compared to 7. 72 for UPS, indicated FedEx is generated far more sales compared to cash it uses to fund these sales as compared to UPS. [pic] FedEx’s fixed and total asset turnover ratio is better than UPS. This indicates FedEx is using its asset better than UPS to generate sales. Although by itself this ratio number can be misleading, since companies with lower margins can have higher asset turnover rations. In order to understand the real impact of asset turnover ratio we need to combine with margin ratio and then determine if it’s pricing strategy by FedEx that is generating this high ratio or in fact FedEx is much more efficient in using its assets than UPS. Looking at the numbers for 2003 for both companies, FedEx with 3. 69% Net profit margins compared to UPS’s 8. 65% seems to have high asset turnover due to its pricing strategy. The above graph shows that activity financial ratios of FedEx are improving while they are weakening for UPS. Next we analyze Liquidity Ratios of both companies to see which company has the ability to pay its obligations in timely manner with minimal cost. [pic] The Current Ratio of UPS is better and improving than FedEx. The anomaly in 1999 for UPS was due to the public offering of its securities. The graph shows both companies can service their short-term debt, its UPS that has more efficient operating cycle than FedEx. The graph shows FedEx’s CR is improving but still behind its top competitor UPS. [pic] UPS has better cash ratio and thus can service its short term debt more comfortably than FedEx. This also indicates that UPS has less debt than FedEx too. The anomaly in 1999 is due to public offering of UPS securities. The graph shows UPS Cash ratio offer better safety of margin than FedEx when it needs to service its debt. Although FedEx’s Cash Ratio is improving but it is still behind UPS. Reviewing the Cash flow from operations ratio and Defensive interval shows that UPS has better liquidity ratios than FedEx and can handle short term cash requirement more efficiently, though FedEx’s ratios are improving. The above graphs show UPS has better liquidity ratios than FedEx. Now we review the Long-Term Debt and Solvency analysis of both companies. The below graph shows FedEx is more leveraged than UPS, though FedEx’s leverage position is improving. Graph shows UPS’s leverage was high in 2001 and 2002, we can find the answer in Exhibit 4 – Timeline of Competitive Development – UPS acquired all-cargo air service in Latin America 2000 and acquired Mail Boxes Etc. retail franchise in 2001. While in 2003 FedEx acquired Kinko’s which could explained higher leverage compared to UPS. pic] The Capital Expenditure Ratio shows, both companies actually almost matching each other’s Capital expense. Exhibit 4 –Timeline of Competitive Developments shows the details of the major Capital expenses by both companies in competition to gain competitive advantage. Both companies made acquisitions to grow in different fields. [pic] The above graphs shows UPS is co nsistently leveraged low while FedEx is improving. Next we analyze the profitability analysis for both companies. Data from Exhibit 2 & 3 shows, FedEx’s profitability is worse UPS. PS beat FedEx in almost all profitability ratios by handsome margin. It is evident from 2003 numbers for Net Profit Margins 3. 69% and 8. 65% for FedEx and UPS respectively. The following graph shows the comparison of profitability of both companies. [pic] Finally, we review the growth analysis of both companies. Exhibit 2 & 3, provides the picture that shows FedEx growth is higher than UPS. [pic] The below graphs summarizes and compares both companies EPS, Dividend payout, Stock price, and PE ratios. [pic] UPS’s stock price shows since going public, it has delivered better value to its shareholders than FedEx. [pic] The above graph shows, UPS has consistently paid and increased dividends to its shareholders, while FedEx started dividend payout in 2003. [pic] UPS has a higher EPS growth than FedEx implies that FedEx has been unable to translate net income growth into high EPS growth. Hence, our analysis conclude that both UPS and FedEx created value for their shareholders, but UPS created more value than FedEx in the long run.

Apple’s Mission Statement

Company Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation founded in 1976 with 361 retail stores worldwide as of January 2012. The current CEO of Apple is Tim Cook and the current Chairman is Arthur Levinson. Its headquarters is situated at: 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014 United States Apple’s mission statement is: â€Å"Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store.Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad. † [ (Apple Inc. – Frequently Asked Questions, 2012) ] Products and Distribution Apple’s prime function is the design and marketing of products such as consumer electronics, computers, and computer software, including: * iPhone * iPad * Mac * iPod * iOS * Apple TV * iCloud * Mac OS X Apple also offers various third-party accessories, digital content and applications compatible with its own products.Apple sells these and its own products through various distribution channels including: * retail stores * online stores * direct sales force * third-party cellular network carriers * wholesalers * retailers * value-added resellers Apple’s products and services are sold to a wide variety of customers including: * consumers * small and mid-sized businesses * education * enterprise * government customers Customers and Market Expansion Apple has a loyal customer base, with regular customers accounting for a large percentage of sales.However, Apple is always looking to expand into new market areas through the creation of new products and marketing techniques. For instance, Apple is considering the creation of an Apple Bank, with a recent survey showing that 43% of the current Apple customers would switch from their current banks to Apple. Apple also recently delve d into the electronic book industry, over which it now faces a lawsuit for colluding with other companies to raise the price of electronic books. Shares 1,748 institutions currently hold Apple shares. Due to its recent success, reflected in its no. position in BrandZ’s 2011 list of the 100 most valuable brands in the world, Apple has amassed US$98 billion, and has therefore decided to pay a quarterly dividend of US$2. 65 a share to investors starting from July 1, implying a 1. 8% dividend yield based on a current share price of around US$600. Apple is also planning to repurchase US$10 billion in shares over a three year period starting from September 30. The total cost of these planned operations amounts to roughly US$45 billion. Employees Apple has over 60,000 employees, and this number is increasing rapidly due to the company’s high employment rate.The research and development department is relatively small, with most staff employed in general and administrative role s – approximately 60% of Apple’s employees work in Apple Stores, compared to other companies in the same industry of similar size. Most Apple employees have more than 5-10 years of work experience, but the level of education is not a crucial deciding factor in employment – the amount of graduates hired without masters or doctoral degrees is significant. Environmental Impact Apple has long been the subject of criticism over its environmental impact.In 2007, Steve Jobs penned an open letter promising to remove toxic materials from Apple’s products, and that promise has been fulfilled since then, with toxic substances being removed from Apple’s whole array of products. However, Apple is still criticised often over its impact on the environment. In a list released in April 2011 by Greenpeace, Apple was deemed the least green technology company due to its high reliance on coal power. Apple published a breakdown of its carbon footprint in 2011, estimatin g that it was responsible for 23. 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the year.Chinese environmental groups have also published two reports detailing the pollution and health hazards present in Apple’s supply chain in China. In these reports, Apple is criticised for ignoring the unhealthy conditions in its factories in China. In response to these reports, Apple’s pledge to ensure safe working conditions for its suppliers was restated. Apple was again criticised when several of its manufacturers in China were accused of releasing harmful pollutants. In response, Apple met with Chinese environmental groups, promising to assess its environmental impact and ensure its partners would follow environmental regulations.Apple’s own supplier responsibility report detailed that waste was being improperly discharged from some of its suppliers and some facilities did not have adequate systems or records in place required to deal with hazardous materials. Economic Conditions Apple has always had to cope with changing economic conditions. However, Apple’s response to these conditions has varied. For instance, in the Global Financial Crisis, rumours spread that Apple would develop new, more affordable products across its Mac and iPhone families. However, when questioned over this, Steve Jobs replied: â€Å"There are some customers which we choose not to serve.We don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that. But we can continue to deliver greater and greater value to those customers that we choose to serve and there’s a lot of them. And we’ve seen great success by focusing on certain segments of the market and not trying to be everything to everybody. † Apple continued to develop its product lines in the same style and price range. In the fourth fiscal quarter of the 2011 financial year, economic conditions threatened iPhone sales, and in response, Apple chose to reduce orders for handset parts and components.By the end of the quarter it had been revealed that it had been Apple’s biggest September quarter ever, but due to Apple’s even greater success in the third quarter, the company’s revenue had not lived up to the Wall Street estimates. Competition Apple uses several strategies to stay ahead of the competition: * It is constantly developing new products. * It is continuously upgrading its existing products. * It continues to sell successful products and keeps successful designs. * It tries to cover all price ranges when it can.For instance, since the release of the iPhone 4S, Apple decided to keep selling the iPhone 3GS in order to provide a more affordable iPhone for potential customers. Apple has also initiated several lawsuits against Samsung and vice versa, with patent breaches being disputed in at least 10 countries. Most notably, Apple claimed Samsung had copied its iPhone and iPad. Business Life Cycle Despite being over 30 years old, Apple is still in the growth stage of the business life cycle. This is due to several reasons: * Growth is accelerating. Regular clients make up a large percentage of their customer base, but at the same time substantial effort is being put into tapping into new markets. * New products are being created and developed in order to fill market niches. * Mass marketing techniques are used to increase market share. * Profits are rising. * Production costs are decreasing. Company Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd is an Australian public company founded in1982 which operates primarily as a franchisor. Gerry Harvey is the current Chairman of the company, and his wife, Katie Page, is the CEO. Its headquarters is based in Homebush West, NSW, Australia.The company owns three leading brand names: * Harvey Norman * Domayne * Joyce Mayne Harvey Norman also owns several other Australian retail chains such as Space Furniture and Ariston Appliances. Unde r these brand names, the company grants franchises to independent business operators. As of the 2011 Financial Year, there were 195 franchised outlets in Australia, and 96 company owned stores. Products and Distribution Harvey Norman’s franchisees sell a wide range of products in various categories including: * electrical goods * furniture * computerised communications * bedding and manchester * small appliances * carpets and flooringThe company recently planned to conduct 5% of its trade online, but these plans proved too optimistic, and they were scaled back. Customers and Market Expansion As an icon in the Australian retail industry, consumers make up most of Harvey Norman’s customers. The company acquired retail chain Joyce Mayne in July 1998 and further expanded when it launched its Domayne retail chain in May 1999. It acquired a controlling interest in Rebel Sport Limited in July 2001 but sold it in March 2007. Harvey Norman opened Harvey Norman Direct Import in December 2011, an online store based in Ireland which sells video games to Australia free of GST.Shares Harvey Norman’s shares have recently experienced a drop of over 6% due to uncertain retail conditions and a drop in sales. Employees Harvey Norman currently has approximately 10,000 employees. The ratio of employees in general and administrative sectors to those in sales and marketing is less than in companies of similar size in the same industry. Most employees have over 5-10 years of work experience, and have bachelor’s degrees rather than masters or doctoral degrees. Environmental Impact In 2011, Harvey Norman was the subject of criticism over the destruction of Australian native forests for use in the furniture industry.A group called Markets for Change launched a campaign against Harvey Norman after they claimed to have conducted a year-long investigation into the company’s timber usage. To this, Gerry Harvey responded on ABC Radio: â€Å"I'm an environm entalist† â€Å"I'm doing my best to use recycled timber or timber from plantations †¦ but every now and then [timber from native forests] will slip through. â€Å"[Often it's] timber the government has told sawmills they can take. â€Å"We are trying really hard to change and also to keep an industry going in Australia †¦ it's difficult for [the sawmills] to survive, and without us they just wouldn't. Economic Conditions It was recently revealed that Harvey Norman’s first half yearly profits were down 2. 1%. The company released a statement explaining the situation: â€Å"The combination of intense competitive pressures and price deflation in certain key product categories, accentuated by the high Australian dollar, deteriorating economic confidence and a prudent consumer, has seen many retailers struggle to maintain margins in the fight for market share. † Competition Harvey Norman has several competitors in the market and therefore utilises severa l strategies in order to compete effectively.Actions taken by the company in response to competition include: * The purchase of the Clive Peeters and Rick Hart brands, which resulted in a loss of AUD$41 million, whose stores will now either convert to Harvey Norman or Joyce Mayne brands or close. * The launching of Harvey Norman Direct Import in response to JB Hi-Fi’s addition of a direct importation section to its website. Some predict that Harvey Norman is the only Australian listed company that would be interested in purchasing Dick Smith Electronics from Woolworths and that if Harvey Norman was to pay AUD$150 million for the business, it could boost earnings by 7%.Business Life Cycle Harvey Norman is in the post-maturity stage of the business life cycle. This is due to several reasons: * Recently, it has been experiencing a small period of decline, but over the long term it has been in a state of renewal. * New strategies taken involve some degree of risk. * New markets a re being exploited, with ventures into overseas markets. * Anticipated sales are not always eventuating. Comparing the two businesses: * Apple is a larger business than Harvey Norman, being a multinational corporation. * Apple operates in many more countries and has significantly more employees. Apple has had great recent success whereas Harvey Norman’s profits have dropped. * Apple has expanded into many more areas in recent times than Harvey Norman. * Apple’s share price is also much higher compared to Harvey Norman’s, reflecting Apple’s recent profits. * Both businesses have been the subject of criticism over their environmental impact, but Apple has received more due to its operations in more areas and countries. * Both businesses employ various strategies in order to stay ahead of competition, but Apple has had greater success, with Harvey Norman experiencing losses due to unsuccessful strategies. Despite the fact that Apple was founded before Harvey Norman, Apple is still in the growth stage of the business life cycle due primarily to the fact that its sales and profits are rapidly increasing, with demand for its products high and customer base growing. Apple would be more resilient to influences in the business environment due to the fact that it is a larger business, with more resources and a massive amount of money currently with which it can respond to changing conditions.