Sunday, December 29, 2019

Coppolas Interpretation of Dracula as a Love Story Essay

Coppolas Interpretation of Dracula as a Love Story The protagonist and story of Bram Stokers novel Dracula have been widely interpreted and adapted in films throughout many years. Despite almost a century of time since the initial publication, Dracula has maintained its ability to frighten and mesmerize readers. Francis Ford Coppolas Bram Stokers Dracula; however, utilizes the erotic romance of the original novel in order to depict a tragic love story. The film accurately follows the general plot of the novel, yet presents the characters in a unique manner that provides for a different appreciation of the characters. Francis Ford Coppolas adaptation of Stokers novel begins with the presentation of how Dracula†¦show more content†¦This characterization of Dracula as a devoted lover was the dominant goal of Francis Ford Coppola. James Holte states that in Bram Stokers Dracula: The Film and the Legend, Coppola writes Doing Justice to the complex character of Dracula was one our main goals. Hes been portrayed as a monster or as a seducer, but knowing his biography made me think of him as a fallen angel, as Satan... Blood is the symbol of human passion, the source of all passion. I think that is the main subtext in our story. Weve tried to depict feelings so strong they can survive across the centuries, like Draculas love for Mina/ Elizabeth. The idea that love can actually give back to the vampire his lost soul (Holte 82). This portrayal of Dracula as a complex character is the basis for the differences in the presentation between Stokers original villain and Coppolas adaptation. Because Coppola wanted to show Dracula more as a fallen angel equal to Satan in Miltons Paradise Lost, the main result is pity for this representative of evil. This presentation is different from the original novel because it lacks the balance between the readers like and dislike of Dracula throughout the story. In the film, the audience tends to feel sympathetic for Dracula as he struggles to find his love. There at two moments in the movie where DraculaShow MoreRelatedExploring The Depth Of Romance And How Coppola s Dracula1042 Words   |  5 Pages Rationale: My feature article will be exploring the depth of romance and how and why Coppola decided to develop theses deep ideas of love. I will also be discussing Coppola’s decision to use very old film techniques. This is will allow the reader of the feature article to further understand why Coppola did the things that he did and therefore allow them to have a better understanding of the film. I will also be exploring the attitudes, values and beliefs that were held in the time period of theRead MoreEssay on Bram Stokers Dracula Meets Hollywood4245 Words   |  17 PagesBram Stokers Dracula Meets Hollywood For more than 100 years, Bram Stoker’s Victorian novel, Dracula, has remained one of the most successful and revered novels ever published. Since its release in 1897, no other literary publication has been the subject of cinematic reproduction as much as Dracula. Dracula has involuntarily become the most media friendly personality of the 20th century. When a novel, such as Dracula, is transformed into a cinematic version, the end product is usually mediocreRead MoreBram Stokers Dracula: A Variation of a Classic Work in Modern Time1509 Words   |  7 Pagesgave up life to avenge the death of his one true love, as he chose to become the undead. Director, Francis Ford Coppola, in his work, â€Å"Bram Stoker’s Dracula†, reaches beyond the words to prove Dracula was more than a monster in creating the movie. Coppola focuses on Dracula as a man, as well as a knight, who is both deeply in love with his church and his bride. The historical elements in the writings of Bram Stoker come to life more so in Coppola’s work with the movie, than in the book. My goal of

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Speech Topics to Meet Oral Communication Standards

Speech topics are a key element for impromptu oral presentation activities. Coming up with them can be a challenge for the teacher. You can use this collection of speech topics for oral presentations or use them to inspire your own variations. Impromptu Oral Presentation Activity Put all of the topics on slips of paper and have your students pick out of a hat. You can either have the student begin the presentation immediately or give a few minutes to prepare. You may have a student pick the topic just before the student before them presents so they have that time to think. In this case, give the very first student a few minutes to prepare. Impromptu Oral Communication Speech Topics You are an ant. Convince an anteater to not eat you.Explain three different ways to eat an Oreo cookie.Tell us about a nickname you have and how you got it.Convince us to vote for you as president of the USA.Explain three uses for a pencil other than for writing.Read us a letter you might write home when you are staying at a circus training summer camp.Tell us about your summer plans.Convince us that homework is harmful to your health.Tell us about your favorite pet and why it should win the Greatest Pet Ever award.If you were an animal, what would you be?You are a salesperson trying to sell us the shirt you have on.Explain how a smart person might not be wise.If you were the teacher, how would our class be different?Tell us about the hardest thing you have ever done.You are a mad scientist. Tell us about your latest invention.You are a famous sports player. Describe your best moment of a game.You are a famous rock star. Explain what the lyrics of your latest hit song mean.Tell us ab out the best job.Explain the benefits of drinking milk.Tell us how to become a millionaire.You are 30 years old. Tell us how you became a millionaire by age 18.Tell us about the best dream youve ever had.Create a myth that explains why pelicans have large beaks.Tell us how to make a new friend.Tell us about the most fun recess activity.Tell us about your favorite holiday.Tell us how to make your favorite meal.Explain which came first: the chicken or the egg.Explain the rules to your favorite game.If everything in the world had to change to the same color, what color would you choose and why?Explain how you would use a hat to catch butterflies. Be sure to identify the type of hat that is required.You are a piece of paper. Describe how we should use you before you get recycled.Explain how to make a pizza.Explain four uses for a drinking glass other than for holding a liquid.Convince our principal to give students their birthdays off of school.Describe how you would modify a snail so i t can go faster.Explain the best way to teach an old dog a new trick.Describe the life cycle of a frog or butterfly.Explain what you would do if you were a monkey suddenly set free from a zoo.Describe one school rule you would change and why.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Esigenetic Stress Memories - 1008 Words

1. Background Organisms are exposed to different kinds of environmental stresses during their life cycle. To cope up with environment assaults, plants and animals undergo some homeostasis alterations during somatic growth and heritable (transgenerational) gene expression modifications. The heritable changes can occur without any changes in base sequences and is commonly known as epigenetics. Molecular mechanisms of epigenetic modification includes DNA methylation, histone modification (methylation, acetylation, uniquitination, phosphorylation, ribosylation, and biotinylation), small RNA mediated regulation and chromatin remodeling (Wagner, 2003; Vanyushin, 2006). All of these mechanisms may be regulated by different environmental stresses. Studies have revealed altered gene expression in plants, in response to stress conditions that can be fixed epigenetically and inherited to next generation, forming epigenetic stress memories. 2. Molecular Basis 2.1 DNA methylation The modification at fifth carbon position of a cytosine ring (addition of methyl group to the 5` position of cytosine, thus converting cytosine to 5-methylcytosine (5mC)) is called as DNA methylation. In plants, DNA methylation has usually found in three contexts, methylation at CG, CHG (H replacing A, C or T) and at CHH sites (Chen et al., 2010; Zemach et al., 2010). This DNA methylation accumulated during vegetative phase under influence of environment will be transmitted to next generation through germline

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Need to Belong Rediscovering Maslows Hierarchy of...

The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. by: Norman Kunc Axis Consultation and Training Ltd Originally published in: Villa, R., Thousand, J., Stainback, W. Stainback, S. Restructuring for Caring Effective Education. Baltimore: Paul Brookes, 1992.  © Copyright 1992 Paul H. Brookes Publishers. Newtonian principles of physics were regarded as true until Einstein demonstrated that they provided an inadequate explanation of the laws of nature. Similarly, Freudian analysts viewed a womans admission of being sexually abused by her father as a neurotic fantasy stemming from an Electra complex. Only recently have other forms of therapy shown that women are accurate in their accounts of being abused. In every field of†¦show more content†¦The result is that people with disabilities, unable to make the transition into community life, spend their years continuously preparing for Iife, a modern version of Sysiphus, Often the lack of student progress is blamed on the student. Students are seen as having such severe disabilities that they are incapable of learning appropriate behaviour and skills. However, this answer is losing credibility. Research and experience are showing that students in segregated programs do imitate and learn, but often what they imitate and learn is the inappropriate behaviour of their classmates. Furthermore, there is growing documentation of students who seemed incapable of learning appropriate behaviour and skills in segregated settings achieving these previously unattainable goals once integrated into regular classrooms. It seems, then, that the adherence to current paradigms within special education has resulted in the creation and maintenance of what I term retarded immersion classes. Students are immersed in an environment of retarded behaviour and learn how to be retarded. A far more reasonable explanation for the lack of student progress has to do with the absence of motivation. There are very few, if any, rewards or payoffs to the student for learning new activities in this environment. Students dont pass retarded immersion and exit to general education: they cant even fail retarded immersion. In fact, they are sometimesShow MoreRelatedThe Humanistic Perspective on Classroom Management2373 Words   |  10 Pagesmeaningful knowledge base, become proficient problem solvers and learn how to work productively with others (Biehler and Snowman, 2006, p. 370). If this is the case, teachers need to know how to be able to develop this situation in the classroom and make it more conducive to learning. Therefore, it would seem that they need to encourage students to converse with each other with group discussions and assignments, to make sure they are active in the class, physically as well as mentally, and that they

Friday, December 13, 2019

Australian Legal Studies Student Tutorial Book Semester 2 Free Essays

Australian Legal Studies Student Tutorial Book Semester 2 2013 ? Australian Legal Studies Course Semester Two Tutorial Format 1 session of 1. 5 hours duration per week There is one tutorial session each week and each session will focus on topics from the previous weeks lecture. For example, in week 2 the tutorial will discuss topics covered in the lecture for week 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Australian Legal Studies Student Tutorial Book Semester 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The topics for each weeks lecture and the reading you are expected to do for that lecture are set out in the â€Å"Outline and Reading Guide†. As well as reading from the set textbooks you also need to read the additional readings and resource materials for each unit. These materials are located in the separate Legal Studies Supplementary Material booklet which accompanies this Tutorial Program. The questions which you will discuss or present in your tutorials are listed in this Tutorial Program. Before each tutorial you must complete the suggested reading for that week and then prepare formal, written answers to the questions. You are expected to take an active part in these tutorials by discussing the topics and by raising questions. You will also be given regular writing and a team oral task to complete in tutorials and are expected to refer to decided cases in your answers. It is essential that you prepare for these tutorials by completing both the reading and writing tasks. This will ensure your success in the program. UNSW Foundation Studies 1 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Australian Legal Studies Course Outcomes Rationale Australian Legal Studies introduces students to the Australian constitutional and legal framework. It assumes no previous knowledge. The course examines some detail of the major topic areas that students can expect to encounter at undergraduate level. Students will gain a clear awareness of the important institutions and processes in the Australian and Global legal environment and be exposed to current political and legal issues. Content Outcomes At the end of the course successful students will have developed an: ? understanding of the origins and sources of Australian and International law ? understanding of comparative legal systems and the responses of domestic law to global challenges ? awareness of how cultural differences impact upon the legal system ? appreciation of the impact of law on everyday life and on business operations understanding of basic legal terminology and concepts ? ability to analyse legal cases and apply the law to a range of situations ? awareness of the complexity of legal issues in the global business environment and in the world of e-commerce ? awareness of a variety of dispute resolution processes in Australia and from a global perspective UNSW Foundation Studies 2 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Skill s Outcomes At the end of the course successful students should be: ? competent in both oral and written English language communication skills required for successful undergraduate study proficient in using a range of communication technologies ? able to think critically and analyse problem solving questions in legal studies ? able to engage in independent and reflective learning ? proficient in locating and using information from a variety of sources ? able to work in groups and teams ? familiar with teaching and learning styles at Australian universities ? able to behave ethically and take responsibility for their own actions and educational outcomes ? effective at task and time management ? aware of different cultures and understand alternative viewpoints UNSW Foundation Studies 3 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Student Assessment in Australian Legal Studies Standard Program Assessment schedule Item Duration Weighting Semester 1 exam 1. 5 hours 30% Final exam (Sem. 2 topics only) 2. 5 hours 60% Tutorial Preparation Participation Full year 10 % (2 x 5%) UNSW Foundation Studies 4 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Semester 1 Exam Weighting: 30% This assessment item examines all units from Semester One. Normally a semester examination consists of multiple choice items and short written responses similar to those asked as tutorial questions. The semester exam covers semester 1 units only. Final Exam Weighting: 60% This Examination covers all units from Semester Two. Normally the Final Examination consists of multiple choice questions, short written responses and longer essay answers. The final exam covers semester 2 units only. Tutorial Preparation/Participation Weighting: 10 %( 2x 5 % per semester) Marks are allocated according to a variety of criteria relating to students overall tutorial performance. Some of these criteria might include: ? the quality of written answers prepared for tutorials and quality of graded writing tasks; ? individual oral presentations on particular tutorial questions as nominated by the tutor; ? o-operation and willingness to participate in and at times lead discussion on particular tutorial questions as nominated by the tutor ? evidence of completion of the required and additional reading; ? punctuality and attendance UNSW Foundation Studies 5 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Australian Legal Studies Oral Presentation Student Feedback Sheet Student name / tutorial gro up: Grading Criteria Excellent Very Good Satisfactory Not Satisfactory Organisation Evidence of planning Content Relevant and accurate Quality Explanation of legal issues and concepts Discussion Facilitated and responded to class questions Delivery Confidence, clarity, resources used Time Frame Kept within time limit 5-10 min Additional Comments by Tutor: Overall Grade: Date: Signature of Tutor: UNSW Foundation Studies 6 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Required Textbooks KEY TO REFERENCES Alderson P (2006) Legal Dictionary for Australians,2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Sydney. Note: Students are expected to make ongoing use of their dictionary. Carvan, John (2010) Understanding the Australian Legal System 6th ed. Lawbook Co. Sydney Chew Charles YC (2008) Business Law Guidebook 1st ed Oxford Melbourne Australia Australian Legal Studies Supplementary Material RELEVANT http://www. eo. gov. au (Parliamentary Education office) http://www. aph. gov. au (Australian Parliament House) http://www. hcourt. gov. au (High Court of Australia) http://www. austlii. edu. au (Aust. Legal Information Institute) http://www. lawlink. nsw. gov. au (NSW Courts and Tribunals) http://www. ipaustralia. gov. au (Intellectual Property Australia) http://www. ahtcc. gov . au (Aust. High Tech. Crime Centre) http://www. acia. org. au (Aust. Centre International Commercial Arbitration) http://www. law. unsw. edu. au/centres/klc( Kingsford legal centre UNSW) http://www. comlaw. gov. au (Commercial law) http://www. business. ov. au ( Business Law) http://www. australiancontractlaw. com (contract aw) http://www. flyingsolo. com. au ( sole traders) UNSW Foundation Studies 7 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Semester 2 Outline and Reading Guide Unit Lecture topics Reading for Tutorials 1 Introduction to Commercial Law Legal framework for the operation of a business Alternative business structures Obligations of business owners Chew ch 9 Carvan p. 194-198 SM Corporations Law Concept of legal personality and the corporate veil ( Salomon case) Advantages and disadvantages of Incorporation Role and responsibility of company directors (ASIC v Adler) Remedies for breach of duty 3 Negligence 1 Tort of negligence –Donoghue v Stevenson Duty of care-neighbour principle Standard of care – reasonable person test Causation – but for test Remoteness of damage 4 Chew ch. 8 Carvan ch. 8 SM Negligence 11 Liability for negligent misstatement and pure economic loss Liability of professional advisers Vicarious liability Defences-Contributory negligence Voluntary assumption of risk 5 Chew ch’s 10 11 Carvan p. 194-198 SM Chew ch. 8 Carvan ch. 8 SM Contracts I Nature of contract law Elements of a contract Offer and acceptance Competition and Consumer Act UNSW Foundation Studies Chew ch. 2 Carvan ch. 7 SM ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 Unit Lecture topics 6 Reading for Tutorials Contracts II Intention to create legal relations Consideration Remedies for breach of contract 7 International Sales Contracts 1 Contracts and International Trade Vienna Convention of CISG How to negotiate and carry out an export contract 8 SM Int ernational Sales Contracts 11 Case Studies Choice of Law rules Proper Law Private International law 9 SM Resolving Business Disputes ADR methods used in commercial disputes Case Study-International business dispute 10 Chew ch. 7 Carvan p. 85-87 Intellectual Property Law Intellectual Property (IP) concepts IP protection- Aust. and International UGG boots case study 11 SM Carvan p. 201-204 E-Commerce and the Law Case Study- Gutnick v Dow Jones Legal Challenges for the future e. g. identity theft Contracting on-line Cybercrime- defamation, fraud, piracy. 12 13 Chew ch’s 34 Carvan ch. 7 SM Chew ch. 7 SM Revision Revision units for Exams M. C. essay writing skills Review of Sample Exams Sample Exam Booklet Final Exam UNSW Foundation Studies 9 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 1 Introduction to Commercial Law Week 2 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. commercial law business entity sole trader partnership franchise company Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What is the scope of commercial law? How do business and the law work together? (Give an example) 2. Mr. Lee wants to establish a construction business. He seeks your advice about different types of business structures. What are the alternative business structures he may consider? 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the following alternative business structures? ? Sole trader ? Partnerships ? Franchise . When establishing a business, what are some of the legal obligations of a business owner? Writing Task What is commercial law? Explain some of the legal obligations of the business owner when establishing and operating business. Student Presentation: Question 2 UNSW Foundation Studies 10 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 2 Corporations law Week 3 The following terms and concepts mu st be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. corporation corporate personality limited liability unlimited liability corporate veil fiduciary relationship shareholder irector perpetual succession Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation? 2. Discuss the legal principle of the corporate veil and in your answer refer to the case of Salomon v Salomon Co. Ltd (1897) UK. 3. When would the court lift or ignore the corporate veil? (give examples in your answer) 4. Explain the duties of Mr. Lee as a director of Lee Constructions Ltd. What remedies could the court impose for a breach of these duties? (In your answer refer to ASIC v Adler (2002) Writing Task What is the corporate veil? Explain the circumstances under which the corporate veil could be lifted. (In your answer refer to a decided case) Student Presentation: Question 4 UNSW Foundation Studies 11 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 3 Negligence 1 Week 4 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. tort negligence duty of care standard of care â€Å"reasonable (person) test† causation â€Å"but for test† remoteness of damage defence Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. Explain the elements of negligence. 2. Discuss the element of duty of care developed in the landmark case of Donoghue v Stevenson (1932). Refer to Lord Atkin’s definition of â€Å"Who is my neighbour†? 3. Mr. Lee was having a business lunch at a hotel in Sydney with a client who bought him a can of beer. After drinking some of its contents, he found a fly in the can. When he saw it, he became quite ill. He decides to sue for compensation. The manufacturer claims that it does not owe the man any duty of care because it did not sell the drink to him. Instead the publican should be liable because he sold the can to him. (i) Identify the type of tort and relevant precedent case. (ii) If you were the judge, what decision would you make in this case? Explain the ratio of your decision. What are the possible civil defences? (iii) 4. Explain the element of breach of duty with reference to the following cases: Bolton v Stone and Paris v Stepney Borough Council Writing Task What is negligence? Explain briefly the elements which the plaintiff must prove to be successful in a negligence action. (In your answer refer to decided cases) Student Presentation: Question 3 UNSW Foundation Studies 12 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 4 Negligence 11 Week 5 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. negligent misstatement pure economic loss contributory negligence voluntary assumption of risk vicarious liability Mr. Lee has, for many years, operated a construction business in Sydney. He decided to expand his business but realised that to do so he would need to borrow a significant amount of money. Mr. Lee went to his local branch of the Oright Bank to ask for a loan. He spoke to Barlow, the branch manager. The Oright Bank has an established practice of giving free financial advice to members of the public. Barlow advised Mr. Lee that the Oright Bank would not grant him a loan and that in any event Mr. Lee’s best course of action would be to borrow Swiss francs from the Bank of Geneva. The Bank of Geneva was lending Swiss francs at a much lower rate than Mr. Lee would have to pay if he borrowed Australian dollars. Acting on this advice, Mr. Lee borrowed one hundred thousand Swiss francs from the Bank of Geneva. Soon after Mr. Lee took out his loan the Australian dollar fell heavily against the Swiss franc. As a result of that fall, Mr. Lee must now repay, in dollar terms, twice as much as his original loan. Mr. Lee now claims that Barlow was negligent in not warning him of the risks of currency fluctuation and in not advising him to take out insurance to protect himself from those risks. He wishes to take legal action against the Oright Bank to recover his loss. Write a report to advise Mr. Lee of his chances of success based on the tort of negligence. (In your answer refer to decided cases such as Hedley Byrne, Shaddock, Esanda. ) You will need to consider these issues: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) Is the Oright Bank liable for damage caused by Barlow’s negligence? Did Mr. Lee suffer pure economic loss? Does the Oright Bank owe Mr. Lee a duty of care? If so, has the Bank breached its duty? If so, did the bank’s breach cause Mr. Lee’s loss? Is Mr. Lee’s loss too remote? What are possible defences which the Oright bank can argue? Writing Task (Mandatory): Connie case (provided by tutor) Student Presentation: None UNSW Foundation Studies 13 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 5 Contracts 1 Week 6 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. offer acceptance agreement contract invitation to treat breach Competition and Consumer Act 2010 Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. Identify and discuss the essential elements of a valid contract. (In your answer distinguish between simple and formal contracts under seal) 2. Explain the rules of offer and acceptance. (In your answer distinguish between an offer and an invitation to treat) 3. Analyse the case of Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co 1893. Discuss the facts, issue, arguments of both sides and decision in this case. Consider the relevance of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (previously the Trade Practices Act) S18 if the case was being heard today. 4. Mr. Lee sees the following advertisement in a magazine: â€Å"Use Hair Loss Restorer daily for 10 weeks and your hair will regrow to its original thickness, if not a full refund is guaranteed! † Mr. Lee purchases the product, uses it as directed, however his hair continues to fall out! He claims a refund but the company refuses to pay. Advise Mr. Lee as to his rights under the Law of Contract. (In your answer refer to one decided case) Writing Task: Bargain Stores case study (provided by the tutor) Student Presentation: Question 4 UNSW Foundation Studies 14 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 6 Contracts 11 Week 7 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. intention to create legal relations consideration remedy damages specific performance Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. How important is intention to enter into legal relations in contracts? Refer to Balfour v Balfour (1919) and Merritt v Merritt (1970) in your answer. 2. Explain the difference between adequate and sufficient consideration. Refer to decided cases. 3. Where there has been a breach of contract, what remedies are available to the innocent party? Refer to examples in your answer) 4. Mr. Lee has lost his dog and has placed an advertisement in the local newspaper offering to pay a reward of $50 to anyone who finds his dog, Spot. Bob, who has not seen the advertisement, finds Spot. He reads Spot’s collar and returns the dog to Mr. Lee. Is Bob entitled to the reward? Don has also lost his dog an d similarly places an advertisement notifying a reward. He offers $100 for the return of his dog, Fido. Harry, the local dog catcher (whose job involves retrieving and impounding stray dogs and promptly notifying their owners), sees the advertisement. Later Harry finds Fido and returns him to Don. Is Harry entitled to the reward? Writing Task Coming of Age Designs case study (provided by tutor) Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 4 UNSW Foundation Studies 15 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 7 International Sales Contracts 1 Week 8 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. proper law Vienna Sales Convention(CISG) conflict of laws private International Law Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What are the 3 basic legal questions for Mr. Lee to consider when entering into a contract with an overseas supplier of machinery for his construction company? 2. What are the aims and main provisions of the Vienna Sales Convention (CISG)? 3. Explain the different types of contracts which can be used for international sales of goods and services. 4. Explain the special features of international sales contracts. (In your answer refer to examples) Writing Task What is an international sales contract? Explain briefly the basic legal questions which must be considered when entering into an international sales contract. Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 2 UNSW Foundation Studies 6 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 8 International Sales Contracts 11 Week 9 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. fundamental breach damages letter of credit nachfrist notice Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What are t he key issues to consider when problem solving a dispute over an international sales contract? 2. Discuss the following cases in terms of proper law of the contract: Oceanic Sun Line Special Shipping v Fay (1988) Amin Rasheed Shipping Corp. v Kuwait Ins Co (1984) 3. Explain the possible remedies for a breach of an international sales contract. 4. Lee Constructions Ltd. an Australian company, entered into a contract with Cologne Park Pty. Ltd. a German manufacturer of cranes, to purchase two new machines. The parties agreed that the payment would be by letter of credit but at the time of shipment the buyer had not obtained any letter of credit. Advise the seller as to their legal rights. Writing Task: Jill and Wen case study (provided by the tutor) Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 3 UNSW Foundation Studies 17 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 9 Resolving Business Disputes Week 10 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) Negotiation Mediation Conciliation Arbitration Independent expert appraisal Litigation Aust. Commercial Disputes Centre (ACDC) Aust. Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What is a commercial dispute? (In your answer refer to examples) 2. Lee Constructions Ltd. has a dispute with a supplier of concrete which is necessary to complete a new building in the city. He may experience a loss of $5 million if the building is not completed on time. Outline possible methods which could be used to settle this dispute. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ADR methods when used in the resolution of a consumer dispute between a landlord and a tenant? 4. What would be some of the problems of using litigation to settle an international commercial dispute? What are the advantages of Arbitration? Writing Task What is ADR? What would be some of the problems of using litigation to settle a consumer dispute between a builder and a customer? Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 2 UNSW Foundation Studies 18 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 10 Intellectual Property Law Week 11 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. intellectual property (IP) copyright trademark trade secret patent registered design IP Australia infringement Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form. 1. What is Intellectual property? Give examples of different types. (In your answer refer to the UGG BOOT case study) 2. How can an effective intellectual property management strategy give Lee Constructions a competitive advantage? . Lee Constructions have expanded operations overseas and seek advice about international IP protection. How can the company protect its IP assets overseas? 4. Lee Constructions Ltd. have launched ? a new trademark, ? a new chemical which quick dries poured concrete, ? a new aluminium pylon, ? a software package for a design of buildings. Advise the com pany as to how it can prevent competitors from copying these IP assets. What possible remedies may be available for infringement? Writing Task How can an effective IP strategy improve the market share and profit of a company? Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 4 Internet Sites http://www. ipaustralia. gov. au http://www. copyright. org. au http://www. wipo. org UNSW Foundation Studies 19 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 11 E- Commerce the Law Week 12 The following terms and concepts must be understood in the context of the tutorial. You should provide written definitions of these concepts. cybercrime defamation fraud contracts on-line identity theft Prepare answers to the following questions using paragraph form 1. Mr. Lee is a victim of ‘identity theft’ and has money withdrawn from his bank accounts without his knowledge. How does the law in Australia deal with these types of offences? . Discuss the legal issue in Gutnick v Dow Jones Co Inc (2002) and possible legal remedies. 3. Why is increasing use of the internet providing legal challenges to business? (give examples in your answer) 4. When engaging in e-commerce, what issues should be considered when entering into contracts on-line? Writing Task Explain the legal issue and si gnificance of the decision in Gutnick v Dow Jones Co. Inc. Student Presentation: Tutorial Question 4 UNSW Foundation Studies 20 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 12 13 Revision Week 13 Revision ? Review of sample examinations ? Multiple choice questions Exam essay writing ? Using precedents UNSW Foundation Studies 21 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 UNSW Foundation Studies 22 ALS Tutorial Book Semester 2 UNSW Foundation Studies UNSW Foundation Studies UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia Telephone: 61 2 9385 5396 Facsimile: 61 2 9662 2651 Email: foundation. year@unsw. edu. au Web: www. ufs. unsw. edu. au UNSW Foundation Studies is an education group of UNSW Global Pty Limited, a not-for-profit provider of education, training and consulting services and a wholly owned enterprise of the University of New South Wales ABN 62 086 418 582 CRICOS How to cite Australian Legal Studies Student Tutorial Book Semester 2, Essays

Monday, December 9, 2019

Economic Models and Applications of Solid †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Economic Models and Applications of Solid. Answer: Introduction According to the Bruntdland Report, sustainability has been regarded as the ability to use and maintain the sustainable resources in such a way that it would deplete the resources that are available for the future generation (Holden, Linnerud and Banister 2017). Moreover the concept of sustainability is based on two key concepts that includes the concept of needs and the limitation that means limitation should be imposed from utilizing the whole resources. In the recent day, global issues are enormously rising that is posing major challenges for the hotel and tourism managers in the near future. The essay elucidates on the major aspects of two important global challenges that includes waste disposal and loss of biodiversity and their impact on the hotel and tourism managers in the near future. Environment 1 (Waste Disposal) Waste disposal also known as the waste management are the activities or methods that help in the disposal of waste in a proper method. In the recent days, waste around the world has increased considerable that has led to the major environmental problems. Improper management of waste severely endangers the environment and the public and other living creatures are also affected through it (Booker 2014). For instance, biomedical waste and waste from nuclear waste can cause tremendous health hazards and moreover it is also disrupting the environment. Moreover the use of plastics in the recent years are creating global crisis of the disposal of waste and the developed countries ranked more in producing more waste than the developing countries. Dumping of waste that include plastics, biomedical waste, chemicals and more in oceans and rivers results in endangering of the lives of many rare species. As a result many rare species have extinct as a result of the waste disposal and environmenta l challenges. Therefore, waste management is an important strategy that would help to reduce the waste in a sustainable manner. As per the report, The National Waste Policy of Australia has implemented strategies to recycle the waste into renewable resources, so that the environment could be protected. The main aim of waste management policy is less waste and more resources and every country should follow this in order to maintain a sustainable environment. In order to support the concept of waste management many laws and policies have been implemented that includes Waste Disposal Regulation, Waste Disposal Ordinance and more (Gottinger 2018). Apart from this, many hotel industries and the tourism sector major contributors in the increase of packaged waste that will lead to the environmental challenges and will pose major threats to these industries. For instance, most of the hotel and tourism sector dispose their waste mainly the packaged waste in the oceans or nearby to some place that mainly destroy the natural beauty of the environment. Disposal of waste in oceans will reduce major species that would reduce the attraction of the pace and that would result in the loss of tourists. This, this would be a huge setback for the accommodation and the attraction managers. However, in order to dispose waste effectively, many business organization in Australia that includes the hotel and the tourism industry, have taken initiatives to reduce waste. This would help business enhance the market reputation and accordingly will also help to attract large number of targeted and potential customers (Iacovidou Voulvoulis 2017). For instance, in Australia the KMH team is a waste management company that deals with innovative solutions to waste management that result to high sustainability. Environment 2 (Loss of Biodiversity) Human beings are the major cause of the loss of rare species and bio diversity from the environment. The balanced eco-system that seemed to be perfect million years back are in danger and in the verge of extinction in the present days. As per the report, Australia resulted among the top seven countries that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity around the world (Rainey 2015). Around 60% of the loss of biodiversity results from Australia between the years 1996 to 2008. In order to save the bio diversity, the long term ecological research network (LTERN) have been established to monitor the problems related to the biodiversity. For instance, lots of tourist comes to Australia in search of the mega fauna, but with the change in the climate and increase of poachers the species are on the verge of extinction (Roossinck and Arenal 2015. This had a huge set back on the accommodations and the attraction managers as number of tourists have reduced to that particular place. However, ove r population has been one of the reasons for environmental changes and also in the loss of bio diversity. Other issues related to the loss of bio diversity include climatic change, over-harvesting, hunting, fishing and more. However many companies and business organizations have taken initiatives to protect the biodiversity by manufacturing products that consist of the eco-labels on them, by recycling the products mainly glass and plastic products. One of the major steps taken by companies eliminating the use of aerosol cans for storing products. The tourism and the hotel industry have an interest to protect the biodiversity as biodiversity helps in attracting large number of tourists, thereby helping the industry to attract tourist. For instance, one of the largest tour operator Thomas Cook encourages tom protect the bio diversity by strong and effective management and by adhering to the environmental policies effectively. Apart from this, it has totally put a restriction that tour ists are not allowed to throw garbage at any place. Prior to this, as 98% emissions are results from the aircraft that cause major changes in the environment, therefore they have tended to reduce the number of carbon footprints (Barnes 2015). Many industries also started using paper based products and accordingly implanted energy efficient computers and electronics. Conclusion From the above essay it could be concluded that in the present day many issues such as population, waste issues and climate change causing a serious issues on the environment. Environmental challenges are causing a major problem to many of the industries especially in the hotel and tourism sector. Therefore, to reduce those environmental issues many business organizations have taken measures to reduce it in order to make a sustainable environment. References Barnes, M., 2015. Aichi targets: protect biodiversity, not just area.Nature,526(7572), p.195. Booker, J.R., Quigley, R.M., Brachman, R. and Rowe, R.K., 2014.Barrier systems for waste disposal facilities. CRC Press. Gottinger, H.W., 2018.Economic models and applications of solid waste management. Routledge. Holden, E., Linnerud, K. and Banister, D., 2017. The imperatives of sustainable development.Sustainable Development,25(3), pp.213-226. Iacovidou, E., Voulvoulis, N. 2017, June. Sustainable food waste management: A multi-criteria approach for assessing the use of food waste disposal units and the anaerobic co-digestion of separately collected food waste with sewage sludge. Inhttps://uest. ntua. gr/athens2017/proceedings. Leeds. Rainey, H.J., Pollard, E.H., Dutson, G., Ekstrom, J.M., Livingstone, S.R., Temple, H.J. and Pilgrim, J.D., 2015. A review of corporate goals of No Net Loss and Net Positive Impact on biodiversity.Oryx,49(2), pp.232-238. Roossinck, M.J. and Garca-Arenal, F., 2015. Ecosystem simplification, biodiversity loss and plant virus emergence.Current opinion in virology,10, pp.56-62.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Business Valuation of Qantas Airways-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Anayse Business and valuation of Qantas Airways Limited. Answer: Introduction This study deals with business analysis and valuation of Qantas Airways Limited. The current segment discusses external environment analysis through use of Porters five forces model (Wheelen and Hunger 2017). The next segment discusses internal environment analysis for Qantas Airways Limited by using SWOT analysis. The corporate strategy of Qantas Airways Limited had been discussed in the study with proper justification. The accounting policies used by Qantas Airways Limited are mentioned in the research study. Financial ratio had been calculated for the year 2013, 2015 and 2016 for the company named as Qantas Airways Limited. Company overview Qantas Airways Limited is one of the oldest airline industries in Australia. The market share of Qantas Airways Limited is higher as compared to any other firm in the aviation industry (Qantas.com. 2017). Qantas Airways Limited mainly engages in offering longest distance airways. Qantas Airways Limited came into existence in the year 1901 in Queensland. The company manages the performance of Qantas holidays and budget airlines. Porters five forces model Industry Rivalry- There is severe competition from rivalry firms where the operators are competing with each other based on price. The service levels have gone up that will decrease the operational expenses at minimal levels for maintaining the margin of operations (Rothaermel 2015). In addition, there are differentiators in the airline industry and this is the number of flights that are being offered where the main players have an edge but the price factors in the calculation. Based on relationships, there are various airlines that offers loyalty programs for the customers so that there are low switching costs for the customers. Threat from new entrants- In case of domestic players, the entry is easier in terms of licenses. The major changes are required in the initial stages where many peripheral operations are outsourced. The new entrants face difficulty to enter in the airline industry because of capital outlay as well as time to manage analysis. In case of global players, the entry barrier is high and it is needed to plan out the entry for the industry as the rivalry is high and very easy to be sidelined in the marketplace (Peteraf, Gamble and Thompson 2014). Threats from substitute products- On analysis, it is noted that there are many substitutes to airline industry especially in case of short routes such as bus and train. In case of long distances, there are many other options such as video conferences, net meetings as well as video messages that has been a substitute but not as effective (Peppard and Ward 2016). Bargaining power of buyers- Bargaining power of buyers are high in the aviation industry for most of the routes. The buyers actually have lot of options to select from different airline companies as most of the routes are being covered by more than one operator and there is huge competition based in prices that provide sufficient power to the customers (Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes 2015). Bargaining power of suppliers- Bargaining power of suppliers are high in the aviation industry. One of the main factor that affect aviation industry is the fuel prices where the suppliers does not have much of a control as well as decided by the political factors in and across the globe (Morden 2016). The investments that the manufactures make for the suppliers as well as consider high value orders that had little chance that would move or increase the prices at certain level SWOT analysis Strengths Weakness Qantas Airways Limited has strong backing from Australian Government Qantas Airways Limited enjoys monopoly in Australian market Qantas Airways Limited is one of the top and largest airlines that operates in Australia Qantas Airways Limited is one of the oldest airlines operators in and across the world Qantas Airways Limited operates in 20 international and domestic destinations Qantas Airways Limited has good brand recognition and identity through advertising as well as sponsorship (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014) Too much concentration around Australasia At Qantas Airways Limited, issues among the employees is one of the main concern Opportunities Threats There is opportunity in the Australian market as it is less tapped and guarantee that no other airline can get a chance by gaining a huge market share global destinations in Asia Tie-ups with worldwide airlines for combined service offerings to the potential targeted clientele Intense competition from new starts-ups as well as other airlines companies Increased labor costs Increased fuel prices Corporate strategy The value of corporate strategy at Qantas Airways Limited mainly based on the degree to which the business under the management of the company relies upon, that is whether it is of greater worth than it were managed by a participant or separately (Hill and Jones 2013). The Corporate strategy of Qantas Airways Limited help in generating aggregate returns in and across portfolio that contributes to the company competitive advantage as well as ability for generating above average returns. Segment Revenue % of Total EBIT % of Total Domestic 5828 37% 480 39% International 5467 35% 267 22% Jetstar Group 3464 22% 230 19% Qantas Freight 1067 7% 114 9% Qantas Loyalty 1369 9% 315 26% In the year 2015, Qantas Airways Limited generates $15816 billion in total revenue and it had been generated across 5 main segments or trade units that are highlighted in the above table. Qantas Airways Limited operates with low levels of diversification in a dominant business strategy with 84% revenue generation through their passenger airline business that focus on a core set of capabilities as well as competencies for generating above average returns in a single business marketplace (Goetsch and Davis 2014). There is less dominance of passenger airline business that can be understood from the segment profit contribution perspective where Qantas Freight and Qantas Loyalty generates 35% of the companys EBIT for tipping their plan into more reasonable diversification with linked trade units that shares product, sharing linkages as well as technology. After analyzing the segments, it is understood that revenue contributions have remained comparatively steady over time where the profit levels of the passenger airlines are far more unstable. In addition, the profit from freight and faithfulness are presented in the above table where increased return provides supports for other segments when they challenges by internal as well as external influences that creates sustained value and returns for Qantas Airways Limited (Eden and Ackermann 2013). From resources perspectives, Qantas Airways Limited derives value-neutral benefits that include tangible as well as intangible resources. For instance, low Australian dollar increases international passenger travel. Accounting policy The case study company named as Qantas Airways Limited had been used for the research for analyzing the financial data of 2013, 2015 and 2016. It had been noted that companies need to manage the reports depending upon the accounting policies already mentioned in the reports. From the case study, the final data information needs to be analyzed by an auditor for making reliable financial statements (Durand, Grant and Madsen 2017). It is the responsibility of the auditor to analyze the final information of Qantas Airways Limited based on the accounting policies. In addition, accounting policies are the rules, principles and process that should be executed in the financial reports of company at top level management. There are various accounting policies used in the aviation industry that is for accounting assets and liabilities. The accounting policies need to be observed by the auditors at the time of investigating the financial statements of Qantas Airways Limited and the major concept s are mentioned below with proper justification: Revenue and expenses recognition- From the rules of IFRS and US GAAP, it is clear that an association need to identify overall expenses as well as income that depend widely on the market valuation as presented in the income statement. Revenue is present in the income statement that should be used by the corporation by trading of products or services such as short-term profits, sales, interest income and long-term gains (Bettis et al. 2015). On the contrary, expenses is present in the income statement that need to be paid by the corporation by trading of products or services such as labor, salaries and cost of goods sold. According to accounting rules, expenses are recorded in the debit column and income are recorded in the credit column of income statement. Asset and liability recording- From the rules of IFRS and US GAAP, it is clear that an association need to identify overall assets as well as liabilities that depend widely on the economical profit as presented in the balance sheet. Asset is present in the balance sheet that should be converted by the corporation depending upon the nature of assts where short-term assets will be converted less than one year and long-term assets will be converted more than 1 year (Bettis et al. 2016). On the contrary, liabilities is present in the balance sheet as debt of corporation that should be converted based on long-term liabilities that need some time such as plants and machinery. Financial position of the company for the year 2013 The table shows ratio analysis figures for the year 2013 for the company Qantas Airways Limited. Liquidity ratio is calculated for Qantas Airways Limited that help in analyzing the ability of the company for paying off both current liabilities as they become due and long-term liabilities as they become current. Current ratio, quick ratio and working capital ratio are calculated for Qantas Airways Limited for the financial year 2013. Current ratio of Qantas Airways Limited arrives at 0.83 for the year 2013 that help in measuring the ability of the firm to pay off short-term liabilities with its current assets. Qantas Airways Limited has enough current assets to pay off 83% of his current liabilities. This reveals the fact that Qantas Airways Limited is highly leveraged as well as highly risky. In that case, banks would favor a current ratio of 1 and 2 so that all the current liabilities would be covered by the current assets. Therefore, current ratio of Qantas Airways Limited is so lo w that is unlikely that the company will get approved for their loan (Bettis et al. 2014). Profitability ratio for Qantas Airways Limited is calculated for the company named as Qantas Airways Limited for the year 2013 where comparison is made between income statement figures and balance sheet figures. Operating profit margin, net profit margin, return on assets, return on equity and return to total assets are calculated in the above table that help in predicting the profitability position of Qantas Airways Limited (Barney 2014). Solvency ratio for Qantas Airways Limited is calculated for the company named as Qantas Airways Limited for the year 2013. This ratio will help in measuring the ability of the company to sustain its operations by comparing debt levels with equity, assets as well as earnings. In addition, the solvency ratio identifies going concern issues as well as ability of the firm to pay bills in the long run. Debt equity and interest coverage ratio are calculated for the year 2013 that help in predicting the solvency position of Qantas Airways Limited. Financial position of the company for the year 2015 and 2016 The table shows ratio analysis figures for the year 2015 and 2016 for the company Qantas Airways Limited. Liquidity ratio is calculated for Qantas Airways Limited that help in analyzing the ability of the business for paying off both current liabilities as they become due and long-term liabilities as they become current. Current ratio, quick ratio and working capital ratio are calculated for Qantas Airways Limited for the financial year 2013 and 2015. Current ratio of Qantas Airways Limited arrives at 0.49 for the year 2016 and 0.65 for the year 2015 that help in measuring the capacity of the firm to pay off short-term liabilities with its current assets. Profitability ratio for Qantas Airways Limited is calculated for the business named as Qantas Airways Limited for the year 2015 and 2016 where comparison is made between income statement figures and balance sheet figures. Operating profit margin, net profit margin, return on assets, return on equity and return to total assets are calculated in the above table that help in predicting the profitability position of Qantas Airways Limited. Solvency ratio for Qantas Airways Limited is calculated for the business named as Qantas Airways Limited for the year 2015 and 2016. This ratio will help in measuring the ability of the company to maintain its operations by comparing debt levels with equity, assets as well as earnings. In addition, the solvency ratio recognizes going concern problem as well as ability of the firm to pay bills in the long run. Debt equity and interest coverage ratio are calculated for the year 2015 and 2016 that help in predicting the solvency position of Qantas Airways Limited. Analysis the data of 2013, 2015 and 2016 From the above analysis, it can be analyzed that the financial data of 2013, 2015 and 2016 had been predicted where it is found that Qantas Airways Limited faced several issues during past years because of internal and external factors. The company had properly engaged in adopting new strategies and approach in their plan. Qantas Airways Limited faced issues in meeting short-term debt obligations. Qantas Airways Limited enjoys huge profits. The capital structure ratio of Qantas Airways Limited is not at all good. Conclusion It is recommended to Qantas Airways Limited to make some innovative changes so that they can meet short-term and long-term debt obligations. The changes should be made in the monetary as well as non-financial figures for attractive the level of presentation. Qantas Airways Limited faces external and internal issues where the performance of the company is lower as compared to other business. Reference List Barney, J.B., 2014.Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Pearson Higher Ed. Bettis, R., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2014. Quantitative empirical analysis in strategic management.Strategic Management Journal,35(7), pp.949-953. Bettis, R.A., Ethiraj, S., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2016. Creating repeatable cumulative knowledge in strategic management.Strategic Management Journal,37(2), pp.257-261. Bettis, R.A., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2015. Qualitative empirical research in strategic management.Strategic Management Journal,36(5), pp.637-639. Durand, R., Grant, R.M. and Madsen, T.L., 2017. The expanding domain of strategic management research and the quest for integration.Strategic Management Journal,38(1), pp.4-16. Eden, C. and Ackermann, F., 2013.Making strategy: The journey of strategic management. Sage. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014.Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Hill, C.W. and Jones, G.R., 2013.Strategic management theory. South-Western/Cengage Learning. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Morden, T., 2016.Principles of strategic management. Routledge. Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H. and Zentes, J., 2015.Strategic international management. Springer. Peppard, J. and Ward, J., 2016.The strategic management of information systems: Building a digital strategy. John Wiley Sons. Peteraf, M., Gamble, J. and Thompson Jr, A., 2014.Essentials of strategic management: The quest for competitive advantage. McGraw-Hill Education. Qantas.com. 2017.Flights to Australia, New Zealand and Dubai | Qantas UK. [online] Available at: https://www.qantas.com [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017]. Qantas.com. 2017.Flights to Australia, New Zealand and Dubai | Qantas UK. [online] Available at: https://www.qantas.com [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017]. Rothaermel, F.T., 2015.Strategic management. McGraw-Hill Education. Wheelen, T.L. and Hunger, J.D., 2017.Strategic management and business policy. pearson.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Patagonia free essay sample

Patagonia was initiated by people who were hooked on climbing mountain and traveling around the world. Their business ideas and concepts were originated from their passion and demand of better equipments. Founders of Patagonia even rotate in business management, some of them traveling around and enjoy climbing while others work hard in the company. Their vision and mission which they emphasized environmental sustainability was steadfast. Unlike other normal companies, they seem to put sustainability ahead of maximizing the profit. At the first glance, it sounds radical or hard to understand that business doesn’t set its first goal as profit. However, the business performances and their achievements on preserving environment make us give a second look on Patagonia. Even when their business was difficult to be lucrative, they didn’t compromise by forgiving the quality or sustainability. Also, Patagonia’s tactics for achieving their goal was multi-dimensional. Not simply donating some portion of their revenue or trying to reducing pollutions, they cared human resources, logistics, raw materials, and customers’ behaviors. We will write a custom essay sample on Patagonia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These efforts not only realized the vision of Patagonia, but also made Patagonia a brand for representative of eco-friendliness. We can say their vision for sustainability eventually became the core competence of it Question 1 When we evaluate Patagonia’s business model, how important is its environmental position to Patagonia’s business model? At an external level, Patagonia’s goal for achieving sustainability was well fit with the trend. As people have become more interested in environmental issues, some people are willing to pay premiums for products caring for environment. Also, governments encouraged and complimenting the efforts to save environment. Patagonia came to be introduced by government to mass media. The paradox vision for sustainability actually benefits for the consumers as well. If the environments were destroyed and natural attractions are ruined, then it would be the hikers and climbers’ loss. So, the consumer groups could be more supportive to Patagonia’s initiative and less elastic to relative high price. The business model of Patagonia was therefore a practical thing overall. However, there could be a threat at the embryonic or growth stage of the industry cycle. The initial investments and sustaining the environmental operation cost high, so the business itself might not be continued. As shown in Exhibit 1, operating margin for Lost Arrow Corporation was not really good in FY 2004 ~ 2007, when Patagonia tried to expand its efforts for sustainability. Moreover, the sales volume may decrease someday. As they conduct ‘Product Lifecycle Initiative’, products are reduced, repaired and reused. It means purchasing the new product from Patagonia may decrease. Patagonia should keep in mind the long-term profitability of the business model, not only the sustainability.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Space Cowboys free essay sample

This paper analyzes the movie Space Cowboys from the point of view of two theories semiotics and ideology. The movie Space Cowboys can be critically analysed by using both the theories of semiotics and that of ideology. Each of these theories allows us a different perspective on the movie. We will look at the movie from the perspectives of these two theories, firstly be defining the theory and secondly by applying it to the movie. In conclusion, it will be shown that the theory of ideology is not only relevant to the movie, but also reflects the very purpose of the movie. From the paper: Semiotics is defined as the study of signs. It focuses on the relationship between signifier, signified and sign. (Abercrombie 373) In Questions concerning faculties claimed for man, Peirce discusses signs. Peirce?s basic idea is that signs are the universal medium between human minds and the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Space Cowboys or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A sign has the meaning that society gives it. This shared nature of signs means that they do not necessarily represent truth. The focus of analysis then should be on how the sign is interpreted, not on the truth behind it. It is the way it is interpreted that tells us something about society, rather than the sign telling us some universal truth. We can view semiotics then, as a critical tool that provides us with information about society.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Conservative John Birch Society Was Ridiculed But Had Political Impact

Conservative John Birch Society Was Ridiculed But Had Political Impact The John Birch Society was a political group on the extreme right that emerged in the late 1950s, determined to continue the anti-communist crusade of the late Senator Joseph McCarthy. The organization took positions which mainstream America regarded as outlandish.  As a result, it was often mocked and satirized. The organization, which took its name from an American killed by the communist Chinese at the end of World War II, was founded in 1958 by Robert Welch, who had made a fortune in the candy business. Welch organized the group into many regional chapters which  spread his offbeat views while exerting political influence at the local level. In early 1960s the John Birch Society was embroiled in a number of newsworthy controversies. And in the 1964 campaign of Barry Goldwater the influence of the groups hardcore ideology was evident. Historian Richard Hofstadter, in a famous 1964 essay titled The Paranoid Style In American Politics, cited the John Birch Society as a modern example of a political group using fear and a feeling of persecution as an organizing principle. Despite criticism from the mainstream, the group continued to grow. In 1968, on the 10th anniversary of its founding, the New York Times, in a front-page article, noted that it claimed to have 60,000 to 100,000 members. It was producing a radio show that aired on 100 stations nationwide, had opened its own chain of bookstores, and was provided staunch anti-communist speakers to address groups. Over time the John Birch Society seemed to fade into obscurity. Yet some of the extremist positions, as well as the tactics of the organization, wended  their way into more mainstream conservative political groups. Traces of the groups ideology can be spotted in conservative circles today. Accusations from conservative pundits during the Trump administration that a Deep State is subverting democracy are  eerily similar to conspiracy theories about hidden forces behind the U.S. government promoted by the John Birch Society decades earlier. And talk of globalists manipulating the American economy echoes talk of pernicious internationalists in John Birch Society literature. Founding of the John Birch Society Following the death of Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1957, his followers, who fervently believed the United States was not only threatened, but actively infiltrated, by a worldwide communist conspiracy, were adrift. A businessman in Massachusetts, Robert Welch, who had made his fortune by organizing distribution channels in the candy business, called a meeting of other anti-communist activists. At a two-day gathering at a home in Indiana, Welch laid out his plans. He claimed the other attendees were 11 businessmen who had traveled from all regions of the United States, though they were never identified. In a rambling monologue, portions of which were later published and distributed, Welch essentially gave his version of world history. He asserted that a group that formed in Bavaria in the late 1700s, called the Illuminati, had helped spur the French Revolution and other world events, including World War I. Welch claimed that a secret group of international bankers had created the American Federal Reserve system, and controlled the American economy. Welchs exotic and convoluted theories of history seemed unlikely to gain acceptance with a wide audience. Yet his plan was to couple his dire warnings of secret agendas with the organizational skills he had developed in his business career. In essence, Welch proposed creating local chapters of the John Birch Society which would function much the way a neighborhood store would have retailed candy. His political ideas, geared to an audience of wary Americans during the Cold War, would be promoted at the local level. An early Cold War incident inspired the name of Welchs new organization. While researching a book, Welch had come across the story of an American intelligence officer who was also a Christian missionary in China during World War II. At the end of the war, the American officer, John Birch, had been captured and executed by communist Chinese forces. (Government records disputed Welchs account of Birchs death, which prompted Welch to claim pro-communist elements in the U.S. government had suppressed the facts.) Welch considered Birch to be the first casualty of Americas struggle against worldwide communism. By using Birchs name as a rallying cry, Welch sought to make resistance to communist infiltration the central mission of his organization. Public Perception The new organization found a receptive audience among politically conservative Americans who were opposed to changes taking place in America. The John Birch Society was fixated on a perceived communist menace, but it broadened that to include generally liberal ideas going back to the New Deal of the 1930s. In opposition to the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, Welch and his followers opposed the desegregation of schools. Members of the John Birch Society, often at local school boards, declared that integrated schools were part of the communist plot to weaken America. Wherever John Birch Society chapters appeared  there seemed to be controversy. Members accused local officials of being communist dupes or outright communists. By early 1961 news articles about the group were becoming common, and church groups, labor unions, and prominent politicians, began denouncing the organization as dangerous and anti-American. At various times Welch and his followers attacked Eleanor Roosevelt and former presidents Truman and Eisenhower. As part of its agenda against integration and liberal ideas in general, the group promoted the idea of impeaching, Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The groups billboards proclaiming Impeach Earl Warren appeared beside American highways. In early 1961 an American general, Edwin Walker, was accused of distributing John Birch Society literature to soldiers stationed in Europe. President John F. Kennedy was asked about the Walker situation during a press conference on April 21, 1961. Kennedy at first avoided mentioning the John Birch Society directly, but a reporter pressed him on it. Kennedy gave an answer:. Well, I dont think that their judgments are based on accurate information of the kinds of challenges that we face. I think we face an extremely serious and intensified struggle with the Communists. But I am not sure that the John Birch Society is wrestling with the real problems which are created by the Communist advance around the world. After citing  a number of points of conflicts with communist nations and guerrillas around the globe, Kennedy concluded: And I would hope all those who are concerned about the advance of communism would face that problem and not concern themselves with the loyalty of President Eisenhower, President Truman, or Mrs [Franklin D.] Roosevelt or myself or someone else. The following day, the New York Times published an editorial denouncing the John Birch Society as a addition to the lunatic fringe of American life. The editorial contained scathing remarks:   Lost in a world of fantasy, the John Birchers are busily looking for Communists in the White House, the Supreme Court, the classrooms, and presumably under the bed. Skepticism of the organization wasnt restricted to the nations elite press. A dispute over the group even became part of pop music history. Bob Dylan wrote a song, Talkin John Birch Paranoid Blues, which poked fun at the group. Invited to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in May 1963, the 21-year-old Dylan intended to sing that particular song. CBS Television executives, apparently fearful of offending pro-Birch viewers, wouldnt let him. Dylan refused to sing another song, and during the programs dress rehearsal he walked out of the studio. He never did appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. Impact On the Mainstream Much of America might have scoffed at the John Birch Society, but within the Republican Party the group was exerting pressure.   The presidential campaign of Republican nominee and stalwart conservative Barry Goldwater was influenced by the John Birch Society. Goldwater himself never explicitly aligned himself with the group, but in his famous line at the 1964 Republican National Convention, Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, many heard echoes of the John Birch Society. As American society changed in the 1960s, the John Birch Society continued to rail against the Civil Rights Movement. Yet Robert Welch refused to support Americas involvement in Vietnam, as he contended it was being sabotaged by communists within the United States government. Familiar themes of the John Birch Society became part of the campaign of independent presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968. Following the 1960s, the organization seemed to fade into irrelevance. Mainstream conservatives such as William F. Buckley had denounced its extreme views, and as the conservative movement transformed itself leading up to the  1980 election of Ronald Reagan, it kept a distance from Robert Welch and his followers. Welch died in 1985. He had retired from the organization he founded after suffering a stroke in 1983. Legacy of the John Birch Society To many Americans, the John Birch Society was a peculiar relic from the 1960s which had faded away. But the organization still exists, and it can be argued that some of its extremist rhetoric, which drew jeers decades ago, has seeped into the mainstream of the conservative movement. Accusations about government conspiracies which are regularly touted in venues such as Fox News or conservative talk radio do seem similar to conspiracy theories that once circulated in books and pamphlets published by the John Birch Society. The most prominent proponent of conspiracy theories today, Alex Jones, on whose program Donald Trump appeared as a presidential candidate, routinely  echoes longstanding John Birch Society assertions. In the summer of 2017 Politico published an article about John Birch Society chapters in Texas. According to the report, the groups members had been successful in getting the Texas legislature to introduce bills aimed at such things as restricting suspected United Nations activities in Texas and curtailing the rumored spread of Sharia Law in America. The article contended that the John Birch Society was alive and well, and the group was gaining new members.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Disability in Modern Society

Disability in Modern Society Introduction Disability is a mental or physical condition that restricts a person’s activities, senses or movements. Modern societies have recognized the problems faced by these individuals and passed laws that ease their interactions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disability in Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some people, therefore, believe that life for the disabled has become quite bearable. These changes are not sufficient to eliminate the hurdles associated with their conditions. The life of a person with a disability today is just as difficult as it was in the past because of the stigma in social relations as well as economic, mobility and motivational issues associated with such a condition. How disability is still an obstacle today A person with a disability would live a hard life today owing to the emotional issues associated with the condition. His or her identity would revolve arou nd his or her disability rather than anything else that the person can do. It does not matter whether the individuals is handsome or talented, like Tom Cruise. At the end of the day, he will always be a disabled man. This attitude obscures one’s accomplishments and may even discourage some people from accomplishing anything. Other able-bodied individuals would always categorize such a person as a second-class citizen. It would take a lot of will power and resolve to get past these labels and merely lives one’s life. Opponents of this argument would claim that some great inventors of modern society are disabled. A case in point was Dr. Stephen Hawkings, whose mathematical inventions led to several breakthroughs in the field of cosmology (Larsen 87). While such accomplishments exist, they do not represent the majority.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perso ns like Hawkings have to work harder because they have their handicaps to cope with alongside their other scientific work. A disabled scientist is more diligent than a normal one because he has two forms of hurdles to tackle. It is not common to find such immense willpower in the general population. Therefore, disability leads to a tough life owing to its emotional demands on its subjects. Modern life has created several technologies designed to simplify movement. For instance, modern cities have stairs, trains, cars, doors and elevators to achieve this. However, these technologies are not easy to use for disabled people. Many of them find that they cannot climb stairs, drive cars or even access trains without help from someone else. Therefore, while the rest of the world is enjoying the benefits of technology, a disabled person would still have to overcome these challenges in order to move from place to place. Some opponents of this assertion would claim that the life of a disabled person today is unproblematic because a lot of devices have been developed to facilitate movement and other interactions. For instance, a person with amputated legs can buy artificial limbs or use a wheelchair. However, some of the best assistive technologies for the disabled are quite expensive, and average citizens cannot afford them. Many of them would have to contend with difficult -to-use devices like wheelchairs, which may not always fit into certain spaces. They would also have to exert themselves in order to use those regular devices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Disability in Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social relations are a serious challenge for disabled people today. A number of them live isolated lives or only interact with persons who have the same condition. Social stigma is still rife today even though progress has been made. Friends would simply be unwilling to dedicate much of their free time to help this disabled person move. Additionally, finding a life partner or marrying someone would also be a laborious process because of the physical and psychological implications. If one’s handicap is physical, and affects their kinetics, then they would not engage in sexual activity. Alternatively, psychical deformities may be off putting as many individuals find them sexually unattractive. These social stigmas can impede a disabled person’s ability to enjoy normal relationships with others. Economic hurdles are also another cause of unfulfilled lives amongst the disabled. Some jobs do not require an investment in one’s image, so these would be tenable for the disabled. However, a number of positions take into account one’s physical image. These include television anchoring, sports, politics, and even sales jobs. The practical demands of these jobs, such as sales and sports, would not allow a disabled person to engage in them meaning fully. Alternatively, the positions may also place too much emphasis on physical appearance to the point of making disabled persons unsuitable for them. While the latter might seem like discrimination, it is a given fact that the world is increasingly becoming superficial.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Companies only want to focus on what sells, so they have little time to be proactive or fair. In essence, these attitudes close the door t many opportunities for the disabled as they pigeonhole them into passive professions. Conclusion Modern societies have not eradicated the obstacles that persons with disabilities face. This is evident in their attitudinal inclinations as most of them reduce a disabled person’s identity to their inability rather than their accomplishments. Difficulties in mobility and use of technology among the disabled also testify to their hardships. Social stigma concerning their physical attractiveness and demands in friendships also limit their social relationships. Finally, their economic prospects are neutralized by their mobility challenges as well as their physical image. All these hurdles indicate that disability causes its victims to live painstaking lives. Larsen, Kristine. Stephen Hawking: A biography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publish ing, 2007. Print.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Find out What Mathematical Economics Is

Find out What Mathematical Economics Is Much of the study of economics requires an understanding of mathematical and statistical methods, so what exactly is mathematical economics? Mathematical economics is best defined as a sub-field of economics that examines the mathematical aspects of economics and economic theories. Or put into other words, mathematics such as calculus, matrix algebra, and differential equations are applied to illustrate economic theories and analyze economic hypotheses. Proponents of mathematical economics claim that the primary advantage of this particular approach is that it permits the formation of theoretical economic relationships through generalizations with simplicity. Mind you, the simplicity of this approach to the study of economics is certainly subjective. These proponents are likely to be skilled in complex mathematics. An understanding of mathematical economics is particularly important for students considering the pursuit of a graduate degree in economics as advanced economics studies make great use of formal mathematical reasoning and models. Mathematical Economics vs. Econometrics As most economics student will attest to, modern economic research certainly doesnt shy away from mathematical modeling, but its application of the math differs within the various subfields. Fields like econometrics seek  to analyze real-world economic scenarios and activity through statistical methods. Mathematical economics, on the other hand, could be considered econometrics theoretical  counterpart. Mathematical economics allows economists to formulate testable hypotheses on a wide array of complicated subjects and topics. It also permits economists to explain observable phenomena in quantifiable terms and provide the basis for further interpretation or the provision of possible solutions.  But these mathematical methods that economists use are not limited to mathematical economics. In fact, many are often utilized in the studies of other sciences as well. The Math in Mathematical Economics These mathematical methods generally reach far beyond typical high school algebra and geometry and are not limited to one mathematical discipline. The importance of these advanced mathematical methods is captured perfectly in the mathematics section of books to study before going to graduate school in economics: Having a good understanding of mathematics is crucial to success in economics. Most undergraduate students, particularly those coming from North America, are often shocked by how mathematical graduate programs in economics are. The math goes beyond basic algebra and calculus, as it tends to be more proofs, such as Let (x_n) be a Cauchy sequence. Show that if (X_n) has a convergent subsequence then the sequence is itself convergent. Economics uses tools from essentially every branch of mathematics. For instance, a  great deal of pure mathematics, such as real analysis, appears in microeconomic theory. Numerical method  approaches from applied mathematics are also used a great deal in most subfields of economics. Partial differential equations, which are normally associated with physics, show up in all kinds of economics applications, most notably finance and asset pricing. For better or for worse, economics has become an incredibly technical topic of study.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Assessing reliability and credibility of CAM resources Essay

Assessing reliability and credibility of CAM resources - Essay Example With this context, the paper explains the applicability of acupuncture, as a CAM therapy in medical science. The paper duly assesses the reliability and credibility of this practice thereto. Additionally, the paper analyses the credibility of the sources that provide detailed information about the disease online. Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment under the Chinese traditional medicine practices. The process of medication trails pricking of needles at specific positions of the body, which effectively alters flow of energy into healthier arrays controlling and refreshing the neuron system in a human body. Acupuncture is often argued as effective in curing approximately 40 different types of diseases. Based on these grounds, acupuncture has been recognized as one of the widely effective CAM therapies. The procedure of acupuncture includes the stimulation of therapeutic methods that helps in developing manual therapeutic systems. The process involves stimulation of the body through various processes to relieve the patients from a series of diseases (Tait et al., 2002). It is in this context that the CAM practitioners are compared with the conventional medical doctors. For practicing CAM through acupuncture, practitioner recognition depends on proper accreditation from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Medical doctors who have a valid medical license can avail a certification from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The person availing for a certification of acupuncture completes the necessary curriculum requirements and a tutorial requirement for the apprentice (NCCAOM, 2014). The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) and the NCCAOM are the regulatory bodies that have been verifying the operations of practitioners when practicing acupuncture

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership Essay

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership - Essay Example Mergers are necessitated by firm’s need to improve on profitability, change of management and administration system, need to conquer or acquire a significant market share and/or improve on productivity from its operations as a single entity to a stronger merged entity. The merged entity enjoys stronger management and administration base as the leadership of the merging firms take respective roles in their area of specialization and they pool their expertise towards running this new merged firm (Enkel & Covin, 2012). It should be noted that since the merging firms were operating as sole entities before, then the size and scale of operations may vary from each other and thus merger clauses are spelt out on the benefits and contributions of each firm in terms of segments and roles which in a big picture, defines the expected targets (Clark, 2009). Acquisition or simply a takeover involves purchase of a firm by another firm with an aim of maximising profits and management expertise or gaining market share and /or expansion motive. The acquiring company may decide to retain its name after acquiring the new firm or depending on the purchase clauses, if for instance the acquirer purchases a given percentage of the firm, they may decide to consolidate the two firms with a new name, new image and operation targets (Warde, 2010). Partnership can be viewed as an alliance between business entities on contractual basis and/or an exclusive bond with an aim of achieving a short term objective. Some partnerships are viewed as differentiation in which firms form alliances with an aim impressing customers and/or competitors with the size of network but with a business commitment of not allying with third party entities. Depending with the motive of the alliance, partnerships can take forms of: an exclusive supplier, customer, an intermediary channel and a vendor of a given complementary or supplementary offering of the firm’s products. For instance, a telecommunication company can partner with Internet service provider to provide a certain region or class of customers with some customized internet services for a given period. This is meant to attract more customers to the class and try to lure the internet providing firm into business with its telecommunication company’s operations within that period wi thout the provider engaging with other third parties (Deering & Murphy, 2008). In this paper we will analyse the benefits of merger and acquisition over the partnership agreements. Question 1: Under what circumstances is merging with or acquisitions of other companies a better solution than entering into partnerships or alliances with this companies? To answer this question we shall look at the circumstances that necessitate mergers and acquisitions, the benefits then compare with those of partnerships /alliances. For instance, when a firm acquires another firm on the grounds of productivity, both the acquirer and the acquired firms enjoy mutual benefits of improved productivity. For example, firm â€Å"A†, with a significant economies of scale, a stronger investment/capital base and effective management/administration acquires firm â€Å"B† which has a competitive advantage of market share due to their edge cut technological advancement in their products but with a we ak management and capital base, there are defined clauses of the acquisition in that for instance firm B has weak production methods but has a considerable market share in terms of the products it produces. Firm A’s acquisition will strengthen productivity and /or cut the total costs that could have been incurred by firm B and they benefit with the returns of their investments as there will be increased output by combination of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Product analysis ( Philip Starch Juicer) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Product analysis ( Philip Starch Juicer) - Essay Example It appeals to customers who want classic and different items. The customer could include an organization or any other entity that wants to use the Philip starch juicer in their day to day operations. The Philip starch juicer retails at  £43. Such is a good price for an effective, simple and durable product. The operation procedure of this product is simple. It involves inserting pressure on the lemon to force the juice together with the pulp from rind through the sieve or filter. During this process, Philip starch juicer itself must resist pressure; hence easily deformable materials cannot be used. The Philip starch juicer is mostly used in lemons. Consequently, since lemon is acidic, only acid based materials can be used to make the product. The safety of the product can only be judged during its normal use. In all products, using them in a different way or purpose from that directed by the manufacturers makes them to become unsafe. There is the manual and electric option of the Philip starch juicer. For the manual, after turning the device, the operator must hold the lemon while for the electric option; the squeezer turns the device on automatically. However, the operator must still hold on to the lemon. Other squeezers crush the lemon against projections. Thus, they usually have long handles in order for them to gain mechanical advantage of the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Diversity climate in an organization Research Paper

Diversity climate in an organization - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates that successfully managing an organization especially in today’s increasingly diverse workforce has become one of the most challenges faced by management and corporate leaders in recent years. Human capital is the most valuable and powerful asset and therefore it has been found that effectively managing the human resources is extremely critical to organizational success. Managing diversity climate effectively is one of the most significant elements of effective managing of the human capital as it can help the organization increase the productivity of its workforce, make them fully satisfied and highly committed to the job as well. Â  Diversity refers to the attributes and aspects that can be considered to be salient to an employer making him think that he is different from another individual. Gender, racio-ethnicity, nationality, age etc are some of the attributes that create and influence diversity within the organization. Diversity happens in an organ ization where its members’ have attitudes and perception towards people from cultural groups other than their own. Herdman and McMillan-Capehart described that diversity referred to the degree of inter-organizational representation of people in a way that different groups are inter-affiliated of cultural significance. A plurality of perspectives and experiences prevail in diversity climate and it serves as the strategic resource to the organization securing a competitive advantage. Â   They viewed diversity climate as an opportunity and a resource that the managers can turn them better strategy to increase organizational performance and achieve sustainable competitive advantage if the management is successful in managing it. As Garcia and Hoelscher (2010, p. 23) detailed, there are four different themes when it comes to diversity climate, they are: Perceptions of degree between group conflicts and a mind set to accept others, Level of institutional commitment to the diversity in the organization, Fairness, like lack of institutional bias, and A very generalized atmosphere for getting and giving respect each others. As today’s workforce has become increasingly diverse, diversity management has gained considerable attention and has emerged to be an important element of larger business strategy that can help an organization improve organizational competitiveness and effectiveness. As Hur, Strickland and Stefanovic (2009, p. 501) noted, many large organizations have recently given greater emphasis on identifying, considering and implementing varieties of practices that are designed and developed to foster better diversity business environment as well as to combat discrimination and all other legal risks in the workplace. Where diversity climate persists, there will be shared perceptions regarding the ways things are around there. Employees in such circumstances will be able to retrieve information from salient stimuli so that they can describe and interpret their work environment. They also can integrate the perceptions of unique workplace conditions and events in to quite a broader perceptions of organizational climate. A strategic method to analyze diversity climate There can be different cultural groups and people from different ethnic background in any organization. the workforce today is getting too much diverse. Diversity climate, as mentioned above, is the perception and attitude of people towards the culture of people other than their own. In a diversity culture, people are mentally capable of accepting other culture, groups and ethnic behaviors, rather than their ow

Monday, November 18, 2019

A Deadly Duel in the Name of Preserving Burr and Hamilton Honour Research Paper - 79

A Deadly Duel in the Name of Preserving Burr and Hamilton Honour - Research Paper Example The author intended this document for historians and the entire public since the duel was shrouded in mystery. Even to date, historians are never too sure as to why the two men duelled. Therefore, through this document, the author attempts to solve the mystery for historians and other concerned parties. The document makes it clear that the duel was long overdue. This is because Burr and Hamilton had a long-standing political, military and personal rivalry. The only way to solve the rivalry was to eliminate either of them. The author of the document seems to be striving for credibility and authenticity in presenting his ideas. He says: â€Å"Matthews L. Davis, Burr’s close friend, gives an eye-witness account of the encounter, in which Hamilton was mortally wounded.† (p143). The author, therefore, wished to draw confidence from the readers so as to help them solve the Burr-Hamilton puzzle once and for all. The author does so, considering the shock waves that the duel sent across America’s political and social landscape. Moreover, it is possible that having been a close ally to Burr, Davis may have wanted to set the record straight to avoid suspicion for foul play in the debacle. He may, therefore, be out to clear his conscience. The second primary source, Duel as Politics by Freeman corroborates the evidence in the first document. It states: â€Å" ‘General Hamilton was shot by Colonel Burr in a duel this morning. The General is said to be mortally wounded.’† (Freeman 47). This quotation appeared in a bulletin in 1804, reporting the death of Hamilton in the fatal duel.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

WorldCom Essay Example for Free

WorldCom Essay This paper explores the Accounting fraud that took place at WorldCom. Three aspects of the corporate culture are discussed including WorldCom’s harsh top-down management approach, the lack of written rules or a code of conduct, and the inaccessibility of many of WorldCom’s departments. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street is also discussed. WorldCom’s inappropriate booking and releasing of accruals is explored and proper accrual accounting procedures are stated. Three aspects of whistleblowing are discussed, including saving a company from a destructive end, facing public reprisal, and potential legal effects. Arthur Andersen is then used to explore the credibility of the Accounting profession when corporate fraud is unveiled. Keywords: WorldCom, fraud, accruals, whistleblowing WorldCom The corporate culture at WorldCom was one that was very loose. Although several factors contributed to the loose and unhealthy environment at WorldCom, one of the greatest downfalls of the corporate culture was the harsh top-down management approach. Employees were advised to do as they were told without questioning management. In addition, CEO Bernard Ebbers and CFO Scott Sullivan dabbled in too many affairs that should have been handled by lower-level management. Too often they ordered overrides of basic procedures that resulted in the downfall of WorldCom. Orders were issued that resulted in the override of accounting procedures. This greatly contributed to the fraud. Another factor that contributed to the unhealthy corporate culture at WorldCom was the fact that no written rules or code of conduct existed. The CEO himself thought it was a waste of time. This paired with the harsh top-down management approach seemed to create a lack of internal control as well. There were no real company rules and managers were completely capable of overriding any rules that may have existed. The inaccessibility of other departments may have contributed to the fraud as well. With so many corporate headquarters, key personnel who may have detected the fraud sooner were not able to confirm that anything wrong was taking place. If a key manager from the finance department in Mississippi, a key manager from the human resources department in Florida, a key manager from the legal department in Washington, D. C. , and a key manager from the network operations department in Texas been together at any point in time, worked together in the same building, or even had the appropriate means to communicate (cell phones were not a hot commodity like they are today and e-mail was just starting to take flight), it is possible that WorldCom could have been saved from its fraudulent end. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street was the main source of the fraud. He was so driven to be on top that he ordered managers to engage in inappropriate accounting procedures that included maintaining a certain expense-to-revenue ratio at all costs, releasing accruals, and capitalizing expenses. Furthermore, his top leadership instructed employees about what information could and could not be disclosed with the external auditors. Employees were cursed and threatened if they disclosed anything that was perceived to be a threat to his plan of being the #1 stock on Wall Street. According to Beresford, Katzenbach, and Rogers, Jr. 2003), â€Å"WorldCom manipulated the process of adjusting accruals in three ways. First, in some cases accruals were released without any apparent analysis of whether the Company actually had excess accruals in its accounts. Thus, reported line costs were reduced (and pre-tax income increased) without any proper basis. Second, even when WorldCom had excess accruals, the Company often did not release them in the period in which they were identified. Instead, certain line cost accruals were kept as rainy day funds and released to improve reported results when managers felt they were needed. Third, WorldCom reduced reported line costs by releasing accruals that had been established for other purposes— in violation of the accounting principle that reserves created for one expense type cannot be used to offset another expense† (p. 69). According to Investopedia, â€Å"†¦economic events are recognized by matching revenues to expenses (the matching principle) at the time in which the transaction occurs rather than when payment is made (or received)† (para. 1). Thus, accruals are booked when transactions occur. Accruals are released when either payment is made or when they are evaluated and deemed to be in excess of the actual accrual. Accruals of one type should never be released to offset another type. Accruals should also be released in the period they are identified. While whistleblowing may seem like a relatively easy concept to some, it really is not. The decision between doing the easy thing and doing the right thing usually is not easy. For instance, a person could report fraudulent activity that is taking place within an organization, whether it is due to corruption, misappropriation of assets, financial statement fraud, or another type of fraud. However, such a decision could carry a great price tag. Not only could it lead to the complete destruction of a company, but it could cost other employees their benefits, their retirements, and their jobs. One of the pros of whistleblowing is the fact that a company could be saved from certain destruction, as in the case of WorldCom. It is possible that the sooner fraudulent activity is reported, the less negative the outcome could be. However, whistleblowers are often perceived as tattle tales and snitches and sometimes face public reprisal, as was the case with WorldCom’s Cynthia Cooper. Another downside is the potential legal effects of whistleblowing. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦most whistleblower protection laws provide for limited make whole remedies or damages for employment losses if whistleblower retaliation is proven. However, many whistleblowers report there exists a widespread shoot the messenger mentality by corporations or government agencies accused of misconduct and in some cases whistleblowers have been subjected to criminal prosecution in reprisal for reporting wrongdoing† (Common Reactions section, 4). The consequences of whistleblowing may prove to be steep. The credibility of the Accounting profession is put in jeopardy when corporate fraud is unveiled. As a result of the WorldCom fraud, Arthur Andersen was ordered to cease practicing before the Security and Exchange Commission by August 31, 2002. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦the damage to the Andersen name was so severe that as of 2010[update], it has not returned as a viable business even on a limited scale. There are over 100 civil suits pending against the firm related to its audits of Enron and other companies. In addition, its reputation was so badly tarnished that no company wanted Andersens name on an audit. Even before voluntarily surrendering its right to practice before the SEC, it had many of its state licenses revoked† (Demise section, 1). As stated by Charles Niemeier (2001), â€Å"A loss of confidence can cause even a company with solid core operations to fail. That is because the negative impact of a lack of credibility can be far greater than the sum of the misstatements in the financials† (The Dangers of Smoothing section, 7). References http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accrualaccounting.asp http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wsj/docs/worldcom/bdspcomm60903rpt.pdf http://www.sec.gov/news/speech/spch529.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower