Economic Policies of America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Economic Policies of America - Essay Example Economic Policies of America The condition that led to capital accumulation between the years 1940 and 1970 and the development of â€Å"welfare state† in the economies that were centralized within Western Europe, United States, and Japan is known as the ‘Golden Age’. During this era, the world economy came up with conditions that ensured very high investment rates, high growth output, and low inflation and ensured low unemployment (Robert, 2002). The United States Action is based on the Keynesian Revolution theory. Revolutionary theory was a basic change in the divided economic view to a framework that is more unified. The main idea was that a policy should be changed in a way that it would change the unemployment level through deficit spending scenarios such as tax cuts on the industries and public works and also changing the interest rates and the way that money was supplied. The main idea here was that the government could change the level of employment among its citizens. This theory holds that employment is not a function of supply, but demand (Keynes, 2006). Despite the many things that this theory did not cover, America as the super power country decided to come up with policies that were to ensure that there was increased demand for their products. The United States acted among others ensured that there was a common global market with the aim to increase the demand for their products (Keynes, 2006). The theory was adopted by several governments, including the United States of America.

The Introduction Of Tesco Plc Marketing Essay

The Introduction Of Tesco Plc Marketing Essay Tesco plc is one of British largest retail grocery currently the first in terms of the top 10 retail grocery in the United Kingdom. It was the first UK business to make  £2 billion in profits when it announced the feat early in 2005, (Tesco Annual Review, 2005) and the third largest global retailer based on revenue. Over the years, retail grocery sector represents the largest industry in UK providing employment for millions of people in UK either in manufacturing or in retailing. In 2003 retail accounted for 9% of domestic product (Datamonitor, 2003). The name TESCO was derived from the combination of a tea suppliers name T.E.Stockwell and Jack Cohen the founder of Tesco plc. Tesco was founded by Jack Cohen when he began to sell surplus groceries from a stall in the East End of London in 1919 and in 1924 Jack Cohen made a new label by combining the first three letters of the suppliers name (TES), and the first two letters of his surname (CO) to form TESCO. Tesco is one of the largest food retailers in the world, operating around 2,318 stores and employing over 326,000 people. In UK, Tesco plc operates under four banners namely Tesco Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express. The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, and Middlesex and in 1947; Tesco was floated on London Stock Exchange as Tesco Stores Holdings Limited. Fifty percent of sales in Tesco are gotten from Tescos own-label products which are in three levels, values, normal and finest. Tesco plc is also becoming one Britains largest independent petrol retailer because as well as convenience produce, many stores have gas stations and other retailing services rendered by Tesco also include Tesco personal finance. Tesco plc does not only specialise in food and drinks, the company also specialise in some other areas like clothing. Electronics, telecoms, retailing and renting of DVDs CDs, music downloads, car insurance and lots more. APPLY APPROPRIATE ANALYTICAL TOOLS TO EXAMINE TESCOS EXTERNAL OPERATING ENVINRONMENT AND APPROPRIATE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS AND TOOLS TO ANANLYSE THE ORGANISATIOONS INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT As noted by Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, (2008) The environment is what gives organisation their means of survival and there are five different layers of a business environment namely: the macro environment, industry or sector, competitors, the organisation and the market Business environment is a set of political, economic, social, technology, environmental and legal forces that can potentially have both positive and negative impact on the business. (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008). EXTERNAL OPERATING ENVINRONMENT The constant change in market demands has made the economy so complex. Therefore analysing TESCOs eternal operating environment, the following tools will be applied to ensuring that TESCO meets the changes in market demands: the PEST tools, the SWOT tools and porters 5 forces. these tools will be to examine TESCOs operating environment. The PEST framework provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of particular strategies (Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008). This framework categorises environmental influences into political, economic, social and technological. POLITICAL FACTORS This factor highlights the role of government institutions. Take for stance in UK when the business environment was hit by credit crunch which lead to great unemployment. This trend actually helped TESCO because of their dominance in UK and as one of the fastest growing retailer they tried as much as possible to reduce the level of unemployment caused by these changes thereby creating employment. For employment legislation, the government encourages retailers to provide a mix of job opportunities from flexible, lower-paid and locally -based jobs to highly-skilled, higher-paid and centrally located jobs (Balchin, 1994). Also the strong government restriction against monopoly which is one of the threats TESCOs are faced with because within the customer law, it is very critical to note that protecting consumers and ensuring that entrepreneurs have the opportunity to compete in the market economy is very important. Also TESCO need to look critically in the aspect of government policies o n taxation because high taxation is one the major problems businesses face in the UK because it is never stable. The issues of government policies on trade restriction and implementation of new regulations could also affect in a way especially when there is free trade between the European Union which will be of TESCO benefit. ECONOMIC FACTORS This is another environmental factor which can make a huge impact in TESCO. Take for stance the economic down turn faced in UK due to the unemployment which drastically reduced the demand of so many good more so affecting the demand required to produce such goods which is a major concern to TESCO since they are highly dependent on the UK market. In addition if TESCO had known the economy was heading for a recession, with the use of PEST framework analysis it would have helped plan ahead. It is good to note that this factor can influence demand, cost, price and profits. SOCIAL/ CULTURAL FACTORTESCO plc is one of the retail groceries in UK who has successfully address peoples social and cultural needs due to the increment in the amount of non-food items for sale and this have sort of encouraged customer to move towards bulk shopping. The demographic changes like life style that is, the customers belief and attitudes have made TESCO to concentrate on added-value products and services. Another factor is population which has forced TESCO to have more interest in customers increased demand for organic products and this has in many ways help TESCO to strategies ways to drive cost out of the market. TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS The use of technology in marketing is one of TESCOs expansion strategies. It has enabled customers to pay their bills electronically thereby reducing long queues. Online marketing has also influenced the development of many TESCO products and this benefits both the company and its customers. This personalised service makes shopping more convenient for the customers and has positively affects the growth of TESCO plc. PORTERS FIVE FORCES Threat of New Entrants The UK grocery market is so saturated with very few competitors dominating the market. There are five major key players in the UK grocery market namely Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury, Iceland and Safeway, all sharing the highest market share. With Tesco on top coupled with its huge investment and aggressive operational tactics in product development, it is difficult in all ramifications for a new entrant in the market to pose a threat the business of Tesco. Suppliers Bargaining Power Understanding that the suppliers bargaining power is very low, Tesco will not give room for a small chain to dictate prises in the market. The ability of Tesco as a huge grocery in UK to source for cheaper supplies abroad ,has enabled them to negotiate prices being brought forward by supplier which other small chains are not capable of meeting. For the fact that most of the major suppliers are scared of losing business to foreign supplier has influenced Tesco positively. Bargaining Power of Consumers When Tesco introduced Loyalty card and branded Clubcard in 1995, it did not succumb to other grocery that it was Tescos strategy of customizing service to gain dominance when it comes to meeting customers needs. This strategy not only made much profit for Tesco but also enabled Tesco to get a comprehensive database of all its consumers. This initiative actually won lots of customers for Tesco and has become standardized. It is amazing to the customers that they can get two clubcard points for every  £1 they spend in Tesco which means the more you spend in Tesco, the more clubcard points you make and these points can also be converted to coupons which can be redeemed for cash. The more the products that become standardized or undifferentiated, the lower the switching cost, and hence, more power is yielded to buyers. As theorized by Porter M. (1980). Threat of Substitute This threat can make great impact on Tesco plc when it comes to a product being substituted for another product which can make a customer switch to the alternative. This is mostly caused by the introduction of other small-scaled operations in the market. The demand of a particular product can be reduced if a customer sees an alternative in another market and for these reasons, Tesco are trying reduction of prices and modification of such products in the other banners they are operating on example Tesco Metro to avoid such threat. Bargaining Power of Competitors There are wide range and variety of competitions in the grocery business either on the small and large scale. Tesco in the grocery business has long witnessed a significant growth in size since its establishment in 1924, though not the first to be establish in UK but currently the first of the top 10 grocery in operation in UK and the third largest global retailer based on revenue. Over the years, grocery business has remained so competitive that it triggered a high level of development by major competitors like Asda, Sainsbury, Iceland and Safeway which has made Tesco to be more innovative thereby making them the largest grocery business providing employment for millions of people in UK either in manufacturing or in retailing and since been known for their market dominance. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT analysis is a tool which could be used to audit an organisation and its internal and external environment. Tesco is the first of the top 10 grocery in UK with an excellent record in product and format innovation. And with the introduction of online shopping, Tesco became the only food retailer to make online shopping profitable which puts them ahead of other competitors. STRENGTHS Products with range of Prices: Tesco has several kinds of product in the market. These products range from food, non-food products, home appliances, medicines and so with different prices on all the products. In Tesco you can get whatever product you want at an affordable price. The prices vary anyway, the higher the quality, the higher the price and vice versa and this depend on the choice of the customer. Growing supermarket space: Tesco in the grocery business has long witnessed a significant growth in size since its establishment in 1924 and this is as a result of the growing population of consumers patronising the company and their increasing demand of several products. Strong brand image: Tesco is a household name in UK known for their market dominance in good quality and trustworthy product. It is because of Tesco strong brand image that most customers see great value in their services and this has earned the company lots of profits. Tesco Online: Online marketing has also influenced the development of many TESCO products and this benefits both the company and its customers. This personalised service makes shopping more convenient for the customers and currently being used by over one million customers in UK. The use Tesco Online in marketing is one of TESCOs expansion strategies. It has enabled customers to pay their bills electronically thereby reducing long queues thus bringing simplicity and value to the market. WEAKNESS Prices: Their price of goods poses lots of problem for Tesco plc. Trying to satisfy their customers needs by cutting cost of their products even their services can lead to a reduced profit margin for their business. High reliance on UK market: Tescos reliance on UK market is also one major weakness because if at any time the economy faces any challenges, this will definitely affects the business of Tesco, so it very much advisable for Tesco to look beyond UK and increase its foreign outlets and selling other commercial items. OPPORTUNITIES Internet: Tescos online successes is one great opportunities. Since the introduction of Tesco online, the use of technology in shopping has grown in quite a short space and moved into profitable status. Their website is so fully packaged totally different from all other grocery site and since there are no matches in terms of comparisons, it remains an advantage on the side of Tesco. Intervention in Asian market: Tescos intervention in the Asian market has serious positive implications in their growth internationally and this in no doubt will give Tesco an opportunity to develop its brand more so make Tesco much larger than they were due to Asias massive economies with huge growth forecast. Growth of non-food sales: Tesco known for their cut-cost structure can initiate same strategy to non-food retail and it is evident that Tesco capitalising on these opportunities are opening new store basically for the sales of non-food items which has given Tesco a tremendous result in increased market share in UK THREATS Economic instability: The unstable, unpredictable nature of the economy and political changes in UK pose lots of threat to Tesco and one critical example of these changes is the credit crunch which strokes the UK. This impacted on the consumers a lot because going by their low income, they had to go for products with low prices thereby paying less attention to higher priced brands and this can force a switch in Tescos price structure. Competition: This has also been a persistent threat and this one major reason why Tesco will keep up with the price cuts so as not to lose their customers to major competitors like Asda and Sainsbury. High price of raw material: The upsurge in cost of raw materials from both food and non-food could trigger poor production and this can impact Tesco overall profit margin. QUESTION 2 DEVELOP A VISION, MISSION STATEMENT, OBJECTIVES AND CONTROL MEASURES FOR TESCO The study of mission statement stated in the early 1970 s, and Drucker (1971) referred to them as a precursor to clear and realistic business objectives. As stated by Harrison and Enz(2005), An organizations mission statement provides an important vehicle for communicating ideals and a sense of directions and purpose to internal and external stakeholders. It can inspire employees and managers. It can also help organizational managers in resource-allocation decisions. With these definitions, it can be further explained that mission is what the organization is and its reason for existing whereas a vision is a forward-looking view of what the organization wants to become. Drummond and Ensor (1999) defined the mission of an organization as the unique purpose that distinguishes it from other companies and defines the boundaries of its operations. Vision Tescos vision is concentrated basically on their customers. They see themselves in many years to come as being the only grocery business in UK due their market development strategy. Mission statement To ensure continued income streams to the business from our key customers in all segments by removing the impediments which prevents them from the optimal enjoyment of our product and services. With the above mission statement, it is assumed that Tescos mission is permanently dominate the market giving no room for any competitors CRITICAL SUCCCESS FACTORS Objectives: The objectives of an organization govern the potentials value of the organisation and it also shows the platform on which the organisation is built in terms of profitability. The following describes Tescos objective: Tesco aims to minimize the cost of products and at the same time aim to earn high. Profit maximization is one major reason why a business will stand and Tesco sees selling at low price will attracts more customers thereby giving customers better chances of making choice in the quality and quantity of products at a valued price. Tesco need to ensure 100% customers satisfaction by offering good customers services and excellent Value for their money which differentiates them from their competitors. Dedication to their employees as well as to customers, ensuring that all their wants and needs are met KEY PERFORMANCES INDICATOR For Tesco to remain on top rather to maintain its position in the top 10, the following measures need to be critically evaluated: Tesco employees need have sound knowledge of their products so as to make shopping not too complex for their customers. This can also give customers ideas of some products they are not aware of more so forcing out a change of choice in their decision to buy more. Customers satisfaction is one vital key to business success. If a customer is not satisfied with either the product or the service then it will be difficult for such business to exceed. In other words, Tesco actually need to improve more in their customer service. Tesco at all time need to assure customers quality brands and also services by investing more in employee training. CORPARATE AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES Tesco is an organization more voluminous in terms of revenue acquisition and customers than any other grocery market in UK and for it to maintain its current standard or create a wide margin in the market, a lot need to be done to achieve it objectives. Firstly, Tesco need to divert the attention of customer from non-food products to food products. To do this, they need not to concentrate their advertisement more on non-food products but also encourage their customers to eat more sea foods, fruits as well as vegetables. They should also emphasis more on sales promotion of their own-labelled products on advert thus re-directing the customers usual orientation of branded products. The management need to put the quality of staffs into consideration not only the quality and quantity of their products. Arranging training programs will be appropriate to evaluate their employees quality, such programs will enable them gather vast knowledge of their products more so keeping the goals of the organization alive in the employees. Theoretically Tescos strategic development can also be analysed using Ansoffs matrix and BCG matrix

Hurricane Wilma :: essays research papers

Damage Hurricane Wilma is the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. The atmospheric pressure was 882 millibars on Wednesday, Oct.19 making it a category 5. Wilma was the 21st storm of the 2005 hurricane season. On Tuesday, Oct.18 the hurricane was a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Wilma came just a week after Hurricane Stan, affecting some of the same countries. By Friday, Hurricane Wilma had caused at least 11 deaths in Haiti and Jamaica. Mudslides were becoming a real threat, prompting evacuations in Central America, The Caribbean, and as far as the United States. Hurricane Wilma pounded the western tip of Cuba (figure 3), where the government had to evacuate more than 500,000 people, including 7,000 people from the coastal fishing village of La Coloma. At least one hurricane shelter in downtown Cancun had to evacuate. There were about 1,000 people that had to be moved during the night because the ceiling threatened to collapse. Hurricane Wilma then headed up toward the United States, aiming tworad Collier, Florida. It cost more than 6 billion dollars in damages [1 billion dollars was recorded in Collier, Florida] in Southwest Florida, making it the most damaging natural disaster in 45 years in Florida. Recovery The American Red Cross gave 4,500 hygiene kits to the Mexican Red Cross, and 2,000 hygiene kits to the Bahamas Red Cross Society. These kits include toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and other items. The kits are being sent from relief supplies that were already in Panama. Three months after Hurricane Wilma made landfall, over 300 million dollars had been approved for Florida residents who suffered damages from the disaster.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Essay

The legendary and controversial story behind Butch Cassidy and his partner, the Sundance Kid, goes back to the time of the American Old West. This time period was marked by exploration and people’s struggle with cultural conflicts, economic growth or falls, and mental as well as physical drama. Harry Longabaugh (the â€Å"Sundance Kid†) Criminal career started prior to his joining the â€Å"Wild Bunch†. On February 27, 1887, while traveling from South Dakotas Black Hills back to the ranch, named â€Å"N bar N†, where he worked at as a cowboy. Twenty years old Harry Longabaugh passed through a ranch called the â€Å"Three V Ranch†. While passing through this ranch, which was owned by a group of English investors, young Longabaugh stole a grey horse (branded J on its shoulder), a gun, and a saddle. He continued his journey to N bar N while the Three V Ranch’s employees were looking for a young man that is smooth-faced and has grey eyes. After unsuccessful two weeks of searching, with information given from one of the Three V Ranch employees, Harry Longabaugh was arrested by the James Ryan, Sherriff of Sundance, Wyoming. A few months later, while heading as a prisoner west to Rapid City, South Dakota, Longabaugh slipped from his handcuffs and jumped of the moving train while the sheriff was in the bathroom. After coming back to Wyoming with no luck of relocating his escaped prisoner, Sheriff Ryan offered a $250 for Longabaugh. In a not so smart move, Longabaugh returned to N bar N and was soon caught by the Sheriff’s Deputy. He arrested and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. During the time he spent in jail, Harry Longabaugh was given his new nickname, by which he is known today: the â€Å"Sundance Kid†. A few years later, late in august 1891, Butch Cassidy, that was considered as the â€Å"worst man in four states†¦Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. †(â€Å"The Washington Post†,pg. 20’), followed his future partner’s path to prison. While Butch Cassidy was staying at a place called †Mail Camp†, Billy Nutcher, a part of the â€Å"Jack Bliss† gang, rode in trailing three saddle horses. He put his horses under care and joined a person named Burnaugh and his guests, including Butch Cassidy. Butch was interested in Nutcher’s business, as well as his horses, and a discussion about a sale soon followed. After a short discussion, a deal was struck, and Cassidy became the owner of three horses. The problem was that not a lot of attention was paid to the paperwork. Ranchers in the area started to notice that their horses were disappearing, and soon discovered that Cassidy and one of his associates in the horse dealing â€Å"business† were stealing the animals. After one of the ranchers served a complaint and an investigation started. With the lawmen on their tail, Cassidy and his associate hided in a ranch, but were discovered shortly thereafter. They were taken into custody for a few months before going into trail, and were then found guilty. After a few months they were brought a few times in front of a judge with new evidence. At the end, Cassidy was found guilty and sentenced to prison. Not long after his release from prison, Butch Cassidy started to gather some of his outlaw friends. One of its first recruits was the Sundance Kid. This new formed group was later known as the famous â€Å"Wild Bunch†. The story of Butch Cassidy (real name, Robert LeRoy Parker) and the Sundance Kid as partners in crime is in fact became well known by the American Western film, directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman, carrying the name of the two- â€Å"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid†. The film features the two as two friends who try to be as successful as they can be as robbers while escaping the law. The main cliffhanger of the movie is that the two believe they are being chased by a lawman that was paid to kill them. Consequently, the both escape to Bolivia while being accompanied by the Sundance Kid’s girlfriend Etta, and become successful bank robbers known as â€Å"Los Bandidos Yanquis†. At some point they do attempt to live the â€Å"straight† life, but encounter lawmen that recognize them and start a shootout. The film ends at a freeze frame shot of the two charging out of a building while participating in a shootout, which they started, after believing they saw the man who was paid to kill them. Although the film is based loosely on fact and has holes in it, it prorates the most famous train robbery that was conducted by the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, alongside their gang: the robbery of the Union Pacific overland flyer train near Wilcox, Wyoming. In the first robbery, which probably accrued a few years earlier, was successful. According to a newspaper, Pacific train no. 8 was held by a bandits at about 1 o’clock at august 21. The robbery was successful (for the bandits), and luckily no one was hurt (â€Å"the Atlanta Constitution†, pg. ). In the second robbery, unlike the first one that goes well, Butch Cassidy uses to much dynamite and blowing up the baggage car. While the gang, which consisted of nine members, (as reported by one of the gang members to the â€Å"Washington Post†) was desperately trying to gather up their money, lawmen arrive to the scene and a famous and massive man hunt begins. The gang scatters Besides the film, there are many more records of that day. One of them is an eyewitness who was actually a mail clerk working on the Union Pacific Railroad. His name was Robert Lawson and he recounted his experience in the June 8, 1899 issue of the Buffalo Bulletin, a newspaper that operates even today. â€Å"As soon as we came to a standstill, Conductor Storey went forward to see what was the matter and saw several men with guns, one of whom shouted that they were going to blow up the train with dynamite†¦Following close behind the shooting came a terrific explosion, and one of the doors was completely wrecked and most of the car windows broken. The bandits then threatened to blow up the whole car if we didn’t get out, so Bruce gave the word and we jumped down, and were immediately lined up and searched for weapons†¦The men all wore masks reaching below their necks and of the three I observed, one looked to be six foot tall, the others being about ordinary sized men. The leader appeared to be about 50 years old and spoke with a squeaky voice, pitched very high. (Robert Lawson, the â€Å"Buffalo Bulletin†) Two years after robbing the Union Pacific Railroad , Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Ethel â€Å"Etta† Place (the Sundance Kid’s girlfriend), fled to New York City and from there they departed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, aboard the British steamer â€Å"Herminius†. There they settled together on a 15,000-acre that they purchased on the east bank of the Rio Blanco (west-central Argentina). On February 14, 1905, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid robbed a bank in Rio Gallegos (the capital and largest settlement of the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz in Argentina) and escaped with the largest amount of money that they will ever manage to escape with. After that massive bank robbery, they sold their ranch because lawmen were beginning to suspect them. They fled north aboard the steamer â€Å"Condor† across Nahuel Huapi Lake and into Chile. A year later, Etta would leave with the Sundance Kid back to the United States and Cassidy would become a Miner in the Santa Vera Cruz range of the central Bolivian Andes. Later on, the Sundance Kid reunited with Cassidy and they worked together at the Concordia Tin Mine. The cause for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s deaths are less known and still remain a mystery. The most accepted theory for their deaths todays is that they died at a shootout at Bolivia. Another theory about the cause for their death is only about Butch Cassidy, which says that he was shot died at Chiloe, where he operated a successful ranch for five years. Never the less, those theories did not stop people from believing that there is a chance that the two men who were killed by the authorities in Bolivia were not Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. Some say that the police made a mistake, and that the real Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid returned to the US and lived there for the rest of their lives. Some say that Butch Cassidy died peacefully Paraguay, Chiloe, or even at Spokane, Washington in 1935. Among those claimers this is even Cassidy’s sister, who claimed that Cassidy came for a visit in the fall of 1925. â€Å"Take your pick. There are a lot of Butch Cassidy tales in this part of Argentina because he spent so much time here. Many descendants of those who knew Cassidy live in Bariloche or in the nearby countryside, and the local museum exhibits photos and documents relating to the North American Bandits. †

Twelve Angry Men

According to Rose, the jury system is flawed; discuss Rose Kealy A jury is a body of people who are sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them. This is shown and demonstrated in the play, Twelve Angry men, written by Reginald Rose. However, in the play, the jury system can be seen as flawed and imperfect. The faults in the play are displayed by the twelve juries that were selected to represent the case presented. The lack of knowledge, prejudice and the personality clashes are all examples of the flaws in the jury system that are shown in the Twelve Angry Men. Rose was able to express that in the play During the play Twelve Angry Men, Rose finds the flaws in the personality chosen for the jury case. Rose demonstrates to the audience that the 12 juror members have very different personalties which in some circumstances work together but most of the time they create incidences and commotion. The personality clashes are mostly seen between the 3rd juror and the 8th juror â€Å"God damn it! I'll kill him! I'll kill him† and â€Å"Shut up, you son of a bitch! † shows the tension, suspense and displeasure between these two jurors. The two jurors are a huge part in the play and it is their personalities that clash the most. The tension however is not just shown between these two jurors. â€Å"Do you know you're a sick man? † â€Å"who the hell is he to tell me that? † is examples from the 9th and 10th jurors. These remarks are found throughout the play and underline the importance of needing to work together. Rose is able to point out the flaws in the jury system by not having each juror analysed before the case to learn their personalties and traits. These incidents however can relate and intertwine with the prejudice and discrimination found in the jury rooms. In Twelve Angry Men, Rose highlights the potential flaws that can be found in the jury system, where prejudice interferes and the pursuit of justice. This is shown mostly by the 3rd Juror in his unwillingness to change his initial ‘guilty' verdict and the manner in which he characterises, ‘kids†¦ owadays. Angry! Hostile! ‘. This view is held because the 3rd Juror relates to his troubled and tense relationship with his son as it corresponds to the defendants relationship with his father. It is displayed that the 3rd juror wants to punish the young boy for the pain that the jurors on pain put on him. The 3rd juror isn't look for the facts or details of the case, he is just acting on his own emotions. This then leads to a fault in the jury system as the personality of one jury impacts the ability for the jurors to make a logical verdict on the case. The 10th juror also makes some assumptions in deciding the boy's guilt or innocence rather than looking at the actually facts. â€Å"It's those people! I'm tellin' you they let the kids run wild up there. Well, maybe it serves em' right†¦ † In the play, Rose was able to point out that the flaws of the jury system and that not knowing the twelve people chosen can result in prejudiced and discrimination and not the truth that surrounds the case and defendant. In Twelve Angry Men, Rose highlights the importance of knowing and understanding the jury system and what it involves. There is a range of different jurors who have different knowledge and expectations of what is expected of the jury room and role. â€Å"I never knew they locked the door† is a prime example of the awareness and insight of the jury system. Whereas Juror 11, the immigrant watchmaker seemed to be more interested and fascinated by the juror system then those who are from America. â€Å"I don't believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other†¦ † demonstrates the 11th jurors judgement and appreciation for the system and the case. Rose is able to explain the importance of understanding and the importance of the jury system and the case that is presented in front of the 12 jurors. According to Rose, the jury system is flawed and this can be demonstrated through the play of Twelve Angry Men. The play is based around the personality clashes of each of the jurors, the prejudiced and discrimination found by some of the men and the lack of knowledge and interest in the jury system by all the jurors. All these contribute to a jury system that can be seen as faulty and imperfect by Rose. Twelve Angry Men According to Rose, the jury system is flawed; discuss Rose Kealy A jury is a body of people who are sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them. This is shown and demonstrated in the play, Twelve Angry men, written by Reginald Rose. However, in the play, the jury system can be seen as flawed and imperfect. The faults in the play are displayed by the twelve juries that were selected to represent the case presented. The lack of knowledge, prejudice and the personality clashes are all examples of the flaws in the jury system that are shown in the Twelve Angry Men. Rose was able to express that in the play During the play Twelve Angry Men, Rose finds the flaws in the personality chosen for the jury case. Rose demonstrates to the audience that the 12 juror members have very different personalties which in some circumstances work together but most of the time they create incidences and commotion. The personality clashes are mostly seen between the 3rd juror and the 8th juror â€Å"God damn it! I'll kill him! I'll kill him† and â€Å"Shut up, you son of a bitch! † shows the tension, suspense and displeasure between these two jurors. The two jurors are a huge part in the play and it is their personalities that clash the most. The tension however is not just shown between these two jurors. â€Å"Do you know you're a sick man? † â€Å"who the hell is he to tell me that? † is examples from the 9th and 10th jurors. These remarks are found throughout the play and underline the importance of needing to work together. Rose is able to point out the flaws in the jury system by not having each juror analysed before the case to learn their personalties and traits. These incidents however can relate and intertwine with the prejudice and discrimination found in the jury rooms. In Twelve Angry Men, Rose highlights the potential flaws that can be found in the jury system, where prejudice interferes and the pursuit of justice. This is shown mostly by the 3rd Juror in his unwillingness to change his initial ‘guilty' verdict and the manner in which he characterises, ‘kids†¦ owadays. Angry! Hostile! ‘. This view is held because the 3rd Juror relates to his troubled and tense relationship with his son as it corresponds to the defendants relationship with his father. It is displayed that the 3rd juror wants to punish the young boy for the pain that the jurors on pain put on him. The 3rd juror isn't look for the facts or details of the case, he is just acting on his own emotions. This then leads to a fault in the jury system as the personality of one jury impacts the ability for the jurors to make a logical verdict on the case. The 10th juror also makes some assumptions in deciding the boy's guilt or innocence rather than looking at the actually facts. â€Å"It's those people! I'm tellin' you they let the kids run wild up there. Well, maybe it serves em' right†¦ † In the play, Rose was able to point out that the flaws of the jury system and that not knowing the twelve people chosen can result in prejudiced and discrimination and not the truth that surrounds the case and defendant. In Twelve Angry Men, Rose highlights the importance of knowing and understanding the jury system and what it involves. There is a range of different jurors who have different knowledge and expectations of what is expected of the jury room and role. â€Å"I never knew they locked the door† is a prime example of the awareness and insight of the jury system. Whereas Juror 11, the immigrant watchmaker seemed to be more interested and fascinated by the juror system then those who are from America. â€Å"I don't believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other†¦ † demonstrates the 11th jurors judgement and appreciation for the system and the case. Rose is able to explain the importance of understanding and the importance of the jury system and the case that is presented in front of the 12 jurors. According to Rose, the jury system is flawed and this can be demonstrated through the play of Twelve Angry Men. The play is based around the personality clashes of each of the jurors, the prejudiced and discrimination found by some of the men and the lack of knowledge and interest in the jury system by all the jurors. All these contribute to a jury system that can be seen as faulty and imperfect by Rose.

I am going to produce a report which assesses the working capital management of MarksSpencer using information from their annual report Essay Example

I am going to produce a report which assesses the working capital management of MarksSpencer using information from their annual report Essay Example I am going to produce a report which assesses the working capital management of MarksSpencer using information from their annual report Essay I am going to produce a report which assesses the working capital management of MarksSpencer using information from their annual report Essay Working capital measures how much in liquid assets a company has available to build its business. The number can be positive or negative, depending on how much debt the company is carrying. In general, companies that have a lot of working capital will be more successful since they can expand and improve their operations. Companies with negative working capital may lack the funds necessary for growth. Working capital is a critical aspect of business operation, without adequate working capital a business may not be able to reach success or the aim of the business, for example, if MS don’t have enough working capital to found employees’ wages then the employees may decide to quit and this will slow down productivity which in turn will cause the business to stop functioning. Also if MS don’t have enough capital then they may not be able to pay their suppliers and their suppliers may decide not to supply them with goods anymore which may have an effect on the company’s market share, because customers will choose to go to rival companies instead. The key components of working capitals are current asset and current liability. To find the working capital of a business we use the formula: CURRENT ASSETS- CURRENT LIABILITIES= WORKING CAPITAL Based on this formula the working capital of MS at the end of 2010 2011 financial year can be calculated as; 2010  £1,153.80 – 2,210.20 = (1056.40) 2011 1,641.7 – 1,890.5 = (248.80) Both figures from MS working capital show a negative figure, this means that currently the company is unable to meet its short-term liabilities with its current assets. However, comparing these two years there has been a decrease of  £807.60 from 2010 to 2011 which is a good thing because this shows that MS are taken up strategies to improve its working capitals. Current assets are cash or assets owed buy a business that will be turned into cash within one year, examples of current assets are; Trade receivables (Debtors): debtors are money owed to a business by its clients or customers. This is a current asset because customers that purchase goods on credit are usually required to pay the amount owed within a year, so due to this reason they become an asset to a business. Trade receivables are shown on the balance sheet under the current asset section. Inventories (Stock): inventories are products or merchandise owed by a business that has not yet been sold. These are current assets because as part of the normal trading activities of a business, inventory will be expected to be sold off within a year to generate income. There are two types of inventory, opening inventory and closing inventory. Opening inventory is the stock held at the start of each financial year and closing stock are the total amount of stock left at the end of the financial year and this is recorded in the balance sheet as a current asset. Prepaid: these are expenses that have been paid for in advance but services or products have not yet been used. Example of prepaid expenses is insurance and business rates. Other examples of current assets are bank balances and cash in the till. Current liabilities: these are debts owed by a business that need to be repaid within one year. Examples of current liabilities might include; Trade payables (creditors): creditors are people usually suppliers that a business owe money to. Creditors are current liabilities because suppliers will usually request you to pay back the amount owed within one year. If trade creditors are not paid on time it may affect the reputation of the business because suppliers wouldn’t want to sell gods to you on credit as they know there will be chances of late repayment. Short term loan: this type of loan is borrowed from a bank and is scheduled to be repaid in less than a year. Accrued expenses: these are expense that has been incurred, but not yet paid for. Example of accrued expenses may be interests that has been accrued on loans that has not yet been paid for and also taxes that has been accrued but not yet paid for. Other examples of current liabilities are bank overdraft, this is when an individual or a company withdrawals more money from their account than they owe. This is a current liability because bank overdrafts are supposed to be paid within a short period of time. Marks Spencer uses short term finances such as overdrafts and bank loans to fund their working capital. Overdraft may usually be used to cover utility bills, and short term bank loans may be used to pay wages. Also they use trade creditors as a short term finance to purchase goods on credit from their suppliers. The use of short term finance for the day to day running of the business is a better source compared to long term source because resources such as stock will be used soon and there will be no point incurring more charges on it if you were to get a long term loan instead of acquiring it from trade creditors. In this part of my work, I am going to identify and explain the key ratios, using the information I gathered from MS annual report. Ratio is the term applied to a variety of calculations used to compare the results of a business over time or to compare the results of two or more business in the same business sector. Ratios enable changes in important aspects of a business’s performance to be pin pointed and quantified. The calculations of ratios enables trends to be highlighted and also ratios are particularly important to the owners, managers and stake holders of businesses as they will be keen to assess the performance and rivals will be interested too. I will be using five(5) key ratios namely current ratio, acid test ratio, debtor collection periods, credit payment period and stock turnover to compare the results of MS business over 2010 and 2011 financial year. Current ratio: this is also known as the working capital ratio, it is used to compare current assets to current liabilities the formula for working out the current ratio is, CURRENT ASSETS / CURRENT LIABILITIES. Current ratios are always expressed as ‘something’:1. The ideal current ratio is 2:1 which means that for each  £1 owed the business can cover with current assets 2 times. Even though a high current ratio can be a good thing, it is possible for it to be classed as a wasteful of resources, because the business is holding money in that could be put to good use such as expanding the business. Current ratio 2010 2011 ( £1153.80/ £2210.20)= 0.5220 ( £1641.70/ £1890.50)= 0.8684 Current ratio= 0.5:1 Current ratio: 0.9:1 MS current ratio has increased from 0.5:1 to 0.9:1 this means that liquidity has gone up and for every  £1 owed MS can cover with current assets of 0.9 times. Compared to the ideal ratio which is 2:1, the current 2011 ratio is still not good enough and this may imply that the business will find it difficult its debts since the business is operating with inadequate levels of working capital. Acid test ratio: this is similar to current ratio because it measures liquid assets in relation to current liabilities and also the amount of liquid assets available to pay the debts of the business. The differences between current ratio and acid ratio is that, current ratio looks at liquidity and cash flow issues further ahead than acid ratio because acid ratio is a more immediate measure of liquidity. The formula for finding acid test ratio is; (Current assets – stock)/ Current liabilities Acid test ratio is also written in the form ‘something’: 1, the ideal acid ratio is 1:1 meaning that for every  £1 a business owes it has  £1 of current assets less stock to cover this debt. Stock is removed to give an indication of the cash the business has in relation to its liability. 2010 2011 (1,153.8 685.3)/2210.2 = 0.212 (1641.7-613.2)/1890.5= 0.54403 Acid test ratio = 0.21: 1 Acid ratio = 0.54:1 MS has been able to increase its acid ratio from 0.21:1 in 2010 to 0.54:1 in 2011, yet still this is not close to the ideal ratio and this suggests that the business has nearly twice as many liabilities as it has cash to pay for those liabilities and this might put the firm under pressure. Stock turnover – this compares the average stock to the total cost of stock sold during a year. Average stock is calculated by adding the two years stock and then dividing it by 2. Stock turnover is very important to MS since stock is involved in their normal trading activities. The stock turnover will indicates how quickly stocks are being sold. If the rate is increasing, it can mean that the business is selling more stock or perhaps the average stock held is being reduced. However, if the stock is decreasing, this could mean that the business is selling less stock or the business is holding more average stock. The formula for finding stock turnover is; (Cost of sales / Average stock) = number of times per year Average stock= (685.3+613.2)/2 =649.25 2010 2011 (6015.6/649.25)= 9.265 (5918.9/649.25)=9.117 Number of times per year= 9.23 times Number of times per year= 9.12 times Based on the calculation, the resulting stock turnover ratio was equal to a little more than 9 in both years. This means that MS reduces and replenishes its stock nine times per year to satisfy consumer demand for its products. The goal of any retailer such as MS is to have a high inventory ratio, since its always better to sell inventory in the shortest amount of time possible. The longer a company holds on to inventory, the more expenses it incurs to store it, which ultimately reduces profits. Moreover, when theres low stock turnover, it indicates that the company is failing to accurately project what the demand is for the products it sells. Debtor collection periods -this is the average amount of days for collection period. It is used to measure the business’ efficiency in collecting payment. If the debtors collection period is increasing this tells you that the debtors are taken longer to pay than previously. Formula for calculating the debtor collection period: (Trade debtors x 365)/sales turnover = number of days 2010 2011 (250.3 x 365)/9740.3=9.38 (613.2 x 365)/9536.6=23.46 Number of days = 10days Number of days= 24days There has been an increase in of 14 days in the debtors’ collection period from 2010 to 2011 and this could be a weakness to MS because it could imply that credit control is not being as carefully managed as previously and this could lead to an increase in bad debt, bad debt is when debtors are not able to pay for their amount owed, this is treated as an expense in the business income statement. Creditor payment period: this measures the number of days taken on an average to pay for credit purchases. Since MS deals with lots of stock one of their sources of finance form purchasing goods on credit, if the credit payment increases this shows that the business is taking longer to pay creditors than previously. This change can either be a weakness to the business because it could mean that that the business is exceeding the credit period allowed by suppliers and as a result suppliers may discontinue offering credit facilities. On the other hand it can become a strength because it will improve the cash flow of the business. If the creditors’ collection period is decreasing this means that the company is taking less time to pay creditors. The change in the creditors’ payment period can be interpreted as a strength because the credit control is being more carefully managed and that difficulties with suppliers over exceeding credit limit will no longer occur but it can also be a weakness because the business is now paying suppliers earlier than necessary, resulting in negative impact on cash flow. Formula for calculating creditor payments period; (Creditors x 365) / Purchases = number of days 2010 2011 (1347.60 x 365)/6015.6= 81.77 (1153.8 x 365)/5918.1= 71.16 Number of days= 82days Number of days=71 days Since these figures are decreasing, it shows that MS are taken less number of days to repay their suppliers. However, if the credit payment period between MS and their supplier is 30 days then the business will have to ensure that their debt are repaid more quickly to build up trust between them and the suppliers. In order to maintain the capital structure, the MS has decided to adjust the number of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. But if the credit payment period is more than 71 days, e.g. 100 days instead, then MS can wait for some more days to repay their debt as this will can help them get a positive cash flow and will attract investors into the business. Comparing the changes in debtors collecting period and creditors collecting period over the 2 years period shows that MS take longer time to pay their suppliers but it takes shorter time for them to receive payments from their debtors. The reason behind this could be that, since MS is not really a wholesale company they don’t give out lots of credit purchases to their customers but they purchase most of their stock on credit which thereby explains the huge difference between the creditors and debtors collecting period. To be able to manage working capital, there are certain tools in which a business can use. Usually making sure that the business has enough money to pay the bill when they arrive may be good practice however it is important to take into consideration of other tools as it will help you to manage your business more effectively. The following are ways in which a business can use to manage working capital; Credit control: these are practices used by businesses that extend credit to customers for the purpose of financing purchases of goods or services offered by the business. The purpose of these practices is to identify whether a customer is a good credit risk, and to monitor existing customer lines of credit for consistent repayment. As MS don’t give out a huge amount of their stock on credit because they are retailers they still use credit control to assess the few people they sell goods to on credit as this will avoid any bad debt from occurring. From the calculation of the debtors collection period, it is clear that MS debtors are taken longer days to pay than in the previous years, and this could cause cash to be tied up in debtors and MS may not be able to pay for their own debt. To be able to decrease the number of debtors, MS can offer a discount to their credit customers, such as 5% discount if payments are made 14 days earlier rather than the agreed credit collection p eriod. Also MS should make sure that they are paying a close attention on their debtors and if they spot out any late payments, they should send a reminder to their debtor. Stock control: is essential in MS because the more stock it holds the greater the amount of money that is tied up and this can have a significant effect on company profits. There are different types of costs that occur when stocks are held in a business for so long, these costs are; Opportunity cost, this is when capital has been tied up in stock, in this situation a business earns a zero financial return, meaning that no money is raised by holding stock in. Storage and handling, if lots of stocks are held for so long in MS it will have an impact in the warehousing space, and extra capital will be wasted on the controlling of these stock, lighting heating and labour. Spoilage, since MS deals with perishable goods like food, there will be a high risk of these perishable items to get expired. Usually stock will have to be insured against fire damages or theft, and keeping a higher amount of stock in the business it means that the business will have to pay more money on insurance to cover all the stocks available in the moment. Theft and shrinkage, when there is lots of stock held in a business it becomes a target for theft by staff and others. Due to this reason MS has put in a careful strategy called the â€Å"Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology†. This RFID uses microchips to wirelessly transmit serial numbers to a reading device wirelessly, allowing goods to be tracked electronically along the supply chain from warehouse to point of sale. Stuart Senior, IT director at MS, said the company wanted to use the technology to ensure 100% product availability, allowing managers to fill stores with as many different types of merchandise as possible. With automatic tracking of stock we can get a perfect picture of the goods we have on the sales floor and in the warehouse, he said. If we can improve data accuracy, we can replenish accurately. Another way I would suggest MS to use to controls its stock is to use â€Å"just-in-time approach† on perishable food. The just in time approach is when orders for delivery are made and ready to be sold to the customers straight away, this will help MS reduce the amount of money wasted on Debt factoring: this is when a third party usually a bank is given the authority to collect a business’ debts in exchange for a percentage of the original debt. Using debt factoring will be particularly important to MS as this will help them improve on their cash flow and wouldn’t have to wait till their debtors are ready to settle payments. Currently MS are not using debt factoring, but I would recommend they use it as this will help them decrease the number of debtors’ collection period and hopefully use the money to obtain new stock or to pay off their creditors. Cash budgets: cash budget is an estimate of future cash income and cash expenditures. Creating a cash budget helps MS to ensure that there is always sufficient cash available to allow the normal trading activities of the business to take place. It will also highlight time when MS have excess cash and this allows the management team in the business to arrange short-term investment of those surplus cash in order to gain maximum return. Lastly cash budgets high light when the business have cash deficits and this allows the management team of MS to arrange short-term alternative sources of finance which can be bank overdraft, arrangement of extended period of credit, or reducing the agreement on the time limits for existing long term debt collection periods. Even though creating cash budget helps MS in the management of its working capital, there is still some limitations, because; 1. If the data included in the cash budget is inaccurate then the cash budget will be of little use. 2. Budget might become an overriding goal and this could lead to a misuse of resources or incorrect decisions been made. 3. If budget are made compulsory instead of negotiated, staff members may become demotivated. 4. If budgeted plans are easily achieved this will make the departments appear to be more efficient than they really are and this will lead to underperformance. In conclusion, the analysis of working capital efficiency of Marks Spencer is showing instability in the business. Stock holding period is around on the same level in 2011 as it was in 2010. MS has increased in its debtor collection period in 2011, which is showing their weak position to collect their receivables early. The business can improve its debtors’ collection period by using the credit control ideas I talked about previously. Since MS is a retail shop, for the companies working capital to increase we have to look at the main operating activities to be able to solve the issues the company is facing at the moment. MS sales have falling from 9,740.3 million in 2010 to 9,536.6 million in 2011 and this reduction in sale will give a bad impact of MS to all its stake holders. It is important for MS to increase the number of sales as this will help their working capital to increase too, to do this the business will have to invest in exciting clothing that are in fashion and also look at their marketing strategy to see if they could include discounts sales or give cash discounts to its customers. Even though MS is doing quite well in its food department it can look in improving even better by comparing their marketing strategies to their competitors such as Tesco and Sainsbury and incorporate the strategy they find helpful from its competitors into their own business. From the creditors payment period ratio figure we could tell that MS takes longer time to repay their creditors, and the reason behind this is that the business has got more than 2000 direct suppliers of finished products. 1500 suppliers are supplying clothing, footwear, beauty and home products and rest 500 provide food products. Keeping the record of 2000 suppliers is not easy and in future complex supplying chain could create problem for MS. MS could improve on this issue by probably looking to find suppliers that could offer more than one products at a cheaper price to the company and this will help to reduce the number of suppliers they have and hopefully be able to keep track of their creditors payment period. In 2011 the acid ratio test which measures the liquidity of the business has fallen below 1 and it is 0.54, this is very unhealthy for MS because it means that for every  £1 liability they owe they have just 0.54p to cover it, for MS to improve on its liquidity, it needs to reduce its expenses that are incurred through rent, payment of indirect labour and professional fees and also the amount of money spent on advertisement. Also if the business has any assets that are unproductive they could sell it and the money gain would help increase their current assets figure. To add up MS can improve profitability by looking at stocks that could be charged at a higher a price or they might want to reduce the price of certain stocks as this will attract more customers. MS can also improve in its stock turnover by targeting at different age groups, because currently the shop has an image of selling clothes that are targeted to people over their 30’s and in the current market of retail clothing it is known that people below the ages of 30 spend lots of money of clothing. The company could focus on buying and selling products that sell consistently, because there are some products that might sit in the shelf for so long and this will cost cash to be tied up in the stock.

What College Should You Go To How to Choose a College

What College Should You Go To How to Choose a College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As a high school student, you might be overwhelmed and scared by the college search process. You're probably asking yourself, "What college should I go to? What college is right for me?" It’s not easy to choose a college that’s right for you, especially when you have over 2,000 options in the US alone! To find a school that will truly make you happy, you have to be honest with yourself about what components will make up the most fulfilling college experience based on your interests and personality. This article will give you the tools you need to choose a college that’s the right fit for your goals. Self Reflection Before you do anything else, sit down and ask yourself the hard questions.Think about who you are and what you want to get out of college.This is admittedly tough to do - if you’re anything like me in high school, you’re still feeling pretty unsure about your future plans.When I say to think about â€Å"who you are†, I mean that you need to evaluate the interests and personality traits that most strongly affect your daily life and consider how they will impact your college experience.If you’re very introverted, for example, you may feel uncomfortable at a big party school or in a city environment.If you’re a super picky eater, you should look for colleges that have a flexible meal plan and a wide variety of food options. As for what you want to get out of college, this can be more complicated, but it boils down to thinking about your academic interests and any other activities you plan on continuing in college.If you have a field of study in mind, then you should go somewhere that has strong academic offerings in that area.You may be surprised at which schools have great programs. Just because you haven’t heard of a school doesn’t mean it’s not an awesome fit for you! If you have some idea of your interests but haven't settled on a major, look for schools that will give you the opportunity to explore your interests further within the context of a well-rounded curriculum. Try not to lock yourself into any one field of study yet. To give a personal anecdote, when I went to Dartmouth I started out as a Government major, then switched to a History major, then decided to be a History and Studio Art double major, and finally ended up dropping History altogether and becoming a Studio Art major with a Digital Arts minor.I never would have expeted myself to end up as an art major when I was in high school, but I'm very thankful that I went to a college where that was a viable option. Here Are Some More Questions to Ask about Your Academic Preferences: What are your greatest academic strengths and weaknesses? Do you prefer learning in a small discussion group or in a large lecture class environment? What was your favorite class in high school? How do you do with academic struggles and pressure? Do you take a lot of advanced classes? What’s your GPA and how does it compare to other students at your school? Do you have any learning disabilities or concerns that might impact your academics? Answering these questions will help you determine the type of academic environment that will suit you best in college.Based on your answers, you can look at the class sizes at schools that interest you to see if you’ll end up in mostly large or small classes.Your answers will also help you focus on a realistic range of colleges based on your GPA and ability to handle academic stress.Again, check to see if schools have academic offerings that align with what interested you most in high school even if you're not sure that you'll pursue that interest as a major. You want to be able to take classes that you feel are worthwhile experiences even if they aren't a part of your ultimate academic concentration. Academics may be the main point of college, but the majority of your time won't be spent in classes. There are many other factors that will impact your comfort and happiness while at school. Here Some Non-Academic Questions to Ask about What You Want Out of Your College Experience: Are you kind of a hermit or do you plan to party it up? Introvert or extrovert? Do you like quiet, natural settings or an exciting city life with tons of stuff to do (or something in between)? Are you ready to be far from home? What values are most important to you? What are your political leanings? Is cost a factor that you need to take into account? What are your favorite activities, and which ones do you want to continue pursuing in college? Are sports important to you? What are you proud of about yourself, and what makes you unique? Based on your answers to these questions, you can create more focused search criteria. If you know you want to be close to home, for example, just look at schools in your state.If you have a unique passion or talent, find schools that have organizations to help nourish that talent. It's important to have access to creative outlets and a pleasant living environment that lends itself to learning and having fun at the same time. The academic offerings at a school may be excellent, but that doesn't mean you should go there without considering how you'll feel about the social scene or the surrounding area. The most important question to ask yourself is"What makes me happiest?"Even if you feel like you â€Å"have† to go to a certain school or your parents are pushing you in a particular direction, try to focus on what YOU really want.If prestige is a priority for you, that’s fine, but make sure it’s actually valuable to you and not just to your parents or others who might influence you. College is four years of your life, and that’s not something to take lightly.You’re the one who will be having this experience - not your parents, not your friends, and not your teachers.In the next section of this guide, I’ll go into more detail about the main qualities to consider inyour college search. Who am I? (Please tell me you've all seen Zoolander. Please tell me I'm still relevant.) Narrowing it Down: First Steps There are a few basic distinctions between schools that will help you narrow down your college choices based on your answers to the self-reflection questions above. Public or Private? You might apply to a mixture of public and private colleges, but it’s important to know the differences between the two.Costs are usually lower for public universities if you’re an in-state student, but some private schools do offer generous financial aid.You can expect larger enrollment at public schools and a wider array of academic programs, as well as more diversity of student body. Public schools tend to have bigger party scenes and often bigger class sizes with more classes taught by TAs. Private schools may provide a more close-knit student community and more leadership opportunities due to smaller class sizes. Urban or Rural? This is a key factor in narrowing down your choices.Think about what type of environment is best for you and how it compares to the school's surrounding community.Is it a safe area? How isolated is it?If you enjoy being in nature and want to attend a school with a really defined campus, you should look into schools with more rural settings.If you’re mainly concerned with having places to go out and being able to do a wide variety of activities, you should look at more urban schools. There are also many schools that are a mixture of the two environments and may have a defined campus but also easy access to a nearby city. Rural schools provide a community that's far more insular and differentiated from the rest of the area than urban schools where the student population and city population mix freely. Large or Small? This factor is partially related to the private versus public question, but some private schools are very small while others are the same size as large public schools.If you think you’ll feel more comfortable in a small, close-knit community where there are more opportunities for you to hold leadership positions and make direct changes, then you should look at smaller schools first.If you prefer a place where you can be semi-anonymous and have consistent opportunities to meet new and diverse people, then you should look into larger schools. Keep in mind that schools with more students tend to have bigger party scenes and larger class sizes. Close to Home or Far Away? Some people can’t wait to get away from their families, and some are reluctant to leave.You should decide which type of student you are so that you don’t choose a school that’s too close or too far away and regret it. Being a new college student can be isolating and scary initially, especially if you're shy. You may want to be able to come home from time to time and see some familiar faces. To use another personal example, when I applied to college, I ended up deciding between Dartmouth (in New Hampshire) and Pomona (in California) as my final choices.I picked Dartmouth because I knew it would be too hard for me to be across the country from my friends and family in Massachusetts (even though Pomona would have had perfect weather, and you can go to the beach and go skiing in the same day there...oh God what have I done). In all seriousness though, I know this was the right choice for me because I wasn't ready to be totally on my own yet. If you don’t deal very well with change and you want to be able to visit home more than a couple of times a year, you should look into schools that are closer to your hometown. Wanting your parents to do your laundry is not a valid reason for going to college close to home. Plus, based on this picture I think the portal to Narnia relocated to a laundromat dryer, so that's something to look forward to. Narrowing it Down Part II: Going Deeper Now that you have a vague idea of which type of school you’d like to attend, you can examine other factors that might impact your decision on whether or not to apply.I’ll go over how to find this information in the next section on researching colleges. For now you can just start brainstorming which of these factors are are most important to you. Write down your thoughts so you can use them to guide your search later. Academic Environment What is the attitude towards academics, and will it match up with your personality?This is mostly just a matter of looking at how selective the school is and what types of students attend.What are the GPA and standardized testing stats for students who were accepted? Based on this, do you have a shot at admission? This is also where you might consult student reviews about the quality of classes and teaching.Is there a focus on undergraduates? In some cases, classes are taught by TAs rather than professors (this often happens at large research universities).If getting individual attention and having a strong relationship with your professors is important to you, you might consider a college where professors are more focused on teaching. What about facilities such as libraries, computer labs, and art studios? Make sure you’ll have all the resources you need to pursue your interests. You can find out more about these types of resources on school websites or through one of the sources I'll discuss in the next section. Program Strengths If you know of a specific program that you’re interested in, look for schools that have strong offerings in that area. As I mentioned before, most colleges have websites for each academic department, so you can consult these in your search. You will also be able to sort schools by major offerings in many online databases. If you're still undecided, you don't have to target your search toward specific programs. Instead, try to seek out schools that offer many different majors or provide a holistic liberal arts education so that you can explore various subjects more thoroughly before making a final decision. Social Life What’s the social scene like at the school?You might not want to go to a college that’s dominated by frat parties or one that’s all studying all the time.To find out what schools are like in this respect, you can look at student reviews on the social life and party scene. These factors are rated in most college databases. Some good places to start for information on social life are Zinch and Unigo, which give grades and ratings for campus life based on student reviews. Cappex, which is my top recommendation for a college search site, also has a ton of student reviews on topics like greek life and overall student happiness. Food I’m not gonna lie, this was one of my most important criteria for choosing a college.If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, make sure there will be enough options. I visited some colleges that my high school friends attended where I would have had to survive on cheese pizza and iceberg lettuce as a vegetarian (and I am NOT a picky eater). You have to meet your basic survival needs before you can learn properly, so check out student reviews about campus dining to see whether the meal plan sounds good. Athletics Do you plan on playing sports? Are there opportunities to play intramural or club sports if you’re not on a varsity team?Check out the gyms and athletic facilities for different schools. Most will have separate websites devoted to these facilities and athletics in general. There should be lists of club and intramural sports as well as details about the resources offered by athletic facilities. You can also look at reviews on student life to see if people seem to be enthusiastic about sports and fitness overall. Look for a place where there's a community of people who share your interests. Maybe there are informal clubs that are sports-oriented but are more for fun than for competition. Check out lists of student organizations and see what comes up! Extracurriculars If there are extracurricular activities that you’re currently invested in, make sure you’ll be able to continue them in college.You should also check if there are any extracurricular opportunities that sound cool to you that you haven’t tried before. Most schools will have listings of their student clubs and organizations online, so if you think you're interested in a college, you should check out the offerings. Study Abroad Most schools have study abroad programs now, but you might find that there’s a specific programthat appeals to you more than others.If there’s a place you want to go and you know a school has a well-reviewed program that travels there, you might consider this as a factor in your choice. School websites usually have a section that's devoted to their study abroad programs, since this can be a big selling point for students.Exciting opportunities to experience the world abroad could impact your decision about including a school in your list. Diversity Do you want to meet people from diverse backgrounds who have a variety of different life experiences?This usually goes hand in hand with attending a larger school, but sometimes smaller schools are surprisingly diverse. Most college information sites will give statistics about student ethnicity and percentages of international students. Another factor to consider here is the male/female ratio of a school (if you're even planning on attending a co-ed school). Some schools have very skewed ratios, although many are evenly balanced. This is another statistic you will find on almost every college information page on the internet. Cost Don’t rule out any schools because of cost yet, but this is definitely something to consider.Look for colleges that have strong merit-based aid programs and/or guarantee that they will meet all financial need, and consult statistics on financial aid. These stats might not mean that much for you individually, but many schools have financial aid calculators available online that can help you understand what to expect. Check out scholarships to supplement your financial aid using Fastweb, a site where you can get matched up with the best scholarships for your situation. Other Is there something else that’s important to you that I didn’t list? That’s great!If there's a special quality that you value but isn't related to any of the categories above, it’s still a valid reason for either eliminating a school or considering it as one of your choices. Juggling club: The ultimate passport to social acceptance in college College Research Tips How can you weed through all of this information to find schools that fit your priorities? There are tons of resources out there, so you might not know where to start.Rankings aren’t always the most reliable because they usually just list off name brand schools that don't always make sense for your criteria. The best way to narrow down your search is to go online and use a college matching service.There are some great resources for students that will conduct very specific searches to help you find your ideal college matches.My top recommendation is Cappex. Cappex has pretty much every feature you can imagine to help you sort through the huge piles of statistics and arrive at logical conclusions about which schools will be your best bets.You should fill out a free profile, which will ask you basic questions about your preferences based on most of the major factors I listed earlier.Try to be as thorough as possible so you get the best matches! Cappex will suggest schools based on your preferences, and on each school’s page you can look at â€Å"Your Fit†. This is a meter (pictured below) that gives you a percent match based on how well the school’s offerings align with what you’re looking for: The site will point to schools that line up with your basic criteria, and you can look more closely at their detailed info pages to see if they have other qualities that interest you. Check out student reviews to see what people really think of the school, or look at one of the other categories on the side bar to get a better idea of the surrounding community, admissions requirements, and academic offerings. When you find schools that you like, you can add them to your college list, a feature attached to your profile that allows you to save schools that strike your fancy. The site also allows you to compare schools on your list against each other by putting their stats side by side.This makes it easier to choose between two similar schools.Cappex takes you straight through to the application process by providing a link to the application page for each school on your list and telling you which ones accept the common application.You can even check your chances of admission to each school to see whether it’s a reach, a possible, a probable, or a solid bet for you. This will be important in balancing out your list of schools later. Other sites that you may consult for more easily digestible student reviews and grades on different aspects of student life are Zinch, Niche, and Unigo. Cappex is the best place to make a list of schools, but remember that if you don't find the information you're looking for in the school profile, you can look elsewhere (on the school's main website or at other college search sites). You may consider purchasing a college guidebook if you want to supplement your online search, although at this point guidebooks probably aren't necessary considering the amount information that’s available online.If you’re still interested in getting one, the two main guidebooks I would recommend are theCollege Board’s College Handbook andthe Fiske Guide to Colleges.The College Board's College Handbook has all the stats for colleges, so it’s more of an objective look at the facts about each school. The Fiske Guide to Colleges gives you a more subjective look at colleges. It uses student responses about their experiences to write an essay about each college that touches on all its main qualities.This can be a lot more fun to read and easier to digest than a book of statistics, but there is also inevitably a lot of bias in student testimony.It will still give you some good facts, though, and you’ll have a more holistic look at the personality of each college. If you have the opportunity,take advantage of events at your school or in your area such as college fairs or college representative visits to find out more about colleges.Keep in mind that this is more useful after you’ve already pinpointed some top choices.These events may not give you all the information that you’re looking for, and students often walk away with a bias that’s based on whether you liked the person you talked to rather than whether the school is actually right for you. Overall, be wary of rankings and blanket statements about schools. Your college search is all about what's important to you, so don’t prioritize things that are only important to someone else! They may seem warm and fuzzy, but blankets will only fill your head with LIES. Making Your College List When you decide on your final list of colleges, you should be considering schools that exist across a fairly wide range of selectivity and cost. Think about priorities versus preference. You might have a preference for one quality in a school, but it won't make or break the experience.What are the MOST IMPORTANT qualities that need to be present for you to get the most out of college?Make a list of your top 5-10 requirements for a college based on the qualities listed in the sections above and your self assessment. Factors to Consider: Public or private Setting (urban or rural) Size Location (close to home or far away) Academic climate Academic programs Quality of social life Athletics Extracurricular opportunities Study abroad Diversity of student body Cost/financial aid generosity Any other stuff that is important to you! Using Cappex or another research tool of your choice and your own list of priorities, make a list of fifteen or so schools that you believe are good fits for you.Again, in this process, start with the big priorities. You can sort schools by location and major availability on Cappex, and for any school that’s suggested to you you’ll get a small panel of statistics that indicates the cost, location, and size of the school. Once a school fits the basic criteria, you can start looking at the other factors I mentioned based on statistics in the school’s full profile.There may be many schools that have the right location, major options, and price range, but they all have subtle differences.If you make a large list of schools at first and are having a hard time differentiating between them, try the tool that allows you to compare school statistics side by side so you can see if there are any discrepancies you may have missed. Looking at the student reviews can also be helpful in sorting out which school sounds like a better fit for you.Even if two schools look similar on paper, they may be different in that one has a stronger sense of community or students are overall more engaged in learning. These are things you’ll only learn from the students themselves. Now it’s time to balance your list so that you have a nice range of schools, whichmeans evaluating admissions statistics in relation to your qualifications. Schools Fall into Four Different Categories: 1. Reach:You would really really like to go to this school, but your chances of being accepted are small. 2. Possible:Your chances of being rejected are higher than being accepted, but the school does accept some students with your credentials. 3. Probable:Your chances of being accepted are higher than your chances of being rejected. 4. Solid:You will almost certainly get in. The school rarely rejects students with your credentials. Include at least one solid school, one probable or possible school, and one reach school in your final list. Note thatIvy Leagues and other schools with admissions rates of less than 15% are reaches for all students, even those with a 4.0 and perfect test scores. To figure out your chances of acceptance manually, look up the SAT/ACT score and GPA ranges for the schools on your list. Most schools provide a range for the middle 50% of SAT/ACT scores for accepted applicants. If you scored significantly higher than the high point of that range, then that school can be considered probable or solid. The same applies to GPA statistics. If your GPA is in the top reported range for the latest class at the college, you’re likely to be accepted.Cappex also will give you your chances of admission at each school if you fill out a profile with your scores and GPA, so you don't necessarily have do all of this legwork yourself. If cost is a significant factor for you, don’t rule out any schools based on them being â€Å"too expensive† yet.Start researching which schools offer the best financial aid packages.Often, college websites include financial aid calculators and provide details about their merit-based aid and grant programs. For research on cost, including financial aid, scholarships, and loans, I would recommend creating a profile on Fastweb.It provides an easy way to search for scholarships that match your needs and includes a search feature for loans as well as a guide to figuring out your financial aid. It's the best place to go for college monetary concerns. By this time, you'll have a list of schools that align with your needs and goals, and you can start planning college visits and putting together the different components of your application! Amherst College...what are they REALLY hiding behind all those trees? You'll have to visit to find out. Summary The most first thing you should do when deciding where to apply to college isassess your preferences and personality so you can find schools that suit you well.There are many different factors to take into account when choosing colleges, including location, size, cost, academic programs, and various other opportunities.You can use online resources, college guides, or events like college fairs to conduct your research. I would recommend online resources first as the simplest way to sort through your options. Keep your personal preferences in mind at all times, and avoid being pushed by rankings or prestige towards a school that isn’t a great fit for you.Then, make a list of schools that you think you’ll like. Try to narrow it down by balancing your list based on selectivity and cost. The Steps for Choosing Colleges: 1. Do a self-assessment2. Consider broad factors that might affect your choice3. Consider more specific factors that might affect your choice4. Research schools5. Make a list of schools based on your top priorities6. Narrow down the list so that you have a balance that includes at least one solid, one probable or possible, and one reach school If you’re honest with yourself and do some serious research, you’ll end up with a list of amazing schools that offer all the opportunities you're looking for in your next academic journey. What's Next? Have you set your sights on the top colleges in the nation? Read this article for advice on how to get accepted to Harvard and other Ivy League schools. If you're worried about getting into college at all, read this article on the easiest schools to get into. Worried about choosing a major on your college applications? Learn how to navigate the process and make an informed decision. If you're planning your college essay, read this advice onwhat to avoid in your writing. Your SAT/ACT score is really important for getting into college. Find out how high of an SAT or ACT score you need for admission to your top choice schools. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Project 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project 3 - Essay Example (Module 3, p 2). As stated in Module 3, a competency is â€Å"a collection of related knowledge, abilities, skills and/or attitudes (KASAs) that collectively produce a desired level of performance in a given area of responsibility† (p. 5-6). The paper will discuss competency and metrics for the six different roles mentioned above in relation to the organization I work for. It will explain the nature of the role and focus on the performance deliverables and areas of improvement, which in turn enables in reaching the organization’s goals. HR Competency model. Employee retention, satisfaction and growth have always received high priority in my organization primarily because of the huge manpower required to sustain business. The work force is divided in terms of the service provided for various clients and each division reports to a line manager. The functions of a HR employee are extremely challenging and offer enormous scope for growth and innovation, commanding expertise and discipline in every action. The six roles mentioned above are discussed with competencies, challenges and deliverables below. Employee Advocate: The Dell services division of the organization has 600 employees under its wing, provides online, and voice support to Dell’s customers. My role as an employee advocate in this program expects me to know the interests of the employees and communicate the same to the management. My role here is to provide a clear alignment between the employee and the organizations goals and objectives. Assist employees wherever necessary to help maintain their value to the program and effectively communicate changes in the organization brought about for the best interest of the employee and organization. The communication of the change in shifts and the new incentive calculator for the employees has been my recent challenge. I have effectively managed to even out the differences by an opinion poll, which gave the

Proposal to determine if standardized testing is an effective method Research

To determine if standardized testing is an effective method to measure student learning - Research Proposal Example Application of the SAT test later extended to evaluation for entry into colleges and universities, becoming popular among the institutions. The tests are however not limited to application for entry purposes into colleges and universities, as use of common standards in the education curriculum requires standardized tests for evaluating students. While standardized testing may offer a basis for evaluation, consideration of such factors as disabilities and special needs undermine the equal opportunity concept. Disparities in environmental factors are also threats to standardized tests. A study, for example, noted that students may perform poorly in a standardized test that is developed in a foreign environment with such factors as language barriers being significant (Wood, Eichner-LeFrank, Wood, S., and Braus, n.d.). Standardized tests are used to evaluation students’ intelligence for grading and comparison with other students. While need for equal opportunities is one of the reasons for standardized tests, allowing for evaluation on the same baseline, differences in potentials, some of which may be induced by natural factors, undermine the fairness objective. Relative significance of the factors to performance in mathematics identifies the need to understand effectiveness of standardized tests in understanding students’ potentials in mathematics. Mathematics, according to Claro, Cabello, San Martin, and Nussbaum (2015), is more sensitive to environmental factors than reading is and this suggests difference in effectiveness of standard tests between the two. Economic, social, and cultural statuses, among students from Chile, have greater effects on mathematics skills than on reading skill and this means that the factors influences effectiveness of standardized tests for mathematics among the students and others. Students with similar level of competence in

European Competition Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

European Competition Law - Essay Example d in which the conditions of competition are sufficiently homogeneous†. (Europa, 2007) The SSNIP test (Small but Significant and Non-transitory Increase in Price) is an important criterion in relation to abuse of dominance and mergers. The commission formally adopted SSNIP in 1997 EU Commission Notice on Market Definition. Camesasca et al state that the notice refers to theoretical insights gained in industrial economics and mentions a range of econometric techniques helpful in delineating the relevant market.   Therefore, primarily it is important to decide whether the undertaking is dominant or not. The question of dominance hinges on several factors and the interpretation of the facts available under the specific circumstances. It was held in United Brands Company and United Brands Continental BV v Commission of the European Communities, â€Å"The dominant position referred to in Article 86 relates to a position of economic strength enjoyed by an undertaking which enables to prevent effective competition†¦In general a dominant position derives from a combination of several factors, which taken separately, are not necessarily determinative† (Eur-Lex, 1978), and thus it connotes wide meaning and interpretation. Vatiero states that â€Å"In competition law the dominant position is accepted, that is, an undertaking having a dominant position is not itself a recrimination†. The policy underlining the law is with reference to the power to behave independent of its competitors to an appreciable extent. For instance, an undertaking cannot stop supplying a long standing customer under some pretext or other as this conduct is inconsistent with Article 3(F) of the treaty and paragraph B and C of Article 86 with in respect prejudicial or discriminatory treatment. Chamberlin (1962, p.61) states that both patents and trade-marks may be conceived of as monopoly elements of the goods to which they are attached. It is also necessary to consider the shift in policy towards conflicting interests arising out of the rights over patents or trade-marks and competition. Entry barriers constitute as major stumbling block in promoting competition, which may result into monopoly. Papasava (2004) states, â€Å"The Chicago school perceives†¦that a true barrier to entry is a cost to new entrants which was not applicable to the existing market operators when they entered the market† The monopoly with reference to the pricing depends upon the elasticity of the demand for the product as well as the substitutes available. â€Å" †¦ Monopoly may not equate to an economic monopoly if the relevant market is wider than the protected market. However, the fact that access to a market is protected by intellectual property rights may be relevant as a factor

Deriving a Utopia from Dystopia in Nineteen Eighty-Four Essay - 1

Deriving a Utopia from Dystopia in Nineteen Eighty-Four - Essay Example The argument is placed in deriving utopia from a system of dystopia. In a society that has achieved utopia, the will of the people prevail, and their actions is governed by their opinions, as they are comfortable with the decisions made (The Greenwood Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy 223). However, the state of dystopia has threatened the prevalence of a stable society. This is evident in the desire of the ruling opinions to exert their rule on the society that desires freedom. The ruling party, through Big Brother, proves to be an example of a dystopia system that limits the freedom of Winston Smith. He believes that there is the need to be expressive on the community and achieve a system where power is delegated upon the people, who hold the majority of decision-making process. Although there is limited progress in dystopia, nineteen eighty-four proves that, from the system, there can be an achievable form of utopia. The ruling party has declared a system that limits the freedom of individuals within the society and checks on the actions issued through monitoring behavior in screens. The member of their party in Winston has been used to highlight the limited freedom available in Oceania. The limited freedom that has been imposed upon the people has been highlighted in the form that the citizens are closely monitored to reduce the justice system. Orwell develops the plot to suggest that the system introduced within the society fails to allow expression. Of the greatest example of injustice issued, the people of Oceania are not allowed to be rebellious and the thought is termed illegal. The rule of the leading party should prevail without witnessing a resistance in the societal members. Winston explains that he recent the system imposed within the Oceania society. The people are not allowed to express their opinions freely, limited sex

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 220

Assignment Example In particular, the responsibilities and roles of Congress and the Executive Branch in matters relating to defense acquisition, have been an eye opener (Kramer, 2012). In addition, I have come to appreciate the role played by Congress in matters of defense and particularly its role in determining whether the U.S goes to war and if it does, the amount to be set aside for defense in the budget. I have been able to have a deeper comprehension of the Budget and its influence on not only the military, but also on other sectors of the economy which has made me realize the importance of the Presidency. Since the President sets the agenda for the country, I have come to realize that big differences in the military can be altered by an individual winning the presidency. The influence of the presidency cannot be understated and this has made me have a deeper appreciation for national politics, since they have a great impact on policy. A lot of times, people overuse the term life-changing experience, but I am certainly not one of those people. The work and discussions held in class have indeed made me a better student and a far more informed individual. For instance, I now comprehend that masculinity and machismo in the military is not how wars are won, but through logistical planning and management which is aided by technology. According to Barrington et al., the role of technology in the military cannot be ignored any longer. The use of drones and other computerized airstrikes are what sets the U.S from all the other countries in the world. Our military supremacy is primarily due to our strong economy and our superior logistics warfare management. As indicated, the role of the U.S economy is fundamental to the success of the military. A closer analysis of this role has been informative and particularly the relationship between the impacts of the U.S economy on