Gap, Inc. Financial Analysis

The GAP, Inc. The Fiscal year Ended January 28, 2012 A. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 1. Financial Statements Included in the Annual Report 2. 1. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow 2. Major Competitors of the GAP, Inc. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. , J. Crew Group, Inc. , and the TJX Companies, Inc. can be shown as the major competitors for the GAP, Inc. Based on the data given in annual reports of the companies, gross margin % for GAP, Inc. is 36%, while American Eagle Outfitters has 36%, J. Grew Group, Inc. as 40%, and TJX has 32% gross margin. Stock price on November 2, 2012 is $35. 11 for the GAP, Inc. , while it is $21. 05 for American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. , $43. 55 for J. Crew Group, Inc. , and $41. 52 for the TJX Companies, Inc. Debt-to-equity ratio is the total debt divided by total shareholder’s equity and this ratio is a measure of company solvency and its ability to meet its short- and long term obligations. For the major competitors of the GAP, Inc. this ratio ca lculated as below: 3. Auditing Firm of the GAP, Inc.Deloitte & Touche LLP have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of the GAP, Inc. and the other financial statements which are the consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for three years in the period ended in January 28, 2012. They have also consulted the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2012. Deloitte & Touche LLP indicated that consolidated financial statements, which are given in the annual report, present fairly the financial position of The GAP, Inc. nd subsidiaries as of January 28, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in their opinion, the company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of 28 January, 2012 based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organization s of the Treadway Commission. B. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS 1. The Inventory Method The company used the weighted-average method while reviewing inventory to compile the financial statements.When using the weighted average method, the cost of goods available for sale is divided by the number of units available for sale, which yields the weighted-average cost per unit and to estimate ending inventory cost number of units in the ending inventory is multiplied by the weighted average cost per unit. 2. The Depreciation Method and Estimated Useful Lives of the Depreciable Assets Over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, the straight line method is used while computing depreciation to compile financial statements. The estimated useful life of depreciable assets is shown as below: 3.Goodwill and Intangible Assets The company reviews not only intangible assets for impairment, but also the carrying amount of goodwill annually. The goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibl e assets, including trade name, are recorded in other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheet of company as shown in Note 3: 4. The class of Stocks and Number of Shares As you can see in the consolidated balance sheet, the company has common stock with authorized 2. 3 billion shares; issued 1. 106 billion shares for all periods presented; outstanding 485 million and 588 million shares for periods presented.The company is authorized to issue 60 million shares of Class B common stock, which is convertible into shares of common stock on a share-for-share basis and no Class B shares have been issued as of January 28, 2012. The Company is also authorized to issue 30 million shares of one or more series of preferred stock, which has a par value of $0. 05 per share and no preferred share has been issued as of January 28, 2012. 5. Treasury Stock and Number of Shares Treasury Stock held by the company has 621 and 518 shares for the periods presented in the consolidated balance she et as January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011. . Dividends paid by the Company The company declared and paid dividends during the period reviewed as shown in the consolidated statements of income and it is $0. 45 in fiscal year 2011, $0. 40 in fiscal year 2010, and $0. 34 in fiscal year 2009 per share. 7. The price per share of the common stock The price per share of the common stock as of the most recent fiscal year-end date, which is January 28, 2012, is $18. 69. On the other hand, the price per share on November 3, 2012, which is the day we can see the close price before the report date, is $35. 11. 8. Generated CashThe company generated $1. 363 billion net cash by operating activities during fiscal year 2011. The amount of generated cash generated during fiscal year 2011 decreased $381 million comparing the amount generated during fiscal year 2010. Also, net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal year 2010 decreased $184 million compared with fiscal year 2009. The cas h outflows for investing activities of the company are primarily for capital expenditures and purchases of investments, whereas cash inflows are primarily provided from maturities of short-term investments.The amount of net cash used for investing activities is $454 million during the fiscal year 2011, $429 million during the fiscal year 2010 and $537 million during the fiscal year 2009, while maturities of short-term investments are $150 million, $600 million, and $125 million in fiscal year 2011, 2010 and 2009. The cash outflows from financial activities are primarily repurchases of the company’s common stock and dividend payments, while cash inflows are primarily proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt.Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt are $1. 646 billion for fiscal year 2011 and net cash used for financing activities is $602 million. 9. Ratio Analysis for the Company The current ratio is the one of the measures of company equity and it indicates the relationsh ip between current assets and current liabilities. For the company, current ratio is calculated as below: The return on sales ratio measures the company’s profitability and it indicates the relationship between net income and sales. For the company, return on sales ratio is shown below:The debt-to-equity ratio is a measure of the company’s solvency and it measures the relative proportions of financing from debt and financing from shareholders. It is calculated for the company as seen below: The return on investment ratio shows the return generated per dollar of total investment and it is calculated for the company as seen below: The return on owner’s equity ratio measures the return generated per dollar of owner’s equity and for the company the return on owner’s equity ratio is: The gross margin ratio measures the gross profit of the company’s products and for the company it is calculated as shown below:The inventory turnover measures the sp eed at which company sells its inventory. This measure is important to ensure that inventory delivered customers in a timely manner so that cash can be received by the company. Net profit margin measures also company’s profitability and it is mostly used for internal comparison. It is also an indicator of a company's pricing strategies and how well it controls costs. Profit margin for the company is: The asset turnover ratio calculates the total  revenue  for every dollar of assets a company owns and it is calculated for the company as seen below:The quick ratio is measure of a company’s ability to meet its current obligations like the current ratio and it is more reliable measurement of liquidity because it considers only assets that are quickly converted to cash as quick assets. The quick ratio for the company is: The  price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of a  share  is the market price of the share divided by the annual  earnings per share. a high P/E  ratio suggests that investors are expecting  higher earnings  growth  in the future compared to companies with a  lower P/E. Based on the price per share on January 28, 2012, the price-to-earnings ratio for the GAP, Inc. s: 10. 11. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis for the Comparative Income Statement and Balance Sheet THE GAP, INC. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (millions) Vertical and Horizontal Analysis| | |   | Financial Data|   | Vertical Analysis| Horizontal Analysis|   |   | 2011| 2010|   | 2011 (%)| 2010 (%)| $ Change| % Change| Net sales| $| 14,549| $| 14,664|   | 100. 00 | 100. 00 | (115)| (0. 78)| Cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses|   | 9,275|   | 8,775|   | 63. 75 | 59. 84 | 500 | 5. 70 | Gross profit|   | 5,274|   | 5,889|   | 36. 5 | 40. 16 | (615)| (10. 44)| Operating expenses|   | 3,836|   | 3,921|   | 26. 37 | 26. 74 | (85)| (2. 17)| Operating income|   | 1,438|   | 1,968|   | 9. 88 | 13. 42 | (530)| (26. 93)| Interest ex pense (reversal)|   | 74|   | (8)|   | 0. 51 | (0. 05)| 82 | (1025)| Interest income|   | (5)|   | (6)|   | (0. 03)| (0. 04)| 1 | (16. 67)| Income before income taxes|   | 1,369|   | 1,982|   | 9. 41 | 13. 52 | (613)| (30. 93)| Income taxes|   | 536|   | 778|   | 3. 68 | 5. 31 | (242)| (31. 11)| Net income| $| 833| $| 1,204|   | 5. 73 | 8. 21 | (371)| (30. 81)| 12. Segments reported by the company The GAP, Inc. dentified its operating segments based on the way to manage and evaluate the business activities and based on this way the company has two reportable segments: Stores and direct. The stores reportable segment has results of the retail stores for Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic which are brands of the GAP, Inc. while the direct reportable segment includes the results for the brands of the company, both domestic and international. C. MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS 1. Return on Investment for Stores and Direct Segments As it is mentioned before, retu rn on investment is calculated as net income divided by average total assets company has.While calculating return on investment each segment for the company, which are stores and direct, we need net income for these different segments and also average total assets as given financial information by reportable segments in the annual report. The operating income, depreciation and amortization expenses, purchases of property and equipment for each segment, and the effective tax rate, which is given as 39. 2% for fiscal year 2011, are used to calculate the net income for each segment. The return on investment, which is net income divided by segment assets, for the stores reportable segment is 0. 37, while it is 0. 22 for direct reportable segment. It means that the company earned $3. 7 for every $100 investment for the reportable stores segment and $22 for every $100 investment for the direct reportable segment. Calculations for the return on investment ratio are shown in the table below : 2. Residual Income Residual income (RI) is a managerial accounting measurement used to assess and compare the relative success of business units. The basic formula for calculating residual income is to multiply operating assets by the minimum required rate of return, and then subtract this value from operating income.For the stores and direct reportable segments, the residual income is: 3. Assuming that 70% of the expenses are fixed: a. Contribution Margin Contribution margin is the total sales less total variable costs at a given level of activity. For the GAP, Inc. total sales amount is $14. 549 billion during the fiscal year 2011 as seen in the consolidated statements of income, while total variable cost is $2. 782 billion, which is 30% of cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses. Based on this data, contribution margin in fiscal year 2011 is: b. Contribution Margin RatioThe contribution margin ratio is the contribution margin per unit divided by selling price per unit or cont ribution margin divided by total sales. The contribution margin ratio of the company is 0. 8088 or 80. 88% in fiscal year 2011, as you can see the calculation below: c. Break-even in Sales Dollars The break-even point in dollars can be calculated by using contribution margin ratio approach. The basic formula with this approach is fixed cost divided by contribution margin ratio for the break-even in sales dollars. The fixed cost for the company is $6. 92 billion ($9,275 * 70%) and the break-even point in dollars: : D. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL E. INVESTMENT DECISION FOR THE COMPANY There are different criteria to assess the overall performance of companies. We have discussed various perspectives to make a comprehensive evaluation for the GAP, Inc. in the previous parts of the report. While discussing nature of the investment decision, the data given before is used to explain the performance of the company for investors. Investors invest money in company’s stock expecting a return in their investment in the form of dividends or appreciation in the price of stock.From this perspective, we should evaluate the price of stock for the company and the dividends paid. As it is mentioned before, the price per share of the common stock was $18. 69 on January 28, 2012, while it is $35. 11 on November 2, 2012. The price to equity ratio is 22, assuming that the earnings per share will be the same for November 2, 2012 within fiscal year 2011, while it was only 12 on January 28, 2012. Comparing the previous data, it is possible to say that investors can expect higher earnings growth in the future, but it would not be useful for investors to use only this ratio as a basis of investment.Major competitors should also be assessed from the industry analysis perspective to decide to invest company. To compare the company performance with the major competitors, we calculated gross margin ratio and debt-to-equity ratio before. These measurements are very important to assess the si tuation of the company in industry. Although J. Crew Group, Inc. is basically higher gross margin relatively to its competitors, the GAP, Inc. has also high gross margin which is the same with another American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and higher than TJX Companies, Inc. The GAP, Inc. ’s debt-to-equity ratio is 1. 69, while it is 0. 38 for AEO, 2. 4 for JCG and 1. 83 for TJX. It means that the GAP, Inc. had $1. 69 of debt for every $1. 00 of shareholder’s equity. From this perspective, American Eagle Outfitters has lower debt for every $1. 00 of shareholders’ equity, while other competitors have more debt relatively to the GAP, Inc. We can say that debt-to-equity ratio for our company is acceptable among the companies in industry. For the evaluation of the companies based on financial statements, the analysts usually use a combination of three methods of analysis which are horizontal analysis, vertical analysis and ratio analysis as we made in the previous parts of the report.Horizontal analysis examines the changes in one financial statement item over time, while vertical analysis shows each item on a financial statement as a percentage of one particular item on the statement. Investors use the vertical analysis to evaluate the composition of the company’s financial position and earnings. As we can see in the vertical analysis, the company’s percentage of net income for fiscal year 2011 is 5. 73 while it is 8. 21 for fiscal year 2010. Investors should take this into account and compare these values with the competitors’ values to see that the situation of industry between these years.On the other hand, we can see that cash as a percentage of total assets for fiscal year 2011 is 25. 40 while it is 22. 09 for fiscal year 2010. This gives us some insight into the cash management system of the company. From the horizontal analysis perspective, the GAP, Inc. had a 30. 81 change negatively in net income, while it had 20. 76 pe rcent increase in cash and a 5. 05 increase in total assets. We can see that decreasing amount of income is the result of mostly increasing cost of goods sold and occupancy expenses. So, investors should take this into account and compare it with the company’s another competitors in the industry.Finally, ratio analysis is used to judge the company’s efficiency in using its current assets and liabilities. It is really important to see whether company is profitable or liquid for investors to decide invest on the company. Based on the current and quick ratio, we can say that company’s liquidity is enough to pay its liabilities. We measured company’s profitability by using gross margin, return on sales, return on assets, asset turnover and returns on owner’s equity and profit margin and see that company is profitable to invest and since it has almost 12% return on investment which shows us it makes sense to invest on the GAP, Inc.Investment decision is quite difficult for investors since they should asses the company from many different perspectives, we can say that the GAP, Inc. is one of the leading companies in the industry and it has a good return on investment. The changes between fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 should be taken into account by comparing with competitors and previous fiscal years. In general investors could see that the price per share of the common stock has increasing value for the company and it is profitable to invest. So, I would invest in this company, since I believe that it has a good return for investors.

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Disadvantages of Social Networking at the Workplace Research Paper

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Science of Babies Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Science of Babies - Lab Report Example It has been noted that there are some of the things which, babies are good at doing than adults. These ranges from basic statistical formulations, faster learning about the world and the environment. In contrary, adults are good in planning than babies. It is not necessary for the parents to be smart to help their children in learning, but it depends on the child. Recognition of babies can assist psychologists in finding out responses to some questions regarding imaginations, morality, love, truth and consciousness. In most cases, these things affect the way people operate  in their adult lives. It, therefore becomes of much significance to be known at the earlier stage of life.  This report has implications emanating from the complexity in which the human brain can change making it hard to have certainty. According to the above  findings, babies  should have maximum freedom  and space to play because this is the only way they  can  learn faster. There should be supportive environment with resources in place to ensure that babies have clear space to

Investment Opportunity Essay Example for Free

Investment Opportunity Essay What is the interest rate or coupon rate?   The stockbroker has already given us the answer to this and it is already very appealing. What is the bond price? The stated bond price refers to the cost of purchase or investment in the bond issue. This part of the question should also include elaboration of the yield to maturity period.   The referred yield to maturity of a bond is the expected rate of return until the bond matures. What is the bonds credit quality, its rating and is it insured? The credit rating of a bond is an initial indicator of the views of the market place considering the position of the issuer’s ability to repay interest and principle on a timely basis. It is very convenient to be aware of the type of bond you want to invest in, that is, an investment grade bond or high yield If the bond is insured, there is guarantee that the investors will be indemnified for their principal amount and interest should the Yubetchyu state default. Investors are also privileged to purchase insurance on purchases of secondary market bonds. What is the tax status? Different types of bonds have different tax status. Interest income from the United States for example is exempted from state and also local taxes. The stock broker should expound on whether the Yubetchyu state is likely to drop state and local income taxes. What is the tax break worth? There should be the ample consideration of the tax break worth. This is mostly determined by the state you are in and your income tax bracket. It is therefore advisable to consult from financial professionals before investing in areas carrying out tax implications. What is the actual yield after my broker has taken his commission and fees? Calculations of the total yield should be done with relevance to deductions. It is calculated as follows:   Annual Interest à · Price = Yield, this however does not reflect fees charged on the brokers commission or the overall transaction. This is rather calculated as a percentage of the sales. What is the transaction type of the bond? Before purchasing a bond, it is important to know whether the bond is being offered for the first time or not. New issue bonds are more likely to prove difficult to invest in since the competition is against institutions and professional investors. Finally how credible is my advisor? Is he a registered one and if so, how long has he been working in the field of investing in bonds for clients. By asking these questions, you determine what kind of investment advisor you are associating with.

he cost associated with running Essay Example for Free

he cost associated with running Essay Candidates should be limited on the amount of money they can spend during a campaign. The cost associated with running for public office is expensive, especially in the case of large national scale elections, but also in smaller local ones. The money factor discourages regular middle class individuals from running for office, often leaving the ballot seriously one sided. If spending limits were placed on campaigns, our government could represent the views and issues of the majority of Americans, rather than only those of the wealthy. Further, if candidates are given a spending limit, they are less likely to take money from supporters who will benefit or profit from a particular view. Candidates then are more likely to make choices based on the good of the community, state, or country, rather than what will bring in the most money. Although mandatory voting could produce both positive and negative outcomes, voting should be a requirement of all Americans. On one hand, forcing people who do not support any of the candidates on the ballot might lead to careless voting. Those citizens who have no knowledge of the people who are running or no interest in voting at all will most likely cast their votes simply to uphold the law. On the other hand however, if all people are required to vote, and they do so in an educated manner, the government could represent all people of our country, rather than only those who choose to vote. Additionally, if Americans are forced to vote, candidates will spend less money campaigning. The months leading up to election become a time of voicing views rather than persuading people to vote in the first place. The decreased spending will, once again, ease the chances of a candidate taking a particular stance on an issue due to the influence of those who donate to their campaign. Texas should not hold partisan elections whereby candidates run as a member of a given political party. In these elections, voters are more likely to vote based upon the party that they support in substitution to the views held by the candidate. In a state that is populated by a majority of Republicans such as Texas, a partisan election would limit the amount of Democratic candidates elected to office, resulting in a severely unbalanced government. Suddenly every public office would be held by a Republican. The only real race in a partisan election would be which Republican to vote for. Furthermore, a non partisan election calls attention to the views of the candidate on an individual level, rather than on the views of the political party to which they belong. Those who do not join parties, or who take a stance that is not supported by any party, are more likely to run for office in a non partisan election. These non partisan elections make holding an office more accessible to a wide variety of candidates, instead of only people who share similar views of Republicans or Democrats.

Market strategy and business overview of boots

Market strategy and business overview of boots Boots has also introduced new services. Boots Opticians, formed in 1987 has become one of the UKs leading chains of opticians. Insurance services and initiatives in dentistry, chiropody, Boots for Men stores and Internet services were introduced in 1999. The first Health and Beauty Experience stores, offering services such as homeopathy, osteopathy and a range of beauty treatments, were opened in autumn 2000. Boots Healthcare International exports healthcare products in more than 130 countries round the world. Boots Health and Beauty stores are now established in Ireland, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. There are eight different businesses in The Boots Company, different in size, different in type and different in their business cultures. Such diversity means that they have unrivalled career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines for people who deliver excellent performance. Boots is a learning organization, they encourage their people to strive to improve their skills and develop throughout their careers. STRATEGY MARKETING MANAGEMENT Marketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firms marketing resources and activities. Marketing managers are often responsible for influencing the level, timing, and composition of customer demand accepted definition of the term. In part, this is because the role of a marketing manager can vary significantly based on a business size, corporate culture, and industry context. For example, in a large consumer products company, the marketing manager may act as the overall general manager of his or her assigned product. From this perspective, the scope of marketing management is quite broad. The implication of such a definition is that any activity or resource the firm uses to acquire customers and manage the companys relationships with them is within the purview of marketing management. MARKETING STRATEGY Marketing strategy is a method of focusing an organizations energies and resources on a course of action which can lead to increased sales and dominance of a targeted market niche. A marketing strategy combines product development, promotion, distribution, pricing, relationship management and other elements; identifies the firms marketing goals, and explains how they will be achieved, ideally within a stated timeframe. Marketing strategy determines the choice of target market segments, positioning,  marketing mix, and allocation of resources. It is most effective when it is an integral component of overall firm strategy, defining how the organization will successfully engage customers, prospects, and competitors in the market arena.  Corporate strategies, corporate missions, and corporate goals. As the customer constitutes the source of a companys revenue, marketing strategy is closely linked with  sales. A key component of marketing strategy is often to keep marketing in line with a companys overarching  mission statement. Once the company has obtained an adequate understanding of the customer base and its own competitive position in the industry, marketing managers are able to make key strategic decisions and develop a marketing strategy designed to maximize the revenues and profits of the firm. The selected strategy may aim for any of a variety of specific objectives, including optimizing short-term unit margins, revenue growth, market share, long-term profitability, or other goals. MARKETING STRATEGY OPTION: One of the key elements of a successful marketing strategy is the acknowledgment that your existing and potential customers will fall into particular  groups  or  segments, characterized by their needs. Identifying these groups and their needs through market research, and then addressing those needs  more successfully than your competitors, should be the focus of your strategy. You can then create a marketing strategy that makes the most of your strengths and matches them to the needs of the customers you want to target. For example, if a particular group of customers is looking for quality first and foremost, then any marketing activity aimed at them should draw attention to the high quality of your products or service. The benefits of a planned marketing strategy are numerous. Business owners often rely solely on their intuition to make business decisions. While this informal knowledge is important in the decision making process, it may not provide you with all the facts you need to achieve marketing results. A marketing strategy will help you in defining business goals and develop activities to achieve them. WILSON, GILLIGAN AND PEARSON in strategic management, readily admit that there is no standard definition on strategy but high lights three level of strategy. Corporate Level Strategy: Dealing with the allocation level resources thought out the entire organization, covering all of the various businesses or division. Business Level Strategy: This exits at the individual business or division level and is concerned with the question of competitive positioning. Function Level Strategy: Which is limited to the actions of specific functions within specific businesses. Boots is a member of Alliance Boots, an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group. Our purpose is to help our customers look and feel better than they ever thought possible. Our customers are at the heart of our business. Were committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare, offer innovative products only at Boots, with great value our customers love. Our people are our strength and they tell us that Boots is a great place to work. We aim to always be the employer of choice, attracting and retaining the most talented and passionate people. Market matrix: The market matrix is a tool that helps businesses to decide their product and market growth strategy. http://www.franteractive.net/resources/Ansoff-Matrix.GIF The above diagram shows market matrix also known as Ansoff product which is a series of suggested growth strategies that set the direction for the business strategy. 1. MARKET PENTRATION: (Existing market, existing products) Market penetration  is one of the four growth strategies of the  Product-Market Growth Matrix  defined by Ansoff Market penetration occurs when a company enters/penetrates a market with current products. The best way to achieve this is by gaining competitors customers (part of their market share). Other ways include attracting non-users of your product or convincing current clients to use more of your product/service (by advertising etc). Ansoff developed the  Product-Market Growth Matrix  to help firms recognise if there was any advantage of entering a market. Market penetration seeks to achieve four main objectives: Maintain and increase the market share of current products- this can be achieved by a combination of competitive pricing strategies, advertising , sales, promotion and more resources dedicated to personal selling. Secure dominance of growth market. 2.MARKET DEVELOPMENT: (New Market, Existing Products) You can grow by leveraging your product knowledge to reach new customers.   More than likely, you have spent time and money developing your product and service offering. Assuming youre happy with your current offering, extending it into new markets is a logical next step. This is aptly called a  market development strategy. If you have identified potential new markets as opportunities, use these strategies to reach them.   Here are some quick considerations to make before executing a market development strategy: Is the market attractive? (To really answer this question, I recommend some form of market research to validate your gut feeling.) Are you willing to commit the required time and resources to reach this new market? Can your business be adapted to the new market? Will you maintain your current competitive advantage in this new market? 3. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: (Existing Market, New product) New Product Development is the term used to describe the complete process of bringing a new  product service to market. There are two parallel paths involved in the NPD process: one involves the idea generation,  product design  and detail engineering; the other involves market research and  marketing analysis. Ideas for new products can be obtained from basic research using a  SWOT analysis  (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities Threats), Market and consumer trends, companys RD department, competitors, focus groups, employees, salespeople, corporate spies, trade shows, or Ethnographic discovery methods (searching for user patterns and habits) may also be used to get an insight into new product lines or product features. 4.DIVERSIFICATIONS 🙠 New Market, New Products) Diversification  is a form of corporate strategy for a company. It seeks to increase profitability through greater sales volume obtained from new products and new markets. Diversification can occur either at the business unit level or at the corporate level. At the business unit level, it is most likely to expand into a new segment of an industry which the business is already in.It is a process where a business markets new products in new markets.This is the most risky strategy because the business is moving into markets in which it has little or no experience. For a business to adopt a diversification strategy, it must have a clear idea about what it expects to gain from the strategy. SWOT analysis Strengths Price cuts are attracting customers especially in beauty and toiletries. Boots is still above high street average, despite all the short-comings being reported. Great locations, with a prime pitch on every high street. Meaning that Boots is accessible to potential customers, this is highly important when taking into account the 4 Ps. Strong labour workforce which is highly essential to every business, this could be a major tool when trying to refocus and achieve the overall objectives. The current share price is 667.0p on 8 Nov and has risen since October 28 when it was valued at 657.5p. This initiates growth in sales due to external factors such as climate change and more susceptibility to illness that this causes. Weaknesses Over diversification which has led to a loss of focus from the core operations of the business. It seems from the article in the Independent newspaper that Boots are reliant on sun cream as a star product, however the British weather is know for its instability meaning good summers are not guaranteed, this has ultimately led to a reduction in profits.  £390 million was spent on revamping the company; could this money have been spent in other areas of the business that may have been more profitable? Some customers feel that Boots is too expensive, thus suggesting price elasticity however the recent price cuts in different parts of the business might have affected the price quality reputation amongst customers, who feel this is important. 900 job cuts from head office and possibly more if finances deteriorate. This might have an adverse effect on the reputation amongst stakeholders. Opportunities Compete through head on pricing although this could be risky according to reports. Does Boots need all their chain branches? An audit and cost-benefit analysis should be conducted along with market research to identify which branches are doing the best and which areas would benefit from the store or which areas are overly concentrated with Boots stores. Therefore taking action by reducing the number of stores and focusing on improving the remainder of stores would reduce costs and provide essential capital that could be reinvested in other parts of the business. Threats Abolition of the resale price maintenance has increased competition. If internet sales of drugs continue to grow, Boots could lose a significant proportion of its market share. Changes in supply chain and systems within the company could hinder growth rate in the next 12 months. Porters 5 forces analysis Competitive rivalry The retail market is filled up with high competitors as more and more companies are trying to step into the Health Beauty industry All the other retailers have different competitive advantages. Boots reach in different stores allows it to reach large number of customers. The other factors which compete with the Boots bank is different banks and building societies Barriers for entry Barriers to entry is high due to a number of factors: Firstly, company looking to set up its business in UK requires lots of investment, brand development, which takes years to establish. Secondly, company in retail sectors are increasing, which itself means there is very less chance for any new entrances. Local knowledge is required for a new business in order to establish, which is highly difficult for new firms to replicate. Threats of Substitutes The threats for newcomers or substitutes is less, as the consumers views that as a necessity, especially in the developed world. The retail market is always trying to look around for new innovations with respect to Health Beauty products, alternative businesses. As a result of which it is difficult for substitution. The only major threat of substitute is an internal industry threat, wherein one supermarket can lap up the business of other supermarkets. Buyers power Because of the presence of too many competitors in the retail Health Beauty sector selling the same product, buyer power is high in the industry. During the time of recession consumers wants are taken into more demand, thereby increasing their power. Supplier power Suppliers in itself is huge company providing products to the supermarkets. If the products are not sold, consumer will shift loyalties, making suppliers more powerful. And also when the products do not reach the supermarket, sales do get affected hugely. C:Documents and SettingsSonyDesktopporters_five_forces_lg.gif Competitive strategy by Michael Porter PORTERS GENERIC STRATEGY: Michael Porter had argued that a companys strength depends on two headings: cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths three generic strategies result: Cost leadership Differentiation Focus Cost leadership strategy: Cost leadership is a strategy built on offering a customer a lower pirce than competitors and maintaining an advantage by ensuring the cost are lower than those of competitors. Factories are built; labor is recruited and trained in all sorts of knowledge for the lowest cost of production. In the process cost advantage is the focus. However low cost not always allows low price. Producers could price at competitive parity, other than the competitors. For example, such as Toyota, are good in producing autos at a low price, but have the brand and marketing skills. Differentiation strategy: It is a strategy that involves offering a product which is different to, is differential from, those of competitors. The advantage of the product will appeal to the whole market and not in a narrow segment. The company that succeeds in differentiation strategy often follows the internal strengths Access to scientific researchHighly skilled and creative development team.Strongly sales team with the ability to successfully communicate the perceived strengths of the products. Corporate reputation for quality and innovation. Focus: The focus strategy strives on a narrow segment and within that segment tries to achieve either a cost advantage or differentiation. A company following the focus strategy often enjoys a high degree of customer loyalty, and this in turn leads to more customer lifetime value. The focus strategy has two variants.In cost focus a firm seeks a cost advantage in its target segment, while inDifferentiation focus a firm seeks differentiation in its target segment. Cost focus exploits differences in cost behavior in some segments, while differentiation focus exploits the special needs of buyers in certain segmentsA company following narrow market focus and pursuing a focus strategy, have lower volumes of bargaining power with their suppliers.A company following differentiation focused strategy may be able to pass higher costs on to customers since close substitute products would not exist.Firms that succeed in a focus strategy are able to lead a broad range of product development strengths to a relatively narrow market segmentFinally, other focusers may be able to carve out sub-segments that they can serve even better. TASK-2 PESTLE analysis is in effect an audit of an organizations environmental influences with the purpose of using this information to guide strategic decision-making. The assumption is that if the organization is able to audit its current environment and assess potential changes, it will be better placed than its competitors to respond to changes. PESTEL ANALYSIS FOR BOOtS: PEST 1. POLITICAL FACTORS: Political factor is always affected any kind of business. The government always make changes in tax policy, labour law policy and trade restrictions. Increasing globalization, gives challenges and opportunities to Boots. Using this company can enter into new markets through partnerships. 2. ECOMOMIC FACTORS: Inflation chances are really high that if inflation occurs then the prices of each pack will rise. When a country enters an inflation stage then their money would be less worth, and companies will higher the prices, consumers have less money to spend on goods, and that will be a major blow the economy. The country might put prices higher on exports, but other countries wont buy them anymore and go find a cheaper one. Exchange rates play a very big role in the marketBecause of the food crisis all over the world, can result in the purchasing cost of the company, which in turn can increase the Health Beauty Product prices which affects the purchasing power of the consumers. Because of credit crunch, the consumers purchase power would decrease, but they would still consider that as its basic necessity.Lot of incentives is given to the consumers. This affects Boots as prices have to be reduced most of the times 3. SOCIAL FACTOR: There seems to be more attention on fresh and easy style cooking. This gives Boots an opportunity to encourage new Health Beauty Product.Recently government has given more emphasis to promote healthy eating because of the increasing obesity. As a result the consumer would move on to healthy eating which in turn will be an opportunity to Boots to stock in more of healthy Health Beauty Product and as a result of which there would be an increase in consumers number. 4. TECHNOLOGY FACTOR: The internet phenomenon seems to be growing more rapidly. Boots can use internet for its advantage. Standing in the queue system for few items in the shopping market is time consuming. By installing the self checkout machines it can reduce the queue system for which the customer would not have to wait for few items which in turn will increase the sales for Boots. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL: It should be mandatory to reduce carbon footprint and increasing energy efficiency. One of the important and ethical issues is, like sales of organic food and ethical treatment of animals, this can clearly affect Boots on various levels. This is a sensitive issue. This can be done by maintaining on the public stand and environment. 6. LEGAL: As per legal the company makes sure that the product is right for the customers. They do all sorts of checks before it is brought forward to the customers.The current UK grocery market is highly regulated in many aspects, which is commonly in the developed countries. The recent inquiry by OFT could act as one example, which would potentially reduce the profitability of the supermarkets. Moreover, Trade Union would also protect employees to receive lack benefits, and this would make the grocers difficult to lay off employees. MARKET PALNNING FOR BOOTS: A  marketing plan  is a written document that details the necessary actions to achieve one or more marketing objectives. It can be for a product or  service, a  brand, or a  product line. Marketing plans cover between one and five years. A marketing plan may be part of an overall  business plan. Solid  marketing strategy  is the foundation of a well-written marketing plan. While a marketing plan contains a list of actions, a marketing plan without a sound strategic foundation is of little use. MARKETING MIX: The structure of the facts book will be designed to match the specific needs of the organization, but one simple format suggested by Malcolm McDonald may be applicable in many cases. This splits the material into three groups: Review of the marketing environment:  A study of the organizations markets, customers, competitors and the overall economic, political, cultural and technical environment; covering developing trends, as well as the current situation. Review of the detailed marketing activity:   A study of the companys  marketing mix in terms of the 7 Ps (see below) Review of the marketing system: A study of the marketing organization,  marketing research  systems and the current marketing objectives and strategies. The last of these is too frequently ignored. The marketing system itself needs to be regularly questioned, because the validity of the whole marketing plan is reliant upon the accuracy of the input from this system, and `garbage in, garbage out applies with a vengeance. 7Ps of MARKETING MIX: Once youve developed your marketing strategy, there is a Seven P Formula you should use to continually evaluate and reevaluate your business  activities. These seven are: product, price, promotion, place, packaging, positioning and people. As products, markets, customers and needs change rapidly, you must continually revisit these seven Ps to make sure youre on track and achieving the maximum results possible for you in todays marketplace. 1. PRODUCT: To begin with, develop the habit of looking at your product as though you were an outside marketing consultant brought in to help your company decide whether or not its in the right  business  at this time. Ask critical questions such as, Is your current product or service, or mix of products and services, appropriate and suitable for the market and the customers of today? 2. PRICES: The second P in the formula is price. Develop the habit of continually examining and reexamining the prices of the products and services you sell to make sure theyre still appropriate to the realities of the current market 3. PROMOTION:   The third habit in marketing and sales is to think in terms of promotion all the time. Promotion includes all the ways you tell your customers about your products or services and how you then market and sell to them. 4. PLACE: The fourth P in the marketing mix is the place where your product or service is actually sold. Develop the habit of reviewing and reflecting upon the exact location where the customer meets the salesperson. Sometimes a change in place can lead to a rapid increase in sales. 5. PACKING: The fifth element in the marketing mix is the packaging. Develop the habit of standing back and looking at every visual element in the packaging of your product or service through the eyes of a critical prospect. Remember, people form their first impression about you within the first 30 seconds of seeing you or some element of your company. Small improvements in the packaging or external appearance of your product or service can often lead to completely different reactions from your customers. 6. POSITIONING: The next P is positioning. You should develop the habit of thinking continually about how you are positioned in the hearts and minds of your customers. How do people think and talk about you when youre not present? How do people think and talk about your company? What positioning do you have in your market, in terms of the specific words people use when they describe you and your offerings to others? 7. PEOPLE: The final P of the marketing mix is people. Develop the habit of thinking in terms of the people inside and outside of your business who are responsible for every element of your sales and  marketing strategy and activities. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION: I think the current Boots Distribution Channel is very limited. The only place youll find their product is in a local Boots store . I think they should expand their channel like I have summed up earlier. I would have placed vending machines throughout whole UK, outside each super market. To survive in such a competitive market place, Boots must continue to build a strong brand in order to create a strong differentiation in the market, attract customers with a credible value proposition and to constantly engage customers in ways that would endear them to the brand and to the company My evaluation for this is that Boots is in a very good position, but if it needs to gain more customer they need to make more product, not as in output, but new products.

Epic of Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

As an epic tale of heroes and monsters, Beowulf gives its readers much excitement and adventure, but Beowulf's importance is more than just literary. It offers many insights into the beliefs and customs of seventh-century Anglo-Saxon culture. Among these insights is the Anglo-Saxon view of women and their role in society. In addition, a prominent theme in this epic is the love of a mother for her child. Good Anglo-Saxon women are peaceful and unassertive, greeting guests and serving drinks to the warriors and other men in the mead hall. It shows the role of a mother, and their love for their offspring. Grendel's mother is a strong and combative monster whom Beowulf must kill. However, her heart is filled with anger at the loss of her son at the hands of this same man. A mother who loves their child very much would do everything in their power to make sure their killer got their justice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf is one of the oldest existing poems in the English language. Originally written in Anglo-Saxon, it has been translated to give readers the opportunity to enjoy this colorful, heroic poem of England’s epic age. It has been declared as a heroic-elegiac poem because of the various characteristics it clearly possesses. An epic consists of a hero who is larger than life. Epic characters also give numerous speeches that revel something about the past or the speaker’s characteristics. Beowulf does not give many, but from those he gives, the reader leans about his character traits. The language of the epic style is an elevated, rather formal language. Similes, kennings, and many other literary techniques are used throughout the poem. Beowulf clearly contains many epic characteristics and the following essay will present the evidence needed to support this allegation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The love a mother has for her child shows when Grendel’s mother comes to avenge the death of her son at the hands of Beowulf. He was the only human being who had the skills to defeat Grendel's mother was again Beowulf, and he would not say no to another battle. However, this battle with the mother was to take place under water. He got ready and armed for the underwater fight, and accepted the sword, which Unferth handed him. Beowulf took his leave to achieve another victory, but not as confident of himself this time as he was at his first battle.

Matrix Reloaded Movie Review :: essays research papers

The Matrix: Reloaded Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Hugo Weaving, Clayton Watson, Nona Gaye, Monica Bellucci, Cornel West Director(s): Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski Screenwriter(s): Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski Filming Location(s): Australia; Chicago; San Francisco Studio: Warner Bros. Alternate Title(s): The Matrix 2 Rating: R - for sci-fi violence and some sexuality Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Sequel -------------------------------- Special Effects: The Matrix raised the bar, in terms of special effects, and kept it there for an awful long time before being topped of. Then comes The Matrix Reloaded which has once again proved the Wachowskis are undoubtable the most imaginative and innovative directors this side of Zion. The two stand out scenes come with neo kicking 100+ agents cyber punk asses and a 14 minute car chase that cost $40, 000, 000 to produce and upon seeing the movie its not hard to see why, with cars being blown up left, right and centre, death defying motorcycle stunts and a car being cut in half by an ancient samurai sword among other things. This is by far the most elaborate movie ever made and with a crew including Yuen Wo Ping, arguably the best fight choreographer in the world and the visual effects mastermind John Gaeta everyone saw it coming, but it still managed to blow away all pre-conceptions and expectations. Cinematography: Let this be a lesson to you about perseverance. One of the Wachowski's earlier movies was entitled Bound and had its original cinematographer quit because of the â€Å"very restrictive† budget. They went to a man named Bill Pope next who was more than willing to work within the budget. A few years later the when the Matrix was green-lit he became the obvious choice, not only for the original, but also for both sequels, sling-shoting him into the cinematographers hall of fame. From a continuos pan, circling one of Neo’s battles, to a tracking shot that looks like it passes through traffic, the cinematography in The Matrix Reloaded is second to none. Costumes and Make Up: Kym Barett, costume designer and regular collaborator with Baz Luhrman, she previously worked on Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge. Suggested to the Wachowski's by Bill Pope, she created the Gucci does Bondage look that The Matrix trilogy is famous for. Every punch, block, kick and swirl is dramatised and accentuated by the blank, fearless look on their face and the uniform like consistency of long flowing leather jackets and pitch black shades.

Six Dimensions of Health

Associate Level Material Six Dimensions of Health Worksheet Part 1 For each of the following six dimensions of health, list at least one characteristic, activity, belief, or attitude that reflects that dimension in your life. Provide a brief explanation with each example. Refer to Ch. 1 in the text for explanations of these dimensions. Physical health: When I am eating right exercising and getting enough rest I am less prone to illness, stress and exhaustion. When I have done these things in my life I find that I function on a daily basis a lot better.With exercise and a healthy diet you release happy endorphins which minimize stress and allow me to focus and complete task effectively. Social health: Social health reminds me of what we learned about social and academic writing, I have found they have a lot of similarities. The ones that I have noticed is that you need to be able to maintain a certain level of professionalism when interacting with certain people. , work staff and clie nts. There are certain conversations and behaviors that are not acceptable with everyone.My personal relationships with my friends and family allow me to vent about the work place or to seek personal advice that I could not get ask for in my work environment. Intellectual health: it allows me to review what has happened in the past and make a reasonable assumption of what will happen in the future. For instance, I have found that when I hire people that are in the business for 20 years they are not interested in following most likely not to follow the structure of the company; as if you hire a new person fresh they do not have any other experience.So there for I like to hire new people out of school because they can be molded to the SportClips way. Environmental health: Keeping a clean environment and not doing things that are detrimental to the environment. I do my part by doing things such as not using harsh chemicals in my daily life and recycling. Maintaining a health work envir onment for the people in interact with on a daily basis. Emotional health: To me this refers to my job and my daily life, at times I am extremely overwhelmed and I have to remember not to displace my frustrations or emotions in the wrong place.A lot of times when I get overwhelmed I get very irritable and and become discourages depending on the situation. Spiritual health: I think this is a combination of things that are backed by your faith system and religious beliefs. I was raised in a christian household and I think that these things have taught me to follow a certain value system. Your faith system should teach you to be a better person and live by a certain moral code on how you treat yourself and others. Part 2 In approximately 125 to 200 words, describe health and wellness in your own words using the ideas and concepts for each of the six dimensions of health.In my opinion health and wellness means to take care of yourself and each of these plays a major part in that. Physic al health has to do with your body, ability to fight off disease. Social has to do with your ability to successfully maintain appropriate relationships. Intellectual refers to critical thinking and your ability to analyze certain situations. Emotional has to do with how you properly express emotions. Environmental has to do with your respect for the environment around you and helping to protect it. Spirituality has to do with your values system based on your religious beliefs.

Arkansas V. Sanders

Arkansas Vs. Sanders Do you agree or disagree with the way Arkansas Vs. Sanders case was ruled? In my opinion I don’t agree with the way the Arkansas Vs. Sanders case was ruled Because they violated his rights. I understand he was transporting drugs to possibly sell them but they should have handled it in a better way. I don’t think that it was right for the police to search his property with out permission or even a warrant because it violates the 4th and 14th amendment, which clearly states that The  fourth amendment  of the U.S. Constitution provides, â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no  warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. † Ultimately, these words endeavor to protect two fundamental liberty interests – the right to privacy and freedom from arbitrary invasions.And the 14th amendment says, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, which included former slaves recently freed. In addition, it forbids states from denying any person â€Å"life, liberty or property, without due process of law† or to â€Å"deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. On April 23, 1976 officer David Isom of the little rock, Arkansas, police department received information that the suspect would be arriving at American Airlines Flight No. 1 at 4:35 that afternoon.He was also informed that the suspect who was later identified, as David Rambo would be carrying a green suitcase containing marijuana. Officer David Isom had already come in contact with the suspect before in January 1976 when he was charged with possession of marijuana. So officer Isom and 2 other police officers watched out for the suspect who arrived on time just like the in formant told them. As the suspect left the airport he was followed by officer isom and one other police officer and with help of a patrol car they pulled them over a couple blocks away from the airport.When the officer Isom approached the vehicle he asked the taxi driver to open his trunk and with out the suspects permission he searched his luggage. On October 14,1976 the case made it to the Supreme Court and the suspect David Rambo was charged with possession of marijuana and with intent to deliver. Before the trial the suspect moved to suppress the evidence that was in the suitcase, because they violated his right under the 4th and 14th amendment.On January 31, 1977 the court had another trial to suppress the evidence but they overruled it with no exception but the supreme court of Arkansas looked at the suspect conviction and that the people should have thrown out the evidence because they did not have a warrant or any permission to search his belongings but they searched it beca use there was probable cause. On recent cases like United States v. Chadwick, supra and Coolidge v. New Hampshire they went through the same thing when the police searched their belongings without a warrant so when they had there trial they over ruled the suppress motion because of probable cause.On February 3, 1977 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was fined $15,000. In rendering a decision in Sanders,  the Court concerned itself with aspects of the case comparable to United States v. Chadwick  where evidence was illegally obtained under similar circumstances. As in Chadwick police acting on probable cause opened luggage found in the trunk of a parked  car  and searched it without a warrant. The majority justices reasoned that in both cases there was no danger of law enforcement losing the luggage or its contents since the containers were under the exclusive control of the arresting officers.Thus, the Court concluded the state failed to demonstrate a need for warra nt less search of property stored in the trunk of a stopped automobile; like the vehicle in which it rode, the luggage was no longer mobile. Arresting officers had to assess the likelihood of an automobile leaving the scene at the point immediately before a search commenced. In circumstances where police had already seized the object of their interest and held it directly under their control, a search could not be conducted without a warrant.Thus, in rendering the Court's decision, the justices provided specific guidance for law enforcement and the lower courts. The Warrant Clause contained in the Fourth Amendment applies to personal luggage taken from an automobile to the same degree it applies to luggage seized in other locations Although the general principles applicable to claims of Fourth Amendment violations are well settled, litigation over requests for suppression of highly relevant evidence continues to occupy much of the attention of courts at all levels of the state and f ederal judiciary.Courts and law enforcement officials often find it difficult to discern the proper application of these principles to individual cases, because the circumstances giving rise to suppression requests can vary almost infinitely. However, an apparently small difference in the factual situation frequently is viewed as a controlling difference in determining Fourth Amendment rights. The present case presents an example. Only two Terms ago, we held that a locked footlocker could not lawfully be searched without a warrant, even though it had been loaded into the trunk of an automobile parked at a curb.United States v. Chadwick, (1977). In earlier cases, on the other hand, the Court sustained the constitutionality of warrant less searches of automobiles and their contents under what has become known as the â€Å"automobile exception† to the warrant requirement. Chambers v. Maroney (1970), Carroll v. United State (1925). We are presented with the task of determining wh ether the warrant less search of respondent's suitcase falls on the Chadwick or the Chambers/Carroll side of the Fourth Amendment line. Although in a sense this is a line-drawing process, it must be guided by established principles.

Motivation and Emotion Worksheet Essay

Discuss the following as a team and provide a brief summary of the each discussion. The word count for individual answers may vary but your responses should total 500- to 800-words for the entire worksheet. 1. Describe three approaches to motivation. Explain how each approach affects motivation. The first being instincts which are the patterns of behavior that are biologically determined rather than learned. People as well as animals are preprogrammed when born with behavioral and survival instincts. The second being incentive approach. I feel that I’m more motivated when there is some incentive involved because I know at the end of the day I am going to be rewarded for my assistance. The third would be arousal approach where each person tries to maintain a certain level of stimulation and activity to keep you consistently motivated. 2. Theorists vary on why we experience emotions. Discuss at least two different theories related to emotional experiences. Physiological theories suggest that responses within the body are responsible for emotions. Your emotional reaction is dependent upon how you interpret those physical reactions. Neurological theories states that the activity within the brain leads to emotional responses. 3. Choose one positive and one negative emotion related to being a student. Provide one example for each of how these emotions may affect your performance in class. Positive emotion from being in school would be your satisfaction on completion of a course. You give yourself the emotion of complete success. Negative for me is withdrawing a course and having to retake it. Not only in your mind do you feel like a failure but you also have to revisit that state of emotion when you’re retaking the course again. 4. Summarize two theories of intelligence. What are the benefits and drawbacks to intelligence testing? Benefits to intelligence testing can be used as a great tool when making decisions regarding which careers to pursue and which to avoid. Professional organizations can use intelligence testing to ensure that the right person is being placed in the right job. As with professors/instructors they can use it to help in identifying which and what students need that extra help. An added benefit of the partitioning of IQ tests into aptitude tests is that intelligence testing can now be used by career counselors to guide students in their future career choices. Drawbacks to intelligence testing that is limits potential for mostly students both as kids and adults. You’re also limited to the types of intelligence. A fact that I found out after doing my research was that IQ test only results in a single number as an overall score for intelligence. The test does not show an accurate result of what people’s strengths are. Two people can have the same score with very different streng ths and weaknesses.

“Ozymandias” Themes Essay

The message or theme of the poem of â€Å"Ozymandias† is that man is insignificant and his efforts are vain when compared to the forces of time and nature. Shelly expertly uses diction in the poem to portray important ideas. By encompassing time and nature into a theme Shelley brings a divine sense to the poem. To consider the issue of the power of time and nature, the poet has the narrator reporting on a meeting with a traveler from ‘an antique land’ or Egypt, who told of seeing in the desert, the remains of a vast statue. Only the legs remained standing. The trunk was missing and the shattered face lay half buried in the sand, he told that the sculptor had skillfully captured the ‘frown, the wrinkled lip, and sneer’ on the ‘shattered visage’ through ‘passions well read.’ The importance of this traveler is that of symbolism. The traveler symbolizes the power that ‘Ozymandias’ has lost in his death. In health he was one of the most powerful people alive but now it takes a wandering traveler to spread a tale of the once great king. The power of nature is well represented by this part of the poem also. ‘Ozymandias’ told his subjects to ‘look on my works; ye Mighty, and despair!’ however, thanks to the power of nature there are barely and works left to look upon at all, let alone despair upon! It can be seen that nature has destroyed his works in the quotes, ‘shattered visage’ and ‘sand, half sunk.’ Thus the major theme of the poem is reavealed. The statue is described as a â€Å"colossal wreck boundless and bare† drawing a parallel for the reason in which it was built. The condition of the stones, descriptively worded by Shelley, only emphasizes the despair drawn into the stone by the sculptor’s hand. By using words such as â€Å"frown†, â€Å"sneer†, and â€Å"mocked†, the author provides us with a slight portrait of â€Å"Ozymandias.† It gives us a picture of a powerful king with no motivation or reason to smile. The phrase ‘cold command† portrays him as a militaristic leader that has seen more death and destruction than a whole army and has come to realize that even he is not able to compete with the Almighty. Shelley’s words â€Å"lifeless†, â€Å"decay†, and â€Å"wreck† apply not only to the statue the author is describing but also to the sculptor of the statue. These words encompass his entire being, and go far into bringing â€Å"Ozymandias alive in the reader. Shelley cunningly uses Nature and time to bring in the â€Å"Mighty† one. God is the only being that has been around since time and Nature began. He represents what â€Å"Ozymandias† could not achieve and that is immortality. â€Å"Ozymandias† did however leave a mark on the world but in time even that too will be overcome by the relentless forces of Nature and time that is God. In conclusion, the main themes of the poem are nicely summed up in mans insignificance to time and nature. Shelley also puts across the idea of despair superbly through delicate and subtle use of diction.

Applications of Total Quality Management Essay Example for Free

Applications of Total Quality Management Essay Total Quality Management (TQM) is a philosophy of management that strives to make the best use of all available resources and opportunities through continuous improvement. TQM means achieving quality in terms of all functions of the enterprise. Many researchers attempted to analyze how IT and TQM can jointly add value to organizations and the purpose of this first post on TQM is to evaluate the practicality of TQM in an IT service. In this evaluation, a balance of the service management needs with the reality of bottom-line effectiveness is provided. The post also provides a list of critical success factors to consider in a change management initiative engaged by an IT service. The essence of quality is to do it right the first time, and to satisfy customer requirements every time by involving everyone in the organization. The works of Crosby and his colleagues on the evolution of TQM cut across all pervasive philosophies of management. TQM has been a key business improvement strategy since the 1970s, as it has been deemed essential for improving efficiency and competitiveness. TQM aims to achieve an overall effectiveness which is higher than the individual outputs from the sub-systems such as design, planning, production, distribution, customer focus strategy, quality tools and employee involvement. This philosophy of management strives to make the best use of all available resources and opportunities through continuous improvement. As a management philosophy, TQM makes use of particular set of principles, practices, and techniques to expand business and profits and provides a bypass to enhanced productivity by avoiding rework, rejects, waste, customer complaints, and high cost. This can be achieved by emphasizing the organization’s commitment from data-driven, problem-solving approaches to quality accruing. The five basic pillars of TQM are : a) top management commitment for quality enhancement, b) customer centric advancements of processes and building a long-lasting trustworthy relationship between the organization and the customer, c) relentless development by setting goals and deadlines, d) benchmarking with several specific tools and quality-adding techniques, and e) strengthening the employee base by concentrating at any stage of a process on quality, where customer satisfaction is stationed. Table 1 provides a summary of the key dimensions that constitute TQM. 1. Top management leadership : Top management commitment is one of the major determinants of successful TQM implementation. Top management has to be the first in applying and stimulating the TQM approach, and they have to accept the maximum responsibility for the product and service offering. Top management also has to provide the necessary leadership to motivate all employees. 2. Customer relationships : The needs of customers and consumers and their satisfaction should always be in the mind of all employees. It is necessary to identify these needs and their level of satisfaction. 3. Supplier relationships : Quality is a more important factor than price in selecting suppliers. Long-term relationship with suppliers has to be established and the company has to collaborate with suppliers to help improve the quality of products/services. 4. Workforce management : Workforce management has to be guided by the principles of: training, empowerment of workers and teamwork. Adequate plans of personnel recruitment and training have to be implemented and workers need the necessary skills to participate in the improvement process. 5. Product design process : All departments have to participate in the design process and work together to achieve a design that satisfies the requirements of the customer, which should be according to the technical, technological and cost constraints of the company. 6. Process flow management : Housekeeping along the lines of the 5S concept. Statistical and non-statistical improvement instruments should be applied as appropriate. Processes need to be mistake proof. Self-inspection undertaken using clear work instructions. The process has to be maintained under statistical control. 7. Quality data and reporting : Quality information has to be readily available and the information should be part of the visible management system. Records about quality indicators have to be kept, including scrap, rework, and cost of quality. TQM and Change Management Initiative for IT Performance : A business firm achieves world-class status when it has successfully developed operational capabilities through TQM to support the entire company in gaining a sustained overall performance over its competitors. Although there is insufficient statistical evidence to conclude significant simple relationships between TQM and IT services quality performance, many studies investigated the notion that TQM practices provide approaches to improve the economic position in the service sectors in general. Both IT and TQM had, and will continue to have a significant impact on most organizations. I only regret the lack of empirical research on the relationship between the two and how they both relate to business performance. Applications of Total Quality Management. (2016, Nov 15).

Any subject in the criminal justce systre Essay

Any subject in the criminal justce systre - Essay Example Investigation usually marks the first step for a criminal case. The police usually perform this. In this regard, when a person is accused of offense, the police are usually required to carry out investigation to gather enough evidence, among them identifying the suspect in order to support an arrest. For instance, when an individual is confronted with robbers, the victim is usually required to report the matter to the law enforcement officers, who will then begin investigation based on the information provided by the victim (Burns, 2006). Search Warrant Usually, when the investigation officers are satisfied that there is probable cause for a crime, the law enforcement officers are required to seek for a search warrant, which permits them to search the premises. A probable cause in this case referred to the standard of proof indicating that there are enough facts on the ground showing that there is enough evidence of a criminal activity in a given place. Judges usually issue the search warrant, when they are satisfied that there is indeed probable cause. This implies that if the law enforcement officers fail to show enough evidence, then the police officer may be denied the right to carry out the search. However, a search warrant may not be needed under emergencies usually referred to as exigent ‘circumstances’ (Neubauer, and Fradella, 2010). During a search, the officers may interrogate witnesses, who might have been at the scene of the alleged crime

Psychology (Clinical depression) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Psychology (Clinical depression) - Essay Example (Robinson, Berman, Neimeyer, 1990) Depression can appear at any age, but it is prevalent now among children and adolescents, especially when they are the offspring of adults with depression. It can also strike late in life and its symptoms of impaired memory, slow speech and slowed movement can be mistaken for those of senility or stroke. Psychological treatment of depression assists the depressed individual in several ways. First of all, it helps to ease the pain of depression with addressing the feelings of hopelessness that go along with depression. That supportive counseling changes the pessimistic ideas, unrealistic expectations, and critical self-evaluations that create depression and sustain it. A qualified therapist is to help the depressed person to recognize which life problems are critical, and which are minor, and to develop positive life goals, and a more positive self-assessment. At last, the problem solving therapy changes the areas of the person's life that are creating significant stress, and contributing to the depression. Here can be a good impact of behavioral therapy that is aimed to develop coping skills, or an impact of interpersonal therapy that assist in solving relationship problems. (Weissman M.M., Markowitz J.C., 1994) Unfortunately, in practice, many poorly trained therapists can't provide supportive counseling, that leads to little improvements in treating depression. Psychotherapy is said to be helpful while being a part of the overall treatment plan, because, as researches show that in many cases unless the depressed person with the assistance of a therapist makes critical life changes, the depression still continues. This is explained by the fact of existence of internal and external changes, when internal changes are connected with problem assessment, self-evaluation, the evaluation of others, and the expectations the depressed person has for himherself, others and about life. It is an internal factor of hisher personality where there is a need to be fastidious with oneself. External changes in this case may be needed in problem solving skills, stress management, communication skills, life management skills, and the skills needed to develop and sustain relationships. (Carlson, Martin and Buskwist, 2004) They are connected with the system 'person - environment', and development of one's interaction skills with the surrounding. The length of treatment will vary due to the severity of depression, the number and kind of life problems the person has to be solved. Many people tend to experience some relief within 6 or 10 sessions, while approximately 70-80% of the treated notice improvement only within 20-30 sessions. (Simon G.E., VonKorff M., Wagner E.H., Barlow W., 1993) Treatment sessions are usually scheduled once per week, that can be a rather unsatisfactory point for those who suffer from constant problems and need to be assisted more often. Many psychiatrists now doubt if therapy and cognitive training are as effective as dugs in the treatment of depression.

IMC & Customer Satisfaction...and that i also should be the running Essay

IMC & Customer Satisfaction...and that i also should be the running head for the apa - Essay Example nce, the company would try to offer its products and services to its customers in a cost effective way, hence the advertising strategy should be such which does not lead to incurring high cost for the company and at the same time communicates to its potential target customers in an effective manner. The best way to advertise the products and services offered by Inter-Global Medicare would be the use of digital media. Digital advertising tools such as through its websites, social networking websites, search engines, e-mails, etc. could be effectively used by the company to advertise its products. This can help achieve the overall marketing goals of the organization by reducing the costs incurred on advertising and thereby adding to the profits of the company. Through by effectively utilizing digital media the company would be able to communicate with greater number of people while incurring less cost, and could thus help in boosting the sales and profitability of the company. The job of advertising the products and services of Inter-Global Medicare is not complete until and unless a measuring tool is designed which can evaluate the effectiveness of the advertising strategies employed by the organization (Wells, 1997, p. 4). Now since it is suggested that the company would use digital advertising strategies, it would be ideal for the organization to design an internet based tool that would have a response corner on all the websites where the company products and services are advertised. Whenever a consumer visits the websites and clicks on the advertisement, he would be required to give feedbacks and fill in his contact details. Analysis tools are available which can be used by the company to measure the number of customers who have actually visited its advertisements and what are their viewpoints or queries regarding the products and services offered by the company. In this way it can prove to be an effective tool for measuring the effectiveness of the a dvertising