what is pure essays

what is pure essays What are pure, rare, external, and a versatile metal? Its called platinum. Platinum is not only used for fashion or style but also used in chemical, auto catalyst, dental, electronics, jewelry, medical and petroleum. Platinums history consist of it being an ancient lost treasure. The Ancient Egyptians, pre-Incan civilizations and the Spanish conquistadors all encountered platinum. It then reemerged in the 1700s to fascinate kings and alchemists. Platinum grew in popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries and today is the precious metal of choice of rappers, movie stars and the glitterati (www.preciousplatimum.com/output/page 49/asp). In 1924 German geologist Hans Merensky discovers the worlds largest platinum deposit near Johannesburg, South Africa. During WWII it was declared as a strategic metal, and the use for jewelry making was forbidden. In the post war era however, platinums popularity is once again reborn as the passion for jewelry is rekindled. At the White Heat exhibition in New York in 1947 a number of precious platinum and diamond pieces were displayed, proving that platinum is back in vogue. Today platinum has become the precious metal of choice of the worlds glitterati, loved by stars such as Ronald Baby Williams. Platinum is paraded down the red carpet at award ceremonies. Artists such as Grammy award winner Outkast and many other rich and famous people wear it. Platinum qualities consist of it being pure. It is pure, and endows a brilliant white luster, this helps reflect the true radiance of diamonds. This is because it is generally 95 percent pure platinum. Platinum jewelry does not tarnish and it keeps its looks for a lifetime (www.preciousplatinum.com/output). Charles Lattimore from Friedmans Jewelry store at Northwoods Mall states that platinum is the least sold item at the store ...

7 Tips for Overcoming Writers Block

7 Tips for Overcoming Writers Block 7 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block 7 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block By Mark Nichol A would-be teacher was assigned to tutor a boy who was not just reluctant, not just resistant, but actually hostile to reading. The first day, the tutor took the boy aside and asked him to read the first sentence of a book. The boy did so, slowly, haltingly, but he reached the end without much difficulty. Before he had a chance to throw up his hands and go into his â€Å"I can’t read!† act, however, the tutor stopped him, thanked him, and brought him back to his classroom. The next day, the student was permitted to read only two or three sentences before his tutor stopped him. This pattern continued for only a few days before the boy asked to be able to continue reading. What is this, the chorus-of-angels moment in a mawkish TV movie? No, it’s a true story, and it’s an intriguing idea for writers as well as readers (and the first of these seven tips): If you have writer’s block, sit down and write one sentence. One sentence. Even if you want to keep going. The next time, allow yourself two sentences. The third day, stop after three sentences. Avoid the urge to leap to an impressive word count right away. Try for 100, 200, then 300 words. Only then, after about a week, should you set a more ambitious goal. 2. Establish a consistent schedule that you fail to keep only in the case of an emergency. You have commitments and responsibilities, certainly, but if you can watch TV or surf online or exercise each day, you can write each day. Do it on your lunch hour or during your commute if you have to, but do it. 3. Commit to achieving a word count, not persevering for a certain amount of time. Try for 500 words, and then ramp up to 1,000 if you feel up to it. Those counts may not seem much, but at those rates, you can write a substantial article or a short story in a week or two, a short nonfiction book in a month, a novel in a season. (Revision is another matter, and another post.) If your writing requires ongoing research, cut the actual word count in half (and do the writing first), or set aside a given number of days a week to just fact finding. 4. Don’t rewrite until you’re done. If your project is a book, give each chapter a single pass but then move on, and don’t review it again until the entire manuscript is done. 5. There’s no law that says you have to write something in the order in which it will be read. Sketch the beginning and the end, whether it’s an essay or a novel, but tackle the parts you’re itching to get to first. But don’t evade troublesome or onerous sections by repeatedly reworking completed portions. 6. Juggle more than one project. If you weary of one article or story or book, give it a rest and run with another one for a while. 7. Remember the only readership that matters: You. Your goal is not to write the greatest article or poem for how-to guide or epic novel ever created. Your goal is to satisfy yourself. Author Toni Morrison once said, â€Å"If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.† And you must do so because you want to read it. If anybody else does, too, that’s just icing on the cake. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of HumorOne Fell Swoop5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

London Stock Exchange Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

London Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example This research objective to evaluate and present aim of the Taurus London Stock Exchange Project that is to turn stock trading paperless, with the aim of making transactions smoother and more convenient for London Stock Exchange traders. The Taurus project started in 1986 from the 'big bang', an event at which the London Stock Exchange was turned into a self-regulating operation which was overseen but not fully controlled by the Bank of England. The offshoot of this 'big bang' was that many of the restrictions that were previously placed upon the London Stock Exchange were no longer in place and the Exchange could now enforce rules, regulations and software to improve the service. The United States and Japanese Stock Exchanges were primarily electronic at this time, with the London Stock Exchange taking three to six weeks to complete a transfer and the other international exchanges providing transfers in days. The London Stock Exchange needed to move from this paper-based time-consumi ng style of trading and move onwards into the future, and this was one of the main aims of the Taurus project. Taurus (Transfer and Automated Registration of Uncertified Stock) had the aim of providing a paperless service to the London Stock Exchange and reduce the burden on those in the back office. The project had the aim to move to computerized shareholdings which would reduce both time and cost to the London Stock Exchange. ... The offshoot of this 'big bang' was that many of the restrictions that were previously placed upon the London Stock Exchange were no longer in place and the Exchange could now enforce rules, regulations and software to improve the service. The United States and Japanese Stock Exchanges were primarily electronic at this time, with the London Stock Exchange taking three to six weeks to complete a transfer and the other international exchanges providing transfers in days (Currie, 1994). The London Stock Exchange needed to move from this paper-based time-consuming style of trading and move onwards into the future, and this was one of the main aims of the Taurus project. Taurus (Transfer and Automated Registration of Uncertified Stock) had the aim of providing a paperless service to the London Stock Exchange and reduce the burden on those in the back office (Bergman et al, 2002). The project had the aim to move to computerized shareholdings which would reduce both time and cost to the Lon don Stock Exchange. Taurus was originally planned to be a software database containing a computerized database of all the investors and shareholders plus their stocks and holdings that operated through the London Stock Exchange as a central operator (Keil et al, 2002). The ownership of stocks would be as simple as an entry into this database, something which is represented by the stock markets of today. There were several aims of the project beyond those mentioned above. Firstly, the movement to a paperless system would remove the need for countless jobs and resources and could potentially have saved the London Stock Exchange millions of pounds. This movement was backed by several prominent economists and politicians of the day, as well as by those residing in the City

Critically evaluate different models of corporate governance. What Essay

Critically evaluate different models of corporate governance. What implications do these models have for meeting the growing de - Essay Example Models of corporate governance The difference of contexts, in which the governance is made, brings variations in corporate governance model. It is not a single rigid structure that might describe the pattern of corporate governance in every country in the world (Morck, Wolfenzon and Yeung, 2005). There are three distinguished models of corporate governance: The Anglo-US Model Equity financing is commonly used as a technique of raising capital by private corporations in the US and the US. By virtue of this practice, the US is known for having the world’s largest capital market. A causal relationship exists between equity financing and the size of capital market which affects the development process of Anglo-US corporate governance system. The important participants in the Anglo-US model are the board of directors and the shareholders or institutional investors. Government agencies and other regulatory organizations also form a part of corporate governance model. ... Japanese model The Japanese model exhibits high stock ownership by private companies and banks. In this model, a banking system is characterized by strong and long-term links with corporations operating with the banking system. Equity financing holds an important position in the workings of Japanese corporations. However, the major shareholders in these corporations are the insiders and their affiliates. In this model, interests of the outsiders are marginal. A very small percentage of Japanese stocks are owned by foreign investors. In Japanese corporate governance, as contrasted with Anglo-US model, non-affiliated shareholders do not have a concrete position. Hence, truly independent directors, representing the outside (or foreign) shareholders, are present in very few numbers (Li, et al., 2012). Figure 2: Open-ended hexagon (Source: Emergingmarketsesg, 2011) German model The German model of corporate governance differs remarkably from both the models discussed above. There are cert ain distinctive elements of the German model, which distinguish it from the other models discussed in this paper (Ahrens and Khalifa, 2013). In most German corporations a traditional preference towards bank financing is noticed over equity financing. This shows that stock market capitalization in Germany is much smaller compared to the size of German economy. In addition, individual stock ownership is also very low in Germany, which is indicative of the factor that German investors are risk averse and adopt conservative investment strategy. Corporate governance structure in the country is strong intention of preserving long term relationships among the key economic agents, i.e, the banks and private corporations (Emergingmarketsesg, 2011). The system is inclined towards

Avoiding Future Frauds with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Essay Example for Free

Avoiding Future Frauds with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Essay It is clear that the establishment of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) act in 2002 was specific to reducing future financial fraud and imposing criminal penalties for publicly traded companies. What is not clear is whether or not the act has proved to be successful in its implementation and governance. The establishment of the act and subsequent amendments are intended to protect the public from fraud in the financial accounting of publicly traded corporations. In 2002, there were opinions both for and against the effectiveness of SOX. More than a decade later, there are still opinions on both sides of the debate. Criticism of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act The effectiveness of the Sarbanes-Oxley act has been highly criticized since its inception. One of the major contentions is that the Sarbanes-Oxley act has no provisions to differentiate the requirements for small publicly traded businesses from large conglomerates (that lead and often monopolize the marketplace). Publicly traded companies that are small in size may find the costs of compliance prohibitive to the future of their business (Coustan, 2004). Critics of SOX believe that this unnecessarily reduces the number of players in a competitive marketplace. The cost of compliance can be excessive for some smaller companies. Auditing expenses cause companies to seek private investment and become privately owned (San Antonio Express-News, 2007). Ten years ago, critics expressed â€Å"fears that small, publicly listed companies might not meet internal control reporting requirements without substantial additional expense; some may have to delist because of it. It could mean only larger companies will go public† (Coustan, 2004, p. 1). In recent years, this debate continues. Critics still express concerns â€Å"that Sarbanes-Oxley is overreaching and has placed unnecessary  restrictions on corporations that have and will continue to unduly inhibit corporate performance until they are removed† (Brite, 2013). Another major contention of critics is that the costs of compliance for outweigh the benefits in an international marketplace. Those against SOX feel that the costs outweigh the benefits and speak out in public forums stating that the â€Å"Sarbanes-Oxley has burdened the US financial market with costly rules and regulations that have reduced international competitiveness† (debate.org, 2014). There are those that openly share the opinion that the implementations of regulatory overkill through the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley act â€Å"wrongfully make the innocent suffer for the guilty† (Gilmore, 2013). The reporting requirements of SOX are specific to businesses in the United States. Unlike American business, international business does not have the same requirements. â€Å"Regulatory compliance opposes economic costs on organizations and can affect their competitive advantage† (Srinivasan, 2014, p. 44). Increasing the cost for American business decreases competitive advantage in the worldwide marketplace. In addition to cost and competitive advantage, the structure of the bill has also been called into question. The Court of Appeals recently found difficulty with the wording of the amended 18 USC, citing that â€Å"paragraph (b) of the statute includes the word â€Å"knowingly† while paragraph (c) does not† (Bishop, 2013). The opinions of the Court of Appeals lends to the public opinion expressed in published CPA perspectives that â€Å"SOX was a hastily assembled bill† (Moran, 2013). Involved and cumbersome requirements cause confusion and frustration for companies attempting to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley act even more than a decade after its implementation. Companies and lawmakers alike have had difficulty over the years with the interpretation of and compliance with the act. â€Å"SOX brought about many changes to the way public companies had to operate, and there was some question as to how these would stand up over time† (Moran, 2013). Positive Aspects of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Despite complaints by critics, there are positive aspects of the Sarbanes-Oxley act that have withstood the test of time. Initial reactions have softened after smaller businesses were granted some relief in later amendments of the act. Larger businesses found that compliance with the act  increased investor confidence and contributions. In addition, the resultant increase in financial transparency has improved business relationships on many levels. First and foremost, there are many of the opinion that the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley act increased investor confidence and protection in the marketplace. â€Å"Does Sarbanes-Oxley prevent all bad actors from defrauding investors? No law could accomplish that. But it can and has deterred such activity† (Gillian, 2012, p. 1). Those in support of the Sarbanes-Oxley act agree that there is a positive side for investors and the businesses in which they invest. â€Å"A 2005 survey by the Financial Executives Research Foundation f ound that 83 percent of large company CFOs agreed that SOX had increased investor confidence, with 33 percent agreeing that it had reduced fraud† (Hanna, 2014, p. 2). With an increase in confidence and a perceived reduction of fraud, investors could more confidently make intelligent business decisions on the purchase and sale of publicly traded companies. Those on the positive side of the SOX act believe that the effects on small business have softened. Studies show that as companies become more accustomed to the costs of compliance, the expense decreases (San Antonio Express-News, 2007). In addition, the effects on smaller companies were ultimately deferred. â€Å"Audit standards also were modified in 2007, a change that reportedly reduced costs for many firms by 25 percent or more per year† (Hanna, 2014, p. 1). Although the costs of compliance decrease retained earnings, investors are more confident in the reliability of company reports (Gillian, 2012). â€Å"The cost of being a publicly traded company did cause some firms to go private, but research shows these were primarily organizations that were smaller, less liquid, and more fraud-prone† (Hanna, 2014, p. 1). These modifications of the act allowed more small businesses to remain competitive in the marketplace. Business relationships have also improved with increased transparency. The reduction of information asymmetry is a direct benefit to both the company and the investors. â€Å"Information asymmetry is a situation in which one party in a transaction has more or superior information compared to another† (Brite, 2013, p. 1). Periodic testing of internal controls required by SOX 404, increases transparency among internal and external stakeholders of the business. The American Institute of CPAs states on their website that â€Å"section 404B has led to improve financial reporting and greater  transparency† (American Institute of CPAs, 2006 – 2014). Conclusion and Opinion To evaluate the effectiveness of SOX in preventing future frauds, one must take into consideration the many different situations in which the legislation is applicable. Enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley act increases corporate responsibility and sets restrictions on auditor services. This certainly reduces the potential for fraud; however it does not eliminate it. From a business perspective, compliance is beneficial. The costs of implementing the requirements may be high; however the benefit of increased investor confidence in a publicly traded environment is higher. There are going to be situations in which fraud is inevitable. Fraudulent wrongdoers and companies will find loopholes and the recent Court of Appeals case is evidence of that fact. As with any law, this regulation will reduce the frequency of, but not prevent, purposeful future criminal activity. References American Institute of CPAs. (2006 – 2014). Section 404B of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Retrieved from AICPA: American Institute of CPAs: http://www.aicpa.org/advocacy/issues/pages/section404bofSOX.aspx Bishop, K. (2013, June six). Grand Theft Auto Meets the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Retrieved from California Corporate and Securities Law: http://calcorporatelaw.com/2013/06/grand-theft-auto-meets-the-sarbanes-oxley-act/ Brite, C. (2013, June 30). Is Sarbanes-Oxley a Failing Law? Retrieved from University Of Chicago Undergraduate Law Review: http://uculr.com/articles/2013/6/30/is-sarbanes-oxley-a-failing-law Coustan, H. L. (2004, February). Sarbanes-Oxley: What It Means to the Marketplace. Retrieved from Journal of Accountancy: http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/2004/Feb/SarbaneSOXleyWhatItMeansToTheMarketplace.htm debate.org. (2014). Do you believe the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has failed? Retrieved from debate.org: http://www.debate.org/opinions/do-you-believe-the-sarbanes-oxley-act -has-failed Gillian, K. (2012, July 24). It Enhanced Investor Protection. Retrieved from nytimes.com: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/24/has-sarbanes-oxley-failed/sar

Isaiah Berlin’s Two Concepts of Liberty Essay -- Politics Political Es

Isaiah Berlin’s Two Concepts of Liberty In his article "Two Concepts of Liberty", Isaiah Berlin identifies and contrasts the two components of freedom: negative and positive liberty. While the author’s voice is often confused amidst the frequent references to other political philosophies from Platonic to Millian theories, Berlin successfully argues that both of these notions can be misconstrued to the point where liberty itself is sacrificed. Although reasonable, Berlin’s assessment of the two concepts seems artificial and effortlessly simple, as if freedom could be defined according to a rubric; one can, however, agree with his statement that absolute freedom for one individual undoubtedly limit’s the freedom of another. Positive liberty, in the simplest sense, is freedom to, answering the question "Who governs me?"; it is the liberty of self-government. Negative liberty, on the other hand, is freedom from, and answers the question "How far does government interfere with me?"; it is the liberty of limited control by government. According to Berlin, negative liberty is freedom from interference from others; the larger the range of non-interference, the greater one’s negative liberty. As no individual’s actions are committed in a vacuum and will always indirectly affect others, this liberty must be reasonably restricted for the sake of other values, such as equality and justice. As an extension in one’s negative liberty reduces that of another, Berlin states that negative liberty ought to be restricted by law in order for every individual to enjoy it at a minimum. The author reasons that maximum negative liberty could only be feasible in a utopia where all individuals are wholly rational, and where the wishes of all su... ... same. Unfortunately the author never presents a wholly sound distinction between negative and positive liberty, as each negative liberty can logically render itself a positive one. Berlin’s final arguments suggest pluralism, highlighting that there is no single compatible goal or ideal uniform to all individuals; Berlin is clear that a strict minimum of negative liberty is necessary. His estimations of such implications of liberty are both logical and convincing: that an intrusion on the rights of others will always occur in the case of one’s heightened liberty, and that any endeavour to broaden one’s liberty would require the restructuring of the definition of freedom itself. Liberty, according to Berlin, is not committed to democracy; thus, just as authority must be limited for liberty to subsist, so must liberty be restrained for it to be of any significance.

Education system Essay

Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment Nowadays almost every country is concerned about developing education system as it can lead to economic growth and individual prosperity. However, substantial amounts of money spent on education not always affect country successfully. Therefore the negative side like unemployment is important to consider. The key problem for many young people is that after graduation they have no possibility to find a job. Furthermore, if only high cost qualification opens doors to better job, families from poorer backgrounds can hardly improve their lives. Otherwise qualification can be powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality. In that case, the country must promote opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There are some places in the world, where not everyone has an opportunity to receive formal type of education. In fact, children have to help their parents in factories or do farm work. In other words, some young people can not choose learning even if they want it. It is clearly seen that nations with high standard of living always provide great circumstances to attain desirable education. It seems like the only way for poorer countries to improve their process of economic growth is to pay a lot of attention to development of education system. Moreover, they must be interested in every citizen. The authorities should be interested in every citizen ensuring equal opportunities to gain knowledge. In conclusion, learning and knowledge is a big investment in the future provided that other aspects of life are considered. National well-being is closely linked to education attainment

Canon strategic analysis case study Essay

This report examines the competitive strategy that enabled the â€Å"camera company from Japan†1 not only to break down the monopoly enjoyed by Xerox in the copier business in the 1970s but also to grow into a highly diversified, multi-product and multinational premier company. Specifically, the report considers (1) the competitive strategy of Canon (2) the major resources and capabilities of Canon (3) management of the development and transfer of capabilities throughout the organisation (4) Canon’s strategic perspective (5) is Canon successful? (6) conclusion and key learning points Competitive strategy The dominant generic competitive strategy adopted by Canon is differentiation. The company deployed its technological capabilities and know-how in fine optics, precision mechanics, microelectronics and fine chemicals to develop innovative and state-of-the-art products, which were of better quality than those of its competitors. These products resulted mainly from the strong, decentralised research facilities of the company and the incredible ability of its engineers to convert research findings to new products and technological innovation. Although Canon succeeded in manufacturing products at low cost, it did not deliberately compete on the basis of low price. The quality of its products combined with significant amount of marketing and deliberate brand development efforts have established a sound reputation for Canon in the market and these underlie the competitive advantage of Canon. Resources and capabilities The major resources of Canon are as follows: (1) Financial capacity: product innovation and attendant growth in sales and profits enabled provided Canon with the finance required for additional research and product development which resulted in further increases in revenue in a virtuous cycle. (ii) Decentralised R&D and new product development: in addition to the company’s main research centre which supports state-of-the-art research in optics, electronics, new materials and information technology, each product division has development centres (manned by its own R&D personnel) where 80% to 90% of the company’s patentable inventions are discovered. Three corporate research centres are responsible for applying the research findings to new products development. The company also introduced programmes to reduce the time for taking new technology to market by 50%. Innovative products provide the company with competitive advantage through new sales and patents, which serve as entry barriers to competitors. (iii) Marketing expertise: the strength of Canon’s marketing expertise derived from an effective product introduction strategy, a strong dealer network, large advertising spend and brand development. New products are first introduced in the home market before they are sold overseas in order to enable the learning and experience from the home market to be transferred to international markets. Even then, new products are only introduced into the market through proven, existing channels, to minimise the risk of failure. The Company also built up a strong dealer network which supported both sales and service of copiers. Dealers had to complete a service training course before they are allowed to sell copiers. Canon regards dealers as a vital asset through which it is able to understand and respond to customers’ needs on a timely basis. Brand development efforts are undertaken through advertising, corporate sponsorship and a deliberate effort to only associate unique and qua lity products with the brand. This was demonstrated when Canon decided not to market the inferior CPC technology licensed from RCA under the Canon name. (iv) Partnerships and joint venture relationships: despite Canons strong technological capability, it acknowledges that it has neither the resources nor the time to develop all the technologies needed for its products. This resulted in the development of strategic alliances and joint ventures in  Europe and in the US, with companies such as CPF Deutsch, Eastman Kodak and Texas Instruments. These relationships were not only sources of required technology, they also served as strategic tool for market development for the company’s products and for mitigating foreign trade tensions. (v) High quality, low cost manufacturing: Canon has a philosophy of producing quality products at the lowest cost. Strong emphasis is placed on inventory management, waste reduction, material and production planning. Continuous improvement in productivity was achieved through automation and innovative process improvement. The commonality of parts between adjacent copier models also contributed to low cost of manufacturing due to standardisation. High quality, low cost manufacturing combined with premium prices provide Canon with an opportunity to earn good margins. (vi) Highly motivated work-force: employees are held in high regard at Canon. This was applicable to both business unit managers as well as production line workers. The business unit managers were empowered to act as surrogate CEO of their units and to make quick business decisions. A number of initiatives were implemented to motivate production workers. These include the â€Å"stop and fix it† programme (which empowers any employee to stop the production line if he or she believes there is a quality problem), responsibility for maintenance of own machine and on-line feedback on quality and production targets. The level of motivation was reflected in the suggestion programme implemented by the company which resulted in more than 70 suggestions per employee per year, with a 90% implementation rate of suggestions offered. These resulted in significant corporate savings relative to the cost of the programme. (vii) Visionary leadership: the company’s president, Mr. Kaku, was a very effective and visionary leader. He introduced the diversification drive, corporate entrepreneurship and was very focused on the long term direction of the company. (viii) Suppliers relationship: the long-term relationship developed with suppliers enabled the company to outsource the manufacturing of over 80% of copier parts to suppliers. (ix) Long-term approach: Canon always takes a long term view when making management or strategic decisions. This was demonstrated for instance when the company developed the bubble jet printers which was capable of cannibalising its well established laser jet printer. This approach enabled a consistent and focused implementation of strategic choices rather than short term panic reaction to crisis and challenges. These resources and capabilities are extremely important for Canon’s competitive advantage over its competitors. Management of development and transfer of capabilities throughout the organisation As Canon grew into a multi-product, multinational corporation, the company’s management took the following steps to ensure the continued development and transfer of capabilities throughout the organisation: (i) Implementation of independent entrepreneurial business units: independent operating units were created for cameras, office equipment and optical instruments. The business units were empowered to act on their own but were given clear profitability targets and highly ambitious growth objectives. (ii) Functional committees: three functional committees were established by management to oversee the company-wide administration of new technology and product development, manufacturing and marketing. These committees were chaired by members of Canon’s management committee, which gives them the ability to ensure consistency and communicate improvements throughout the organisation and into the different business units. (iii) Development of a global information system: Canon developed the GINGA system to interconnect all parts of the organisation into a global database to facilitate the timely flow of information among managers in all the company’s locations around the world. Canon’s efficient vertical communications structure with a lateral one will facilitate direct information exchange among managers across businesses, countries, and functions1. Strategic perspective The strategic perspective of Canon has traditionally been inside-out orientated. The company had a product focus whereby it deploys its technological capabilities to develop a diverse range of products, which it then markets on the strength of its brand through a wide range of dealer network and direct sales channel. The advantage of this method for a company like Canon is that it is able to leverage its expertise to develop a wide range of unique products. The costs associated with such developments would relatively be lower as it leverages on existing capabilities. The experience gained in the use of the underlying technology should result in high quality products. There is however the potential danger that the company may be unaware of changing trends and requirements in the market and therefore be unable to respond swiftly, giving competitors an advantage. It would appear however that Canon’s strategy is not exclusively inside-out, but has some elements of market focus. The development of the personal copier market for instance was based on an identified need in the market, with a clear description of the features of the product that would meet the need. This was clearly base on an outside-in approach. In addition, one of the major reasons that Canon values its dealer network is because it enables that company to understand and respond to customers needs. Diversification into the computer industry Based on the capabilities of Canon in the early 1990s, the company should have a good chance of doing well if it focused on the computer industry for the following reasons: (i) The company has demonstrated a strong ability to develop new technological innovations on the back of its existing technologies. With its  expertise in electronics, optics, fine chemicals and semi-conductors, Canon has the potential to develop quality computer systems that will compete favourably in the market. (ii) Canon already has a well-established brand name in home and office automation products through its range of copiers, facsimiles, electronic typewriters, laser printers and word processing equipment. The company will probably succeed in linking these discrete products into a multifunctional system. With the quality associated with the brand, its strong dealer network and direct selling experience, the market is very likely to give such a system a chance. (iii) Canon has also demonstrated the ability to buy in technology through its strategic alliances. This capability, with its low cost, high quality manufacturing should enable Canon to develop competitive computer systems. Apart from computers, the company should consider products that can utilise the company’s existing technological capabilities and dealer networks, such as DVD, televisions and similar products. Is Canon successful? From a variety of perspectives, Canon can indeed be regarded as successful. It effectively damaged the dominance of Xerox over the copier market, developing its market shares during the period. It also successfully diversified from being a camera company into a multinational, multi product company offering a range of high quality products to its global customers. The Canon brand name is well respected across the globe. Financially, the company recorded consistent growth in sales and profits over the review period. A review of the company’s financial statements from 1998 to 2002 showed that Canon has continued to grow its turnover and net income. Conclusion and key learning points (i) Resource based approach: Canon’s success was largely driven by the  company’s ability to utilise its core competences to develop innovative products as a means of gaining competitive advantage. (ii) Continuous learning and innovation: Canon demonstrated the benefits of continuous learning. As it succeeded with the AE-1 camera, its researchers and engineers further developed new expertise in microelectronics (to produce the electronic calculator), the new process (for copiers), cartridge based technology (for the personal copier and later the desktop printer) etc. These enabled the company to diversify its range of products; which was one of the reasons for its growth and success. (iii) Strategic value of partnerships and joint ventures: Canon effectively used these for acquiring technologies, developing markets, mitigating foreign trade tensions and reducing costs. (iv) Corporate level strategy: as the company developed into a multi-product and multinational corporation, the corporate level strategy remained the vehicle through which the global organisation was managed and integrated. (v) Strong monopolies can be broken: with over 93% market share in the 1970s and a brand name that was synonymous with copying, it would appear that the positional advantage of Xerox was unassailable. Canon demonstrated that such monopolies (when not imposed by government) can be broken through the introduction of innovative and quality products. By introducing the personal copier, the company also demonstrated the potential impact of one firm to completely change an industry.

On My First Son by Ben Jonson Essays

On My First Son by Ben Jonson Essays On My First Son by Ben Jonson Paper On My First Son by Ben Jonson Paper This was frightening, because the Red Cross was the sign put on houses struck by the plague. And after few days he received a letter from his wife telling him that his son Benjamin had died. Johnson writes the poem as if he is talking to his son, and he assumes that the boy can hear or read his read. He calls him the child of his right hand both to suggest the boys worth and also the fact that he would have been the writers successor (the mage comes from the bible, it reflects on the way Jesus is shown as sitting at Gods right hand). The mood of this poem shows the somber and grief but on the other side it also shows a bright side how he loved his son. The atmosphere/tone is reflecting on him talking about his son, how his son was everything and he put his son In place instead of god. Beginning is sad as It shows straight away that he loves her but suggests that something bad has happened -death. A calmer atmosphere pervades n the last four line, where the poet Is in positive mood, seeing his son as his finest creation. The middle section from line 5 Is the most emotional one, but Johnson tries to be philosophical about his grief seeing death as an escape from a troubled world. This poem Is twelve-line long, and It Is written using Iambic pentameter, Johnson arranges the lines using six pairs of rhyming couplets. The middle section from line 5 is the most emotional one, but Johnson tries to be philosophical about his grief seeing death as an escape from a troubled world. There Is a lot of heart touching quotes In this poem. Johnson has used his language effectively, the second line Is really heart-breaking, my seine was too much hope of thee, loved boy. Johnson blames himself for the death of his son; he loved him too much and had high hopes for him. The whole of the second line as If Johnson writes as he Is talking to his son and thou wert lent to me suggest that his son was a gift from heaven. Will man lament the state he should uneven explains paradox, the boy Is going to escape the hardship life and the misery of aging. Rest In soft peace this quote proposes that his son has gone to a better place, euphemism makes death sound comforting. In conclusion On My First Son by Ben Johnson (1572-1637) By Aviva him talking about his son, how his son was everything and he put his son in place instead of god. Beginning is sad as it shows straight away that he loves her but in the last four line, where the poet is in positive mood, seeing his son as his finest creation. The middle section from line 5 is the most emotional one, but Johnson tries to This poem is twelve-line long, and it is written using iambic pentameter, Johnson There is a lot of heart touching quotes in this poem. Johnson has used his language effectively, the second line is really heart-breaking, my seine was too much hope of much and had high hopes for him. The whole of the second line as if Johnson writes as he is talking to his son and thou wert lent to me suggest that his son was a gift from heaven. Will man lament the state he should envied explains paradox, the boy is going to escape the hardship life and the misery of aging. Rest in soft peace this

Referring to Decades in Spanish

Referring to Decades in Spanish How do you refer to decades (such as the 70s) in Spanish? The most common way to refer to the 70s would be los aà ±os 70 or los aà ±os setenta. Note that when the decade is written numerically, most writers do not precede it by an apostrophe as is usually done in English. (Doing so would usually be seen as an ill-advised imitation of English.)  The 70 forms and the setenta form appear to be used about equally, although the spelled-out version is more common in formal writing. Note that the number of the decade is not made plural. It is also fairly common to use a longer form, la dà ©cada de los setenta, which again is somewhat formal. The longer form also would normally be used when the century isnt clear from the context, as in la dà ©cada de 1870 or, less commonly, la dà ©cada de los 1870. The form la dà ©cada de los 1870s (note the s after the year) is very seldom used. It is possible to use phrases such as los setentas or los cincuentas alone to refer to the 70s and 50s, but it is probably not best to use that form unless you hear it being used by native speakers. Again, these can be seen as anglicisms. The word decenio is also used as a translation for decade. Thus it is possible to say el decenio de los setenta or el decenio de 1970. Decenio is more formal or literary than dà ©cada.

What has gone wrong with Williams teams efforts and what should be Case Study - 1

What has gone wrong with Williams teams efforts and what should be done to ensure a successful outcome for the team - Case Study Example The group dynamic theory highlights on the social and psychological changes that come up in workplaces (David and Frank 2000). It helps in the comprehension of behaviours that come up due to team or group work in businesses. Communication styles play a significant role in the interpersonal relationships that emerge in workplaces. The bonds among workers contribute directly to the success or failure of the company. â€Å"†¦the success of an organization can depend on the levels of team work it employs† (Hartley & Bruckmann, 2008, p.311). Felix is a new employee who has social problems. He does not relate well with other employees and the company manager claims that his character is affecting the profits. Lack of teamwork has contributed to the failure of the company since it has not acquired the set goals and objectives. The main setback is the lack of communication skills and interpersonal relationships at the work place. Felix is competent, but â€Å"Developing sending skills meets only half the requirements for communicating effectively† (David & Frank, 2000, p. 147). He does not want to join groups and causal office conversation, is considered as a loner, and does want to share ideas with other employees. The employer considers his behaviour as a setback to the company because he cannot blend in with other employees. Teamwork requires that all members help each other to overcome problems that emerge in the business. â€Å"Groups and teams have assumed greater prominence in organisations in the past few decades†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Eunson, 2005, p. 566). According to the dynamic theory, it insists on teamwork among employees since interpersonal relationships help in the growth of the business. â€Å"Members of groups act together to achieve common aims or goals† (Eunson, 2005, p. 567). However, Felix does not socialize outside the workplace. He is seen not contributing to fellow employees debates while they are having a drink.

External and Internal Environments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

External and Internal Environments - Essay Example The Company ranks 59 in the list of Fortune 500 companies. Total revenue earned by the company in the last year (2012) was 46,542 USD and profit was 8,572 USD (CNN, 2013). According to some reliable news reporting agency, the Coca Cola Company is one of the biggest public companies in the world at present (Forbes, 2013b). This paper aims at studying the environment in which the company operates, evaluating its core competencies. Recommendations have been made on the basis of the results obtained from the study. General environment The macro environment in which a company operates puts significant effect on the company’s management and its performance in the market. It is external to the company and refers to the forces that influence the organization from outside. External environment is of two types; specific environment and general environment. While specific environment is directly related to the goals and business objectives of the organization, general environment affects the organization on a broader aspect, such as its economic, political or legal, technical, socio-cultural points of view and the environmental or natural conditions that are related to the activities of the company (Daft, 2011, p. 71). Economic factors Economic factor is one of the most important factors that influence business enterprises. On one hand it affects business decisions, while, on the other hand it affects performance level of the company in the local and international market. The global economic slowdown has not left Coca Cola untouched. The developed market in the United States is recovering slowly. The company has followed positive pricing strategy in this scenario. This has lead to rise in revenue in the North American segment. However, due to appreciation of dollar, there has been fall in exports to the other international operating groups of the company, such as, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific region. It has cast a negative impact on the net o perating revenue for the country (Coca-Cola Company, 2012a). In the last quarter of 2012 the company shares incurred loss of 2 percent (The value investor, 2012). Socio cultural aspects Sales and revenue is affected significantly by the socio cultural conditions prevailing in the society in which the product is sold. The lives of the people in the developed country like the United States is fast paced and hectic. Hence carbonated drinks, such as the Coca Cola products, are well accepted within the population in both the young population and the older generation. However, in recent times, health conscious of the common mass is rising. Sugar-sweetened drinks are considered to be the cause of health problems, such as obesity (Coca-Cola Company, 2012a). People, particularly, youngsters are becoming concerned of these issues, which is in turn affecting their consumption rate. Reduction in consumption is leading to drop in revenue. Forces of competition There are five forces of competitio n that helps in making industry analysis. The most important forces of competition that affect Coca Cola Company have been described below: Bargaining power of suppliers The basic ingredients used for the manufacturing of the beverages by the Coca Cola Company are sugar, water, caramel and fruit juice and essence. In the USA there are many suppliers of these raw materials. Hence the company can choose the best supplier for each product and make a tie up with that company. Bargaining power