Organizational Role Description Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Role Description Paper - Essay Example The director also has a role of maintaining creativity in developing new performance programs. In collaboration with the nurses’ executives and managers, the director ensures establishment of nursing care standards and evaluation of staff compliance. Another role is to ensure protocols of research affecting the population of patients and ensuring that the nursing staff is informed about them. Another role is ensuring accountability in provision of support services for the benefit of patient care. The director also ensures that there is a caring and safe environment maintained for the benefit of patients and ensures that the programs that are implemented within the service line are in support of cultural diversity. The director also develops service objectives and goals that are in support of values and goals of the institution. In addition, the director has a role of analyzing findings from satisfaction survey conducted by patients to ensure that agendas that are customer based are developed with input of staff and nursing management. The director also ensures that there is an effective plan for the delivery of nursing care and that these are developed and implemented within the service plan of nursing. The director also conducts an analysis from the satisfaction survey of staff to ensure that recruitment and retention of employees is service based and ensure that unit b ased agendas are developed with inputs from nursing management and the staff. The director also conducts meetings with the management of nursing to address any issue related to equipments and any other concern held by the staff. The director in collaboration with the human resource manager ensures that recruitments are made in the right way and ensures that counseling, disciplining and termination of staff is carried out when need arise. The director also has a role of making recommendations and providing growth opportunities,

Inspirational Essay Example for Free

Inspirational Essay We walk around in the world and we as human beings look to find fulfillment and happiness in many things such as sports, friends, and boy/girlfriends and as young people when we get rejected by these things we act like we can’t go on with life. . But i challenge you to think about the meaning of LIFE. Well Life is a Gift of God, Abundance of receiving things. . In John 4 its speaks on living water and how Jesus uses both the physical and spiritual meaning of water when he speaks to the Samaritan Woman, He refers to the spiritual side as living water. People in the world tend to you suicide or hurting themselves as a way out of situations but God gave us eternal life so that we may be humble servants unto him. . God never puts more on us than we can bear. . Life is important so we really need to know the meaning of it because it seems to be lost in todays society. .I used to be bitter and sad before i had gotten saved. . I had a huge void that needed to be filled and nothing truly could fill it. . Except GOD.

Example Of Television Advertising Campaign Marketing Essay

Example Of Television Advertising Campaign Marketing Essay Choose a company or a brand of a product of service in NZ. Focusing on the integrated marketing communication system of the company. I choose McDonald. I would explain McDonald focusing on the integrated marketing communication system. McDonalds Promotion strategy is Think Global Act Local. Moreover, im lovin it is a key part of McDonalds promotion strategy to link with customers in highly relevant, culturally important ways around the world Example of Television Advertising Campaign The advertising goal of this television advertising is to support back up sale promotion campaign, and to advise the customer serving new promotion of McDonalds menu. Certainly, the speedy delivery service is a special selling point of McDonalds. When I saw this advertising at the first time, I want to provide McDonalds delivery service because its a speedy service and delicious and interesting menus. I think this advertising strategy employ the emotion to hold the customers. After seeing this adverting, I want to provide McDonalds because of speedy delivery service, and interesting promotion. Advertising Campaign McDonalds has a wide scope of McDonalds campaign in many countries. Moreover, it focuses on average their brand name but localizing their advertising campaign. In New Zealand, television advertising campaign aimed specifically the children and teenager. The main goal of television advertising to make customer awareness the new products (menus). Public Relations McDonalds in New Zealand use the public relation using the internet media like MSN to update the new goods and hot promotion on it, so it is simple way for the person who likes McDonalds. Matter of fact, an amusing activity is a good method of McDonalds public connection to promote brand image McDonalds focuses on helping seek settlement for problem facing families and children today. The main goal is to certain needs of improving the lifestyle of underprivileged children. Q2-Identify and describe the elements of promotional mix they use in their integrated marketing communication. There are five main fields of a promotional mix.[1 ]These are: Advertising Announcement and promotion of thinking, services or goods, or by an identified sponsor. Examples: radio, Print ads, television, direct mail, billboard, ,brochures and catalogs, signs, posters, in-store displays, motion pictures, banner ads, Web pages, and emails. Personal selling -Personal selling is effective in influencing the buying process, specially make buyers favor, confidence and action. Examples: sales meetings, Sales presentations, incentive programs for intermediary salespeople, sales training, samples, and telemarketing. Can be via telephone or face-to-face. Sales promotion non-media and media marketing communication are hired for limited time, a pre-determined to increase stimulate market demand, consumer demand or improve product availability. Examples: sweepstakes, coupons, contests, product samples, self-liquidating premiums, rebates, trade-ins, trade shows, and exhibitions. Public relations Paid close stimulation of supply for goods, service, or business unit by planting important news about it or a satisfactory presentation of it in the media. Examples: magazine and Newspaper articles/reports, radios and TV presentations, speeches, charitable contributions, seminars, and issue advertising. Direct Marketing is a system of marketing by which organizations communicate directly with target customers to generate a response and/or a transaction. For example, email, mobile messaging, interactive consumer websites, fliers, online display ads, promotional letters, catalog distribution ,and outdoor advertising. Q3-Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each element in the promotional mix. The major marketing communication tools, including advertising, public relations, sales promotion, direct and online marketing, and personal selling are discussed below. The advantages of advertising are that first, advertiser controls the message. Second, cost effective method to communicate with large customers. Third, effective method makes symbolic appeals and brand images. Fourth, often it can be effective method to touch immediate chord with consumers. The disadvantages of advertising are that first, high cost of producing and running ads. Second, it caused credibility problems and consumer skepticism. Third, difficulty is in determining effectiveness. Fourth, it is only a one-way communication. The advantages of personal selling are first, direct contact between seller and buyer permits for more flexibility. Second, it can tailor sales message to detailed needs of consumers. Third, it allows for more direct and immediate feedback. Fourth, sales efforts can be aimed to detailed markets and customers who are best vision. The disadvantages of personal selling are first, high costs per contact. Second, expensive way to reach large audiences. Third, difficult to have constant and uniform message conveyed to all customers. The advantages of sales promotion are divided 2 parts, consumer-oriented and trade-oriented. The consumer-oriented is targeted to the eventual users of service or a product. ex) coupons, sampling, contests, sweepstakes. The trade-oriented is targeted toward marketing intermediaries like wholesalers, retailers or distributors. ex) promotion allowances, price deals, trade shows. The advantages of public relations are first, it can reach many prospects that are difficult for other communication tools. Second, a combination of public relations with other communication tools in the business campaign can be very effective and economical. The advantages of direct marketing are first, alters in society have made consumers more capacity to direct marketing. Second, Permit marketers to be very target specific segments of customers and selective. Third, messages can be customized for specific customers. Fourth, effectiveness is easier to measure. The disadvantages of direct marketing are first, absence of customer receptivity and very low reply rates. Second, it has image problems-particularly with telemarketing. Third, it can be clutter. The advantages of interactive/internet marketing are first, it can be used for kinds of IMC competence. Second, messages can be tailored to detailed needs and interests of customers. Third, interactive leads to higher level of involvement. Fourth, it can supply a lot of information to customers. The disadvantages of interactive/internet marketing are first, internet is not yet a mass medium as many consumers lack access. Second, attention to internet ads is very low. Third, great deal of clutter on the internet. Fourth, customer measurement is a big problem on the internet. I did not analyze Q4 because I do not know what the message structure in the promotional mix tool. But I did my best what I could do. Thank you for reading my assignment.

Artificial Intelligence and Angelology :: Technology Science Computers Essays

Artificial Intelligence and Angelology ABSTRACT: Recently, as I have become more computer-literate, I have noticed some interesting parallels between computer mechanisms and Aquinas’ metaphysics of angelic faculties. The present essay expands on some of the analogies which Aquinas himself, though no proponent of AI theory, might have found interesting. One of the philosophy newsgroups on the Internet is entitled "comp.ai.philosophy." This group features constant variations on questions such as: how close can artificial intelligence (particularly computers) approximate to human consciousness? is free will reducible to neurological mechanisms? and so forth. From my unscientific sampling, I would estimate that the clientele of this newsgroup is about evenly split between those who tend towards a reductive materialism, and those who maintain that consciousness or some element in human consciousness is not reducible to neural structures or functions. So the classical "Hobbes vs. Berkeley" debate continues on into the twenty-first millennium. One of the problems facing those who theorize about the independence and irreducibility of consciousness is the fact that it is difficult to conceptualize the essence of consciousness, as distinct from the sensations, feelings, etc. that are often associated with consciousness. Here we are definitely getting into abstract metaphysics. Medieval philosophers such as Aquinas, Duns Scotus and Suarez faced up to this challenge with a little help from Christian revelation, by speculating about the characteristics and functions of angels or "separate substances," who would presumably exemplify consciousness in its "pure" state, without any distracting admixtures. In this paper, I would like to take a look in particular at Aquinas' theory of separate substances. With this theory, we bypass the old question of the reducibility or irreducibility of consciousness to its material conditions, and we also find, in my opinion, some interesting analogies to contemporary computer technology. It would be too much to hope that these analogies, even if substantial, would instigate a revival of interest in Angelology among technophiles. But those interested in the metaphysics of the mind-body problem may find them suggestive: Microprocessors and Angelic Self-possession: The microprocessors of today's computers are integrated circuits which contain the CPU on a single chip. The latest developments, with variable clock speeds now often exceeding 200 MHz, include Intell's Pentium chip, the IBM/Apple/Motorola PowerPC chip, as well as chips from Cyrix and AMD. The CPU chip is the heart of the computer; only memory and input-output devices have to be added. A small fan might be added on top of the fastest chips to cool them down, but in the chip itself there are no moving parts, no complex gaps between the movement being imparted and that which imparts the movement.

Women’s Self Esteem: NOT Because of the Media

The subject of media’s impact on women has been a big issue for several years now.   However, how does self esteem or one’s concept of oneself really develop?   Does the media really have any influence on this?   No, the media does not influence women’s development of self image.   Women’s self-images come from a number of internal sources, including their natural role as nurturers, how their needs are met, and other personal things. First of all, a person develops as a part of a family.   A little girl will learn, based on her family’s actions, to either trust or mistrust peoples’ intentions, as per Erik Erikson’s series of crises.   This will tell her, in time, whether she is worthy of positive attention or not.   If she is worthy of positive attention, then she will begin to develop good self esteem and a positive self image.   If, however, her family is cold or neglectful towards her, she will develop a negative self image and poor self esteem. As the girl grows into a teenager, these early experiences will prove far more important than any outside sources.   A teen who was raised in a loving household will be far more likely to have a positive self image than one who was not.   This has nothing to do with the media, only with personal influences.   As the teen grows into a woman, she will come to see her role in life based on these experiences.   If her experiences were positive, she will see herself in a positive light, and will probably want to give to others.   If her experiences were negative, she may be selfish and will see herself in a negative light. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will affect a woman’s self esteem, too.   A woman who cannot even get her basic needs met, or who hasn’t had them met since childhood (food, water, shelter) will develop a negative self concept, because she may believe she was not worthy of anything.   She will also be far more concerned about getting these needs met than anything else, which doesn’t allow for higher needs.   If a woman’s need for love and belongingness aren’t met (through friends, family, lovers, etc.), she may also have a lower self-esteem. A woman who has many friends and loved ones, who is well liked, will have a higher self esteem.   A woman who is having all of her needs met and who is striving towards self-actualization should have very high self esteem, because she feels fulfilled in all areas of her life, and is able to strive towards betterment all the time.   This also allows for a solid self concept. Women who have met challenges in their lives and won will tend to have higher self esteem than those who have not been challenged or who have lost.   A woman who has always had good friends, who has always had her needs met, and who has always excelled in some area will have a much better self concept than one who has had few friends, has sometimes not had her needs met, and has infrequently, if ever excelled at anything.   These individual influences determine much more about a person’s self esteem than does anything as elusive as the media. Women traditionally have a role as nurturers.   Even if an individual woman does not necessarily feel like a nurturer, this will still have to play into her identity as a woman.   A woman who accepts her role as a nurturer and a caregiver will likely be less conflicted, and more likely to have high self esteem.   A woman who is a nurturer is meeting her role in society and in life, and therefore would feel more fulfilled.   A woman who is not a nurturer may feel guilty, and may have lower self esteem.   Some women who are not nurturing are able to get beyond their feelings of guilt and be happy and have high self esteem anyway, but it is a conflict that almost all women must face in their lives. Outside sources are not nearly as important to women as their own internal conflicts and their personal lives.   A woman who is secure in her family and friends, and in her own power (as an individual with intelligence and talent) is less likely to care what the media or any ‘unknown’ source says.   The media may portray women any way they wish, but women who have a solid personal life are not going to be swayed by it.   Women who, on the other hand, do not have a strong self concept, are probably also not swayed by the media.   They already feel like they are bad, stupid, ugly, etc., and what the media portrays is not going to change that, either.   Outside sources are not big influences. With all of the internal sources, it is clear that the development of self esteem is a lifelong process, one that starts in very young children and continues into adulthood.   People who have their needs consistently met and who face challenges and win them will develop healthy self esteem.   Those who do not have their needs met or who lose challenges will not develop healthy self esteem.   This happens regardless of anything that goes on in the media.   In general, people vastly overestimate the importance of the media in the development of self esteem.   It is assumed that the media can actually change anything in a girl’s life, when in reality, her own life experiences are what guides her in developing her self esteem and self concept.

In what ways do Leonardo and Bazarov act as catalysts inchanging family structure in the texts Blood Wedding and Fathers and Sons?

In this essay, I will be focussing on the characters of Leonardo and Bazarov, in their respective texts, and how they act as catalysts in changing family structure, so that by the end of the text, the family unit is different from what it was in the beginning. I will also analyse their characters and examine their impact on the plots of the two texts, and their role in plot development. In particular, I will analyse the character's words, and the tone of voice in which they speak; this will help in analysing their specific character traits. This analysis will help me in understanding their impact on character and plot development, which leads to them acting as catalysts in changing their respective family structures. It should be noted that while the text Fathers and Sons features many families that are important to the plot, I will be specifically looking at Bazarov's impact on Arcady's family; as well as the impact on his own family. In the text Blood Wedding, I will be looking at Leonardo's impact on his family and on the Bridegroom's family. In the text Fathers and Sons, when Nicholas is waiting for Arcady, we see him as a very happy person as he eagerly anticipates the arrival of his son. However, when Arcady introduces Bazarov, we notice a change in Nicholas's character. He appears to be withdrawn, and he does not converse as openly with Arcady as he would normally. There is one incident when Bazarov offers Arcady a cigar, Arcady accepts it and when he lights it, Nicholas turns his head away. This foreshadows that the introduction of Bazarov, to the Kisranov family, will cause a gap between Nicholas and Arcady. Similarly in the text Blood Wedding, the text opens with a conversation between Mother and Bridegroom. The conversation leads to the topic of knives that involves the Felix family of which Leonardo is a member. The topic of knives foreshadows the violence and bloodshed that is to arise. The mention of the name Leonardo Felix leads to a small dispute between the Mother and the Bridegroom. Though the dispute is small, it hints of the trouble that Leonardo is likely to cause. In the text Fathers and Sons, when Bazarov has left with Arcady to go freshen up, Paul talks to Nicholas about Bazarov. We get the impression that Paul does not like Bazarov very much. Even though it may not be Bazarov's fault directly, we can see that his presence causes some tension in the family; it causes some change in Paul's mood. As we can see from the following quotation, Paul does not focus on welcoming Arcady, but he focuses on criticizing Bazarov. â€Å"Is he staying with us?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"That hairy creature?† † The use of the words â€Å"Hairy creature† are spoken with a tone of contempt thus creating an overall sense of tension and hostility. In the text Blood Wedding tone is also important for example when the Neighbour and Mother are talking, the Mother finds out that the Bride had a relationship with Leonardo. At the mention of the name Felix, the mother flares up in anger. It's not Leonardo's fault that he is a Felix but the fact that he is a Felix causes great anger in the Mother and a drastic change in her mood. The mother does not ‘welcome' the marriage with complete love and affection, but instead with hostility and animosity. In the text Blood Wedding there is a section where Leonardo, Wife and Mother-in-law are having a conversation. In this particular conversation the girl comes in and tells them what the Bridegroom is buying for the Bride. Leonardo is very rude and unpleasant. â€Å"What do we care† â€Å"Did I ask for your opinion? â€Å"Leave me alone† â€Å"Why can't you just shut up?† These are four of his lines in that particular scene. As we can see his words are very harsh, and he employs a very defensive tone, by the use of questions. He ignores his wife's pleas and just storms out of the house without a word to where he is going. It seems that Leonardo does not really care about his family at all. This indicates that Leonardo's family is breaking down; we can see abrasive feelings between Leonardo and mother-in-law. However, change is not always negative. In the text Fathers and Sons, Bazarov changes Arcady's family structure in a positive way. Bazarov persuades Arcady to accept an invitation meant for Nicholas. Arcady accepted and he went with Bazarov into town. While the two were having lunch at Eudoxia Kukshin's residence, she mentioned a name; Madame Odintzov. Bazarov was interested in Madame Odintzov, as she was described as very attractive; and Sitnikov said that he would introduce Bazarov and Arcady to Madame Odintzov. It is at Madame Odintzov's abode where Arcady met Katya, whom he ends up marrying. â€Å"†¦it was noticeable that Nicholas Petrovich had already become devotedly attached to her.† We can see that Katya has ‘fitted-in' with the Petrovich family. So we can therefore say that Bazarov is indirectly responsible for Arcady's marriage to Katya, hence changing Arcady's family. In the text Blood Wedding; after the bride and bridegroom have left for the wedding, only Leonardo and his wife remain. They have a conversation that shows distance between Leonardo his wife. Wife wants to go to the church by cart and Leonardo wants to go by horse. They have a short argument that is clearly symbolic of the unhappy, troubled marriage between the two of them. â€Å"WIFE: And I have no intention of going to a wedding without my husband. I can't take much more of this. LEORNADO: That makes two of us. WIFE: Why do you look at me like that? As though you had a dagger in each eye.† The wife says that she can't take much more of this, this signifying the marriage. Why can't she take more of her marriage? It is because of Leonardo. He has not been shown to be a very attentive husband, as depicted by his choice of words. The wife can't take much more of the marriage and Leonardo replies by saying that he feels the same. We would expect the husband in a marriage to counter the wife when she feels this way, however Leonardo just agrees with his wife. The fact that he can't take much more of the marriage shows that he wants to break free of the bonds of marriage. This is an implication of things to come later on in the text. Leonardo is implying that he wants a divorce or another wife, and by doing so he is proceeding to change his family structure. The metaphor used by the Wife (dagger in each eye) goes only to emphasise the distance and hostility felt by Wife from Leonardo as well as foreshadowing the violent conclusion of the play. Leonardo is still in love with Bride, and the wife is all that stands between him and the Bride. Thus he looks at the Wife in such a way that she might leave him alone. At the end of the text, Leonardo does achieve what he wanted; freedom to do as he pleases without worrying about the rules of society. However, this freedom came at a great price to Leonardo – his life. And it is through his death that he changed his family structure. Similarly in the text Fathers and Sons, Bazarov's death inadvertently changes his own family structure. After his first visit home, he leaves too soon; we see this has an impact on his parents, they are saddened and depressed. Bazarov's death finished the change; he was the centre of their life and now he is gone; it is no longer a family, just a husband and wife. His parents as shown when Arcady and Bazarov first visit Bazarov's home were once very lively and full of energy, and very excited and joyful. However, after his death (towards the end of the last paragraph of the text), we see Bazarov's parents as being very quiet and withdrawn. They no longer have that motivation (their son) to live. All they want to do is linger by his grave reminiscing over the memories they have of him as is shown by the quote: â€Å"†¦unable to tear themselves away from this spot where they feel themselves so close to their son and their memories of him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The use of hyperbole goes to show the extreme love that Bazarov's parents had for him and the extent to which their lives have changed now that he is gone. So in conclusion, we see that Leonardo and Bazarov do act as catalysts in changing family structure in their respective texts. Although they cannot strictly be called catalysts because they do not remain unchanged; their presence in the respective texts does have an impact on the characters, as well as the plot.

Writing for Literary Magazines

Writing for Literary Magazines 163 Literary Magazines Accepting Reprints http://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2016/01/163-literary-magazines-accepting.html The more I read the list the madder I got. Not at the blog and not at the author, but at the fact  123 of those 163 publications dont pay for reprints. But what you dont immediately see is most of them dont pay for original works, either. Look closely and youll see that 11 pay token payments, three admit paying pennies, 12 pay semi-pro rates when pro is six cents/word. Some admit $1, $2, $5 and $8 flat rate. You could count on one hand the ones that pay double digits, with the highest admitting paying $10 to $100. I understand that the author of the piece attempted to help writers who wanted to resell material theyd already published. Very few of them will pay you, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have reached more readers. Sorry, thats still exposure, in my book in lieu of payment.   Why should you write for these publications? You shouldnt. The only way Id write for a publication such as these is if their reputation is pretty darn big and can catapult your career. I dont mean 2,500 readers. I mean tens of thousands and their name is recognizable and respected. Otherwise, youre feeding their preference to pay writers nothing and the exposure promise is worth nil. Exposure to a small group is not exposure. Why do people submit to them? A wide range of reasons. Because they think itll make them look professional. Because they think the exposure will do something for their career, not evening thinking what exposure means.  Because they hate rejection. Many would rather publish quickly or for nothing than hold out. Its possibly ego or desperation to publish, or a combination of the two. Its so much more professional, and youll respect yourself so much more, if you hold off publishing until you can climb the ladder a little bit and reach the paying publications. Yes, even in the literary world, they have markets that pay. One of the biggest myths out there is if you write for free or pennies, you are paying your dues. Um, no. You are proving to a higher calibre editor and publication that you settle for less. Most say they do not have the budget to pay. Many say they are nonprofit and cannot afford to pay. Some say they are university affiliated and, therefore, cannot afford to pay. The fact is, if you run a business (and a nonprofit or university press is a business), and you run it properly, you find the money to pay the people providing the raw materials that make it happen. The printer, the mailman, and all the players who put that publication together are getting paid. Which means you should be shamed into starving.

The Human Living Condition Essays

The Human Living Condition Essays The Human Living Condition Essay The Human Living Condition Essay The human life has been an appealing topic lately. People are trying to find out different causes of this. My writing will carefully present the major of this phenomenon. First and foremost, what I put in my priority is living condition. It cannot be denied that every aspects of our life have been improved. Instead of sleeping on the wet and cold ground, keeping an open eye for dangerous predators, people now can live in peace and independent, they can pursue their dreams freely without anything to stop them in their journey.More interestingly, not only the people’s shelters made remarkable progress, but also the food. None of us can survive without food, that’s why it is a crucial part of our daily life. If we look back and compare the food from the Stone Age to the food that we’re eating at the moment, we can see that our food now is better than ever, it contains a various amount of nutrition that can keep our body in a healthy and stable state. Beyond any doubts, living condition will certainly help people live longer and keep them safe from the dangerous wild life.Second of all, medication holds an equal place in the essence. It is completely true that nowadays, we have ourselves a various number of advanced doctors all around the globe. Many good doctors also means that the life of the citizens will be in good hand, as the result, people will live longer thanks to the hand of those doctors. More notably, if doctors are the soldiers who rescue people, then modern medicine is their weapons. Today, highly technology is used to make useful drugs in order to kill fatal disease, illness, and even poison of perilous animals.For example, if you got bit by a poisonous snake, doctors can cure you by simply inject you with a special medicine or vaccine that extracted directly from the poison of that kind of snake. Without doubts, medication holds an important role in keeping people to live longer. Last but not least, the abundant kinds of services meet our demand of entertainment and relax. It cannot be denied that doing exercise in the gym is a good habit which can help us to keep fit and release stress. Not only the youngster but also the elderly regularly play sports so as to stretch their muscles.More notably, scientists have proven that by doing exercises and playing sports, people will be stronger, healthier, happier and even lengthen their age. That is completely true because my mother usually gets up at four am to do aerobics, so she is always full of energy and feel healthy. Undoubtedly, exercises are essential for people to stay in good health and expand their time of living. All in all, because of the achievements in science, balanced meals and useful activities that people enjoy, they now are living longer than in the past.

An Evaluation Of Mergers And Acquisitions Management Essay

An Evaluation Of Mergers And Acquisitions Management Essay In the modern world, most of the companies try to merge their company with another company. There are some advantages and disadvantages in merging. The main advantages are reputation, brand image can be increase through the merging. The industry will become simple through merging and this is the competitive advantage, Alcatel Lucent Company can gain from the merging. The main disadvantage in merging is cross culture conflicts and this case study is about Alcatel Lucent merger. Alcatel Lucent is one of the leading companies in mobile, fixed, Optics technologies and a pioneer in applications and services (Alcatel Lucent, 2011). According to the merging procedure, Alcatel Lucent merger faced cross culture conflicts from France and U.S. Still, the company tries to control the culture conflicts in the organization. This report mainly describes the conditions and negotiation factors, industry changes after merger and the international challenges of Alcatel Lucent. 1. The conditions and ne gotiation factors pushed forth the merger in 2006 that were not present in 2001 According to the case, in 2006 both companies come up with new conditions and negotiation factors. Mainly, France shareholders, they gave their approval to merge Alcatel company and Lucent company. Alcatel’s chief executive Mr. Techuruk encouraged 1500 shareholders in Paris by mentioning Alcatel Lucent is truly global and has no equivalent today and won’t in future. He also agreed to pay 10.6 billion euro for Lucent company to merge Alcatel and Lucent companies as Alcatel Lucent. The stock swap was valued at one Alcatel American depository share for every five Lucent shares. Both companies agreed to publish English as the official language of the Alcatel Lucent. After considering above conditions and factors, both company shareholders gave their approval to merge Alcatel Lucent as one company. They also decided to deal with both pre-merger and post-merger integration issues such as salaries , benefits, designations and other structural maters by holding a series of meetings between the top HR executives at the two companies. 2. merged company A merged company which means the combination of two companies where one corporation is completely absorbed by another corporation. After the merging procedure, both companies have to do business as one company. As a result of that, they should invent new identities for the company. They couldn’t use their separate identities for the business. Any company, they couldn’t merge with another company without the approval of shareholders. Negotiation also very important for merged companies. Negotiation is the process of discussion by which two or more parties aim to reach a mutually acceptable agreement (Strategic International Management, 2011). There are five stages included in the negotiation process. Those stages are preparation, relationship building, exchanging task related information, persuasion and concessions an d agreement. Mainly, any organization, they wants to follow this negotiation process when they planning to merge their company with another company. Alcatel is a company which produce the communication equipments for their customers and Lucent company, they provides telecommunication services to their customers. After merging these two companies, their industries become simple. As Alcatel Lucent, they did their sales of $25 billion. They also produced many telecommunication products such as wireless equipments, wire line equipments, wireless infrastructures, internet routers, equipment for carrying calls over the internet, etc. The negative side of the industry is company loss $7 billion since the merger. In addition to that, Alcatel Lucent around 16500 jobs since merger. As the advantages of the industry, for the fourth quarter 2006, the company posts adjusted pro-forma revenues of Euro 4,421 million and operating profits of Euro 21 million. The company reported Euro 18,254 million adjusted pro-forma and operation profit of Euro 1,025 million for the full year 2006. On 31st December 2006, their total cash and marketable securities was Euro 6.7 billion leaving a net cash position of Euro 508 million.

Opera and Singing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Opera and Singing - Assignment Example This is a feeling that makes a singer to enjoy his or her performance while on stage and it also produces the best sound and full concentration. Singing opera requires high vocal technique and the teachers normally test the ability of a young singer to absorb the kinesthetic understanding (Terry, n.p). The training enables a singer to grasp the different elements that make a good opera singer like mastering the important notes and keys to hit. The interview inspires me to venture into other genres of art in order to fit in the foreign theatre experience across Europe and America. I have gained knowledge about opera singing and this has inspired me. I think a person needs to explore his or her talents and concentrate on it to be the best. It is encouraging that Zajick was to be a medical student when she discovered her talent in opera and later changed her career. Being a Chinese, I knew nothing about opera music and the interview has exposed to this new revelation. The interview is also educative because it reveals different aspects about opera singing in which Zajick shares her experiences (Terry, n.p). The singer also educates the audience on various elements that make a good opera singer, body language, pitch levels and the kinesthetic awareness. The interview can help upcoming singers to acquire new skills and insights about the industry and the performances. However, the discussions do not apply to me and my attitude towards opera and singing. This is because opera is not a common genre in my country and people know very little about the songs. I think singing and opera is an exciting experience because of the numerous notes involved when performing. According to Zajick, a singer to dedicate time to master the notes in order to make an electrifying performance and this requires those who are fans of the genre. It is apparent that before watching the interview, I had no knowledge or experience about opera and singing, but

The capital structure decision and the cost of capital Research Paper

The capital structure decision and the cost of capital - Research Paper Example Thus a lesser D/E ratio would be recommended for a typical company. Therefore, D/E ratio = aggregate liabilities/ shareholders’ equity A very high D/E ratio would translate to the fact that the company has been applying debt in its growth to a high extent. The resultant impact is a scenario of very volatile earnings by the company due to the marginal interest expense. If a company applied a lot of debt financing to finance additional business operations, this would result to more generation of revenues and if the revenues outdo the costs, then the shareholders would be left better of since they would earn more dividends. But it is essential to note that this is if, and only if, the earnings surpass the cost of debt. D/E ratios may also vary depending upon the industry the company is operating. For instance, a company that is highly capital intensive would have a higher D/E ratio than those who operate computer software operations. (Gibson, 2008 p260) MATTEL Mattel is a premier company for toys. It designs, manufactures as well as markets toys. The Company’s believes that PLAY is vital for the development of Children besides other benefits. These include the development of imagination and creativity, good healthy interaction and the construction of strong learning foundation among others. Most of Mattel’s business is done online. ... They say their business is global and thus, internationalized and have subsidiaries besides the parent company which is registered in the US. (mattel.com, 2011) Mattel’s gross sales are formed up as follows: 30% in Latin America, 52% in Europe, 11% in Asia Pacific and 7% in others areas. They manufacture toy products themselves as well as outsourcing from other companies. Their main manufacturing facilities are set up in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Mexico. Their business is also seasonal where they experience peaks during the traditionally set holiday seasons. In fact the biggest sale revenues are experienced in the 3rd and 4th quarters of their fiscal year. The risks facing Mattel are only based on non-satisfaction of clients since its business depends almost entirely on Toy business. Shifts in demand would, therefore, impact adversely on their business. Seasonality as mentioned earlier is also another risk as well as inaccurate anticipation of the trends and cul ture. Though no market beta is given on this website, it is stated in their 2010 financial reports that the business is highly dependent on market behavior, where it faces to a large extent both foreign and local market rates of interest variances that form up market financial risk. (files.shareholder.com, 2011) Mattel Company had a market beta of 1.0 as reported by smartmoney.com website as of 2011. (smartmoney.com, 2011) Due to the high levels of financial risks that Mattel as a company faces and its doing business world wide, usage of debt as a source of capital would have a very huge impact on the capitalization of the company. Therefore, the recommendation is

International business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International business strategy - Essay Example As a direct result of this factor, businesses/organizations and entities rise or fall based upon the overall level of and effective culture that they are able to create within their respective divisions. Similarly, the external representation of culture is what impacts upon the consumers and in product/service users. As one can easily understand, and effective culture will create a positive feeling and likely generate a degree of returning consumers whereas negative aspects of culture will reduce overall sales and profitability and discourage repeat buyers of goods or services from integrating with a given company/organization within the future. As a means of understanding and defining the impact of culture plays upon a business entity, the following analysis will seek to understand the case of Shangri-La hotel group; an Asian hospitality chain that has sought to integrate its products and services into a more global market within the past several years. Firstly, due to the overall l evel of success that Shangri-La has been able to experience over the past several years, the reader/analyst can and should come to a unique understanding of the fact that the culture of this entity is ultimately a powerful positive motivator in determining the success that it has had in the past and will likely seek to continue to generate into the future. In short, it can be understood that the role of culture within Shangri-La holds a vitally important role in helping the firm to achieve the runaway success that it has within the broader markets of Asia. Before seeking to analyze the role in which culture has played in furthering and promoting the profitability and success of Shangri-La, this analysis will seek to briefly analyze and discuss some of the key cultural aspects that this author has selected to determine and define the level of service and success that of the far been realized. Although the following will not be an exhaustive list, it is the understanding of this parti cular analyst that these factors are of the utmost importance and have contributed greatly to the success and profitability that had been realized within the past several years. More importantly, as a result of a discussion and analysis of these factors, the reader can come to an understanding that in order for the firm to continue to display such a level of success and profitability, regardless of the particular market that they wish to integrate with, it is necessary for the business entity to continue to put forward these â€Å"best practices†. The term â€Å"Shangri-La† itself has come to mean a great many things throughout the world culture. However, the term is most basically understood as some type of ethereal paradise in which the eternal youth and happiness can be achieved. At an even more basic definition, within Asian cultures, Shangri-La means â€Å"eternal youth, peace, and tranquility†. Although will not be the purpose of this brief analysis to exp lain the means by which a name brand can promote a particular identity with regards to the consumer, as well as with regards to the derivation and promotion of a particular culture, these aspects must nonetheless be appreciated. In seeking to promote this idea of a paradise and tranquil place in which weary travelers can set their worries aside and enjoy and appreciate the solace that the hotel chain

Project Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Project Environment - Essay Example Project management is usually designed to fit into the scope of the project in question. Some projects are bigger than others and actually may comprise of a series of projects. In this case such projects are commonly referred to as programmes. For instance a project including some construction of an airport, roads leading to the airport, community facilities such as schools as well as a series of other related projects comprises of a really big project and there is a programme. Wembley stadium project is one of the biggest projects in the UK in the recent history (Nicholas, 2004). The Wembley National Stadium Project stretched over a period of 6 years and cost in excess of over ten billion pounds. Lessons learnt from management of the Wembley project as well as other projects serve as great case studies for organisational management especially in regard to how to address the challenges which happen in the process of organisational in change management, conflict resolution, stakeholder management as well as aligning an organisational strategy to the organisational mission. One of the major reasons why projects are conceived is the fact that there are needs in the community, in the organisation or in the society, which needs to be addressed. Project management identifies a pressing need or pressing needs, which it sets out to address by offering the necessary correctional measures. Once the needs have been identified by using the right needs assessment tools, the next step is to prioritise the needs identified in order of priority. Once the deserving cases have been isolated, the project is conceived probably by the change initiators who may include the government, community leaders, the management of the organisation or individuals who have an interest in the project. One of the greatest considerations before initiating a change in form of a project is to analyse the resources required in the project completion. The greatest threat which faces any project prior to initiation or even during the implementation process is the fact that no matter the status of affairs in an organisation or in a given setting there are some people who benefit from the given status. It is such people who pose the greatest threat to the change initiators for project conception in that they offer stiff resistance to the change initiation. Such opponents to change are usually people who benefit from the current state of affairs and see the change as a threat to the status quo, which they benefit from. Therefore there is a need for project managers to identify such people who fail to welcome the change and mange them properly. In some cases those who offer the greatest resistance in case of projects are key stakeholders in the project and therefore their continued resistance to the project may lead to the failure of the project. For example a project like the Wembley National Stadium came under opposition from the local community. Until the standoff between the project management and the local community was resolved it was impossible to move on with the project. In some projects the government may be reluctant to offer the necessary support especially in terms of is suing the right kind of licences. This

Getting to Know the Bomb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Getting to Know the Bomb - Essay Example Henrickson states in the preface that it was "Not until the 1980s, when there arose signs of an organized and widespread antinuclear activism in America". It can only be presumed that the author slept through the 1960s when the anti nuke people woke up from the brainwashing of the 1950s. If the Russians had not also had the bomb, the country would still be asleep at the switch. She further states that, "no such revolutionary change engulfed America". She discounts the cultural revolution of the beatniks and hippies. They were reacting to a world gone mad with nuclear weaponry and rabid with military power. How many other technologies do we as a culture ignore out of fear that they are the only things between us and doomsday Is eavesdropping technology the government's new edge and the current paranoia Statesmen rule with leadership, governments with fear. Will we have to learn that Al Quieda is tapping our phone to bring attention to that new threat Like atomic weapons, it's hard to integrate them into our life like a microwave oven.

International business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International business strategy - Essay Example As a direct result of this factor, businesses/organizations and entities rise or fall based upon the overall level of and effective culture that they are able to create within their respective divisions. Similarly, the external representation of culture is what impacts upon the consumers and in product/service users. As one can easily understand, and effective culture will create a positive feeling and likely generate a degree of returning consumers whereas negative aspects of culture will reduce overall sales and profitability and discourage repeat buyers of goods or services from integrating with a given company/organization within the future. As a means of understanding and defining the impact of culture plays upon a business entity, the following analysis will seek to understand the case of Shangri-La hotel group; an Asian hospitality chain that has sought to integrate its products and services into a more global market within the past several years. Firstly, due to the overall l evel of success that Shangri-La has been able to experience over the past several years, the reader/analyst can and should come to a unique understanding of the fact that the culture of this entity is ultimately a powerful positive motivator in determining the success that it has had in the past and will likely seek to continue to generate into the future. In short, it can be understood that the role of culture within Shangri-La holds a vitally important role in helping the firm to achieve the runaway success that it has within the broader markets of Asia. Before seeking to analyze the role in which culture has played in furthering and promoting the profitability and success of Shangri-La, this analysis will seek to briefly analyze and discuss some of the key cultural aspects that this author has selected to determine and define the level of service and success that of the far been realized. Although the following will not be an exhaustive list, it is the understanding of this parti cular analyst that these factors are of the utmost importance and have contributed greatly to the success and profitability that had been realized within the past several years. More importantly, as a result of a discussion and analysis of these factors, the reader can come to an understanding that in order for the firm to continue to display such a level of success and profitability, regardless of the particular market that they wish to integrate with, it is necessary for the business entity to continue to put forward these â€Å"best practices†. The term â€Å"Shangri-La† itself has come to mean a great many things throughout the world culture. However, the term is most basically understood as some type of ethereal paradise in which the eternal youth and happiness can be achieved. At an even more basic definition, within Asian cultures, Shangri-La means â€Å"eternal youth, peace, and tranquility†. Although will not be the purpose of this brief analysis to exp lain the means by which a name brand can promote a particular identity with regards to the consumer, as well as with regards to the derivation and promotion of a particular culture, these aspects must nonetheless be appreciated. In seeking to promote this idea of a paradise and tranquil place in which weary travelers can set their worries aside and enjoy and appreciate the solace that the hotel chain

Getting to Know the Bomb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Getting to Know the Bomb - Essay Example Henrickson states in the preface that it was "Not until the 1980s, when there arose signs of an organized and widespread antinuclear activism in America". It can only be presumed that the author slept through the 1960s when the anti nuke people woke up from the brainwashing of the 1950s. If the Russians had not also had the bomb, the country would still be asleep at the switch. She further states that, "no such revolutionary change engulfed America". She discounts the cultural revolution of the beatniks and hippies. They were reacting to a world gone mad with nuclear weaponry and rabid with military power. How many other technologies do we as a culture ignore out of fear that they are the only things between us and doomsday Is eavesdropping technology the government's new edge and the current paranoia Statesmen rule with leadership, governments with fear. Will we have to learn that Al Quieda is tapping our phone to bring attention to that new threat Like atomic weapons, it's hard to integrate them into our life like a microwave oven.

Hersheys Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Hersheys Chocolate Essay Hershey’s company originated with candy-manufacturer Milton Hershey’s decision in 1894 to produce sweet chocolate as a coating for his caramels. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the new enterprise was named the Hershey Chocolate Company. In 1900, the company began producing milk chocolate in bars, wafers and other shapes. With mass production, Hershey was able to lower the per-unit cost and make milk chocolate, once a luxury item for the wealthy, affordable to all. A company on the move. The immediate success of Hershey’s low-cost, high-quality milk chocolate soon caused the company’s owner to consider increasing his production facilities. He decided to build a new chocolate factory amid the gently rolling farmland of south-central Pennsylvania in Derry Township, where he had been born. Close to the ports of New York and Philadelphia that supplied the imported sugar and cocoa beans needed, surrounded by dairy farms that provided the milk required, and the location was perfect. By the summer of 1905, the new factory was turning out delicious milk chocolate. New products, hard times. Throughout the next two decades, even more products were added to the company’s offerings. These included MR. GOODBAR Candy Bar (1925), HERSHEY’S Syrup (1926), HERSHEYS chocolate chips (1928) and the KRACKEL bar (1938). Despite the Great Depression of the 1930s, these products helped the newly incorporated Hershey Chocolate Corporation maintain its profitability and avoid any worker layoffs. HERSHEY’S chocolate goes to war. With the outbreak of World War II, the Hershey Chocolate Corp. (which had provided milk chocolate bars to American doughboys in the first war) was already geared up to start producing a survival ration bar for military use. By the end of the war, more than a billion Ration D bars had been produced and the company had earned no less than five Army-Navy â€Å"E† Production Awards for its exceptional contributions to the war effort. In fact, the company’s machine shop even turned out parts for the Navy’s antiaircraft guns. A family friend becomes a family member. The postwar period saw the introduction of a host of new products and the acquisition of an old one. Since 1928, H.B. â€Å"Harry† Reese’s Candy Company, also located in Hershey, had been making chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. Given that Hershey Chocolate Company supplied the coating for REESE’S â€Å"penny cups, (the wrapper said, â€Å"Made in Chocolate Town, So They Must Be Good†), it was not surprising that the two companies had a good relationship. As a result, seven years after Reese’s death in 1956, the H.B. Reese Candy Company was sold to Hershey Chocolate Corp. Growing up and branching out. The following decades would see the company renamed Hershey Foods Corporation in 1968 expanding its confectionery product lines, acquiring related companies and even diversifying into other food products. Among the many acquisitions were San Giorgio Macaroni and Delmonico Foods (1966); manufacturing and marketing rights to English candy company Rowntree MacKintosh’s products (1970); YS Candies, makers of TWIZZLERS licorice (1977); Dietrich Corp.’s confectionery operations (1986); Peter Paul/Cadbury’s U.S. confectionery operations (1988); and Ronzoni Foods (1990). The Hershey Company enters a new century. Today, The Hershey Company is the leading North American manufacturer of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and grocery products. As the new millennium begins, The Hershey Company continues to introduce new products frequently and take advantage of growth opportunities through acquisitions. HERSHEY’S products are known and enjoyed all over the world. In fact, the company exports to over 90 countries. The Hershey Company remains committed to the vision and values of the man who started it all so many years ago. A New Company: 1894 In the beginning, the Hershey Chocolate Company was simply a wholly owned subsidiary of Milton Hershey’s Lancaster Caramel Company. Using chocolate-making equipment purchased at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the company produced baking chocolate, cocoa and sweet chocolate coatings for the parent company’s caramels. But things changed with the hiring of William Murrie to sell the excess product to other confectioners. Murrie was so successful a salesman that the Hershey Chocolate Company quickly turned into a viable concern on its own. Milton Hershey became even more convinced that his future in the candy business lay in chocolate, not caramels. Sweet Chocolate Novelties: 1895 – 1909 By 1895, the Hershey Chocolate Company was manufacturing 114 different items in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Many were flavored with vanilla and given luxurious-sounding names like LeRoi de Chocolate, Petit Bouquets and Chocolate Croquettes. Chocolate â€Å"segars† and cigarettes were also quite popular. Some chocolate cigarettes and cigars, such as Vassar Gems and Smart Set Cigarettes, were purposely marketed to women as an alternative to the tobacco variety. Chocolate was also touted as a source of quick energy for athletes. The Baby in the Bean: 1898 On August 1, 1898, the company adopted a very distinctive symbol for its trademark. The small child in a cocoa bean pod appeared on cans of HERSHEY’S COCOA up until 1936, when it was finally replaced by the block lettering familiar today. The â€Å"Baby in the Bean† went through many incarnations, sometimes holding a cup of cocoa, sometimes a chocolate bar. Even the child’s hair and facial expression underwent changes over the years. The logo symbol was finally retired in 1968, when the company was reorganized as Hershey Foods Corporation. Finding the Formula: 1895 – 1904 While his company was successful enough selling sweet chocolate products, Milton Hershey was certain the real market lay in milk chocolate. The problem was in developing a formula for manufacturing it cheaply and efficiently, while still maintaining a high level of quality. Hershey built a milk-processing plant on the family farm in Derry Township in 1896 and spent the next several years developing a viable formulation for milk chocolate. Hershey worked day and night, going back and forth between the condensing room and the creamery, rarely even stopping for meals. Finally, in 1899, he cracked the recipe and became the first American to manufacture milk chocolate. Hershey Goes to Cuba: 1916 With the onset of World War I, the European beet sugar, which Hershey had been using to make his milk chocolate, became increasingly scarce. So, searching for a more dependable source, Milton Hershey started acquiring cane sugar plantations and constructing refineries in Cuba. Typically, he also established a planned community for the workers, called Central Hershey, based on the Pennsylvania model. Hershey’s Cuban holdings eventually included 60,000 acres of land, five mills, a 251-mile railroad and, not surprisingly, a school for orphaned children. By the end of World War II, the company found it no longer needed its Cuban sources, and its sugar and railway interests were sold to the Cuban-Atlantic Sugar Company. Expanding and Innovating. Stepping Stones Many Hershey products that are familiar today were originally produced for the confectionary trade and were later reformulated for consumers. HERSHEY’S powdered cocoa, for example, has been manufactured continuously since 1894. Also, Hershey was the first to sell chocolate syrup for home use beginning in 1926. Not all products under the HERSHEY brand were so successful in the marketplace. HERSHEY’S mint-flavored chewing gum, introduced in 1915, enjoyed only brief popularity. And a creation named the Not-So-Sweet bar was introduced in 1934, only to be discontinued in 1937. A Kiss and Tell Story Of course, the very first addition to the HERSHEY’S product line of milk chocolate confections was HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates way back in 1907. Originally, each one was hand-wrapped in a square of silver foil, but in 1921 machine wrapping was introduced, along with the addition of the unique â€Å"plume† which marked it as a genuine HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolate. The chocolates were not produced at all from 1942 through 1949 due to the rationing of silver foil during and immediately after World War II. HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates were wrapped in colors other than silver for the first time in 1962. HERSHEY’S KISSES with almonds were introduced in 1990 and the first successful HERSHEY’S product using white chocolate, HERSHEY’S HUGS, in 1993. Sweet Inventions Two of the most successful products launched during ‘20s were the MR. GOODBAR and KRACKEL bars. MR. GOODBAR, combining milk chocolate and peanuts, was introduced in November of 1925. According to popular legend, Milton Hershey himself named the new product. Upon tasting it, he is said to have exclaimed, â€Å"Now, that’s a good bar!† The KRACKEL bar was introduced on September 14, 1938. During its first few years, the formula for the confection changed several times, with almonds, and then peanuts, being included along with crisped rice in milk chocolate. Finally, the nuts were eliminated altogether in 1943, leaving the crispy milk chocolate recipe enjoyed by millions ever since. Mr. Reese and his Cups In 1923, a former Hershey employee named H.B. Reese decided to start his own candy company out of the basement of his home. He made several different kinds of candy, but it wasn’t until five years later that he hit upon his greatest idea: a confection of peanut butter covered by milk chocolate (purchased, incidentally, from the Hershey Chocolate Company). During World War II, he discontinued his other product lines and concentrated on producing only REESE’S peanut butter cups. Despite its dependence on only a single product, Reese’s company prospered, and in 1963 the H.B. Reese Candy Company was purchased by the Hershey Chocolate Corporation. Since then, the REESE’S product line has grown to include REESE’S PIECES candies, the NUTRAGEOUS candy bar and REESESTICKS. Going to War The Ration D Bar The U.S. Army’s requirements were quite specific. For troops engaged in a global war, they needed a ration bar that weighed about four ounces, would not melt at high temperatures, was high in food energy value, and did not taste so good that soldiers would be tempted to eat it except in an emergency. This last objective in particular was certainly a new one for the Hershey Chocolate Corporation. Nevertheless, its chocolate technologists came up with something that passed all tests. Named â€Å"Field Ration D,† it was so successful that by the end of 1945, approximately 24 million bars were being produced every week. More successful still was HERSHEY’S Tropical Chocolate Bar, a heat resistant bar with an improved flavor developed in 1943. In 1971, this bar even went to the moon with Apollo 15. Growing Global Advertising to the Nation Except for a TV and billboard campaign in Canada in 1964, the company had never really done advertising on a national scale. In 1968, the newly renamed and reorganized Hershey Foods Corporation announced plans for a nationwide consumer advertising campaign spearheaded by the famous Ogilvy Mather ad agency. Starting with a Sunday newspaper supplement in July, 1970, followed two months later by television and radio commercials, the campaign was an immediate success. Sales of REESE’S peanut butter cups and HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates, in particular, rose dramatically. But while the company today continues to advertise in all media, the quality of our products is still our best form of advertising. Milton Hershey would have liked that. E.T. Makes a Good Choice In the early 1980s, Hershey executive Jack Dowd met with Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg and struck a deal to include REESES’S PIECES candy in Spielberg’s upcoming film, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial. When Hershey Chocolate Company President Earl Spangler first saw the movie’s promotional materials, he told Dowd, â€Å"That’s the ugliest creature I’ve ever seen.†After its successful premiere, the movie was screened by the company’s managers and top brass. When the film ended, there was first silence, then wild applause. Like many others, Spangler emerged from the theater with moist eyes. â€Å"Is he still ugly, Earl?† Dowd asked. Replied the company president, â€Å"He’s beautiful!† Both the lovable alien and his candy of choice became instant hits nationwide. Hershey Goes International In addition to being the leading producer of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionary and other grocery products in North America, The Hershey Company also carries on a significant international presence with operations in more than 90 different countries. Hersheys International division exports HERSHEY’S chocolate and grocery products worldwide and maintains licensing agreements with partners in nations such as South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. We don’t believe Milton Hershey would have been at all surprised to learn that his HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates are especially popular in Japan. Top of the Charts Through unceasing technological modernization, strategically astute acquisitions and continued new product development, The Hershey Company grew spectacularly in the last 30 years of the 20th century. From $334 million in 1969, the company’s net sales soared to $4.4 billion in 2004. The Hershey Company is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products. The company also is a leader in the gum and mint category.

Materials Used in the Marine Environment

Materials Used in the Marine Environment G.R.P Piping Used For Cargo Transfer Glass Reinforced Plastic Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) is widely used in the marine environment because of its many useful properties. Glass Reinforced Plastic is composed of fine glass fibres woven to form a flexible fabric. The weave pattern determines the strength and weight of the GRP. There are different weave patterns used for the production of GRP depending on the application. Different resins may be added to the woven fiberglass to give it added strength and allow it to be molded into numerous shapes. Weave patterns for GRP Advantages and Properties of Glass Reinforced Plastic piping GRP pipes have a major advantage of corrosion resistance (a typical property of plastics), their strength and durability. This makes them ideal for conveying all kinds of water, chemicals and other cargoes. The major advantages of GRP are: Corrosion resistance, of both the wall in contact with the fluid carried by the pipe and the external wall. Therefore the need for extra protection such as coating or painting is minimal. Chemical resistance. GRP is minimally reactive, making it ideal for chemical pipelines and other areas where chemicals are used. Easy installation procedure Low weight The smooth internal walls avoids the formation of deposits. Requires minimal maintenance after installation GRP can be made fire resistant by the addition of special additives. Glass reinforced plastics do not conduct electricity, they also resist electric sparks. Long life. Raw Materials Used in the production of GRP Polyester resins and glass reinforcements are the main raw materials used in the manufacture of Glass Reinforced Plastics. Resins Polyester resins are the major resins employed in the manufacture of GRP, although other resins such as phynol, epoxy and vinylester are used when certain performance characteristics are required. Polyesters offer a good balance of electrical, mechanical and chemical resistance properties, at reasonably low cost. They are easy to handle and also have good dimensional stability. Polyesters are usually manufactured by reacting glycols and dibasic organic acids, both of which contain a double-bonded pair of carbon atoms. The polyester resin is a thermoset, when subjected to the right conditions it is capable of being cured from solid or liquid state. There are two main types of polyester resins used. Orthophthalic polyester resin is the standard resin widely used. Isophthalic polyester resin is the preferred material in the marine industry where superior water resistance or required or high corrosive products have to be conveyed. Glass reinforcements Glass fibre is the most widely used reinforcing material. Various components are mixed to produce a basic compound which is then melted at high temperature in a furnace to produce glass. The molten glass is drawn into thin filaments which are then processed into strands that are the basic reinforcements for the resins. Glass fibres are made from silica (SiO2) sand which melts at 1993K or 1720 °C. SiO2 is heated up to 1720 °C and then rapidly cooled to produce glass. Although glass fibre can be made from SiO2 alone, other materials can be added to improve or add certain properties. There are major grades of glass necessary to produce pipes used in the marine environment; â€Å"C† glass grade: this grade has improved resistance to chemical attack and mostly used for making the inner liner of pipes. â€Å"E† glass grade: strong and low in alkali content, good tensile and compressive strength, good electrical properties but resistance to impact is relatively poor. This grade is not totally inert in chemically corrosive environments so a protective liner is required to protect the integrity of the glass. â€Å"E-CR† glass: this grade has long term resistance to chemicals. Although the composition doesn’t much from the E-glass, the resistance to acid corrosion is a lot better. This grade has Lloyd’s approval and are certified to meet the Boeing BMS-8-79 Specification. Some additional raw materials may include catalysts for polyester resins, accelerators, inhibitors, thixotropic agents, silica. Manufacturing Process Regulations associated with the use of GRP on ships The International maritime Organization has specific guidelines for the use of plastics for pipes on ships. The guidelines provide acceptance standards, design requirements, and fire testing performance standards for plastics in piping systems independent of service or location. The guidelines refer to both thermosetting and thermoplastic plastics, with or without reinforcement. Material Design Properties and Design Criteria for GRP Piping used for cargo transfer The piping should have adequate strength to accommodate severe conditions of temperature, pressure, and the dynamic conditions of the environment. Pipes should also have a minimum wall thickness to ensure sufficient strength for handling, cargo transfer and other activities on board ships. Internal pressure: The internal pressure of piping systems should not be less than the maximum working pressure expected under working conditions or the highest set pressure of fitted safety or pressure relieve valves. The nominal internal pressure for a pipe should be calculated by dividing the short-term hydrostatic test failure by a factor of safety of 4.[i] External pressure: In the design of these piping systems, the external pressure should not be less than the sum of maximum potential head of liquid outside the pipe. The nominal external pressure should be calculated by the collapse test pressure by a factor of safety of 3.[ii] Axial Strength: the sum of all longitudinal stresses due to weight, pressure or dynamic loads should not be more than the allowable stress in the longitudinal direction. In this case where Glass Reinforced Plastic pipes are used, the sum of the longitudinal stresses should not surpass half of the nominal circumferential stress derived from the nominal internal pressure determined by dividing the short-term hydrostatic test failure by a factor of safety of 4.[iii] Temperature: the piping system should be able to serve perfectly over the range of temperatures it will experience. The maximum working temperature should be at least 20 °C less than the minimum heat distortion temperature of the resin. The minimum heat distortion temperature shouldn’t be lower than 80 °C. Where pipes are to be used for low-temperature services, special attention should be given to the material properties.[iv] Impact Resistance: the minimum resistance to impact of the piping should be to the satisfaction of the administration. Ageing: When selecting design materials for pipes, the manufacturer should ensure that the environmental effects will not degrade the physical, mechanical or chemical properties of the pipes below the values to meet these guidelines. Satisfactory ageing tests should be performed on materials before selection. Erosion Resistance: The effect of erosion should be considered when designing pipes. Adequate measures (such as increased wall thickness, use of special liners etc.) should be taken to ensure the erosion resistance of the pipes. Compatibility: the materials used in producing the pipes should be compatible with the fluids the pipes are used to convey or immersed in.[v] â€Å"The manufacturer should have a quality system that meets ISO 9001, â€Å"Quality Systems – Model for quality assurance in design/development, production, installation and servicing†, or equivalent.†[vi] The quality system during manufacture should bases on requirements and standards necessary to produce pipes with the most suitable physical and mechanicals properties. GRP Pipes and Metal Pipes Comparison Because of the materials used in the manufacture of glass reinforced plastics, they have good strength and light weight. GRP pipes have smooth, non-absorbent internal walls to allow for smooth flow of the cargoes they convey. They are also inert in nature and very durable. Some other advantages of GRP pipes include high tensile strength, corrosion resistance, low density, scaling resistance, flexibility and easy installation, long life and minimal maintenance. Metal pipes are more expensive to manufacture, they react to changes in temperature and corrode quite easily. Metals are also heavier and have a more tedious installation process. Galvanized steel pipes have a high possibility of lead contamination. Over time, the physical and mechanical properties of metals degrade. GRP piping is most suitable for cargo transfer as it has the most advantages. References The Reinforced Plastics Handbook by John Murphy http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jo7KwTldSNQCprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false Crystic Composites Handbook December 2005, Scott Bader Company LTD http://www.scottbader.com/uploads/files/3381_crystic-handbook-dec-05.pdf Resolution A.753(18), Guidelines For the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=22601filename=A753%2818%29.pdf Web Pages http://www.netcomposites.com/guide/polyester-resins/8 25 August 2014 http://plumcots.com/grp-pipes-metal-pipes-comparison.php 25 August 2014 http://www.ayhanozdemir.net/GRP%20PIPE%20TECHNICAL%20REPORT.htm 25 August 2014 [i] Resolution A.753(18), Guidelines For the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships, page 345, paragraph 2.1.2 http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=22601filename=A753%2818%29.pdf [ii] Resolution A.753(18), Guidelines For the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships, page 345, paragraph 2.1.3 [iii] Resolution A.753(18), Guidelines For the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships, page 345, paragraph 2.1.4 [iv] Resolution A.753(18), Page 345, paragraph 2.1.5 [v] Resolution A.753(18), Page 346 [vi] Resolution A.753(18), Chapter 3, Material Approval and Quality Control During Manufacture

Are Zoos Inhumane? Essays -- Animal Cruelty

In the film, Madagascar, zoos are depicted as a sanctuary in which all the exotic animals are kept safe and are open for the public to view. But many would argue that zoos are inhumane, the caging of animals for our personal entertainment is unjustifiable. Those who believe that zoos are wrong and should be destroyed are animal rights activist; they believe that animals should be allowed to choose their own destiny. Those that believe that zoos are an important part of our lives are scientist and zoologist. This debate has gone on for generations and average folk are stuck in the middle, not knowing which side to stand on. The animals being kept in captivity could not be interviewed; their side of the story will be based on interpretation on their movement and interaction with animals in the zoo and in the wild. Are animals better suited to live in the harsh conditions of the wild or are they better suited to live their lives safely in captivity? Many animal rights activist argue that animals should be allowed to live their lives in the wild instead of captivity. That we as humans have no right to neither alter the fate of other species nor use them for our personal benefits. PETA who is well known for their animal rights view argue that â€Å"Captive animals are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them and as a result, they become bored and lonely and many even suffer from a condition called zoochosis.† (PETA 1) Zoochosis is a condition in which the animal wonders back and forth usually in the same position for hours on end. This condition is only seen in the zoos as a result of the animal’s captivity. As a result zoos provide these animals with Prozac, which is a mood-altering drug to help prevent public atte... ... in todays society. But one thing is for sure many would argue that zoos have brought humans and animals closer together for the good and the bad. Works Cited "Zoos." Animal Cruelty -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2015. Lin, Doris. "Emaciated Asian Elephant Started Life at Busch Gardens." N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2015. Kaufman, Leslie. "To Save Some Species, Zoos Must Let Others Die." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 May 2012. Web. 12 May 2015. "Do We Need Zoos?" : An All Creatures Animal Rights Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015. "CSA - Are Zoos Necessary." CSA - Are Zoos Necessary. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015. Hone, Dave. "Why Zoos Are Good." Thegauardian. N.p., n.d. Web. Tuesday 19 August 2014 "How Zoos Are Saving Our Animals." – Features – ABC Environment (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.

Declining Air Quality :: Environment Environmental

Declining Air Quality Section A The declining air quality can be held responsible for many things such as city smog and the greenhouse effect. Such problems are very definite in America since they are one of the top air–pollutant–creating countries in the world. The original list of air pollutants created by US industries was made up of arsenic, asbestos, benzene, beryllium, coke oven emissions, mercury, radionuclides (radioactive isotopes), and vinyl chloride. In the 1990’s this list was expanded to include 189 substances, and by the end of the 1990’s regulations were put in place for the â€Å"major sources†, which require the emission of no more than ten tons of any of these substances and no more than twenty five tons of any combination of them per year. Air pollution that worsens the global air quality is mostly generated by the wealthier, more populated nations. America has a population of 275,372,000, making it one of the most populated countries; it is also the most powerful nation in the world. As a result almost every household in the United States own a car or two. Cars are major contributors to the ozone hole and when almost every household in one of the most populated countries in the world own one, the level of air pollution emitted would be paramount. As a result, many of the major cites in the US such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles have very bad smog that reduce visibility and increase health risks. In Los Angeles, for example, the smog causes eye and chest irritations for residents and exacerbates asthma. Attempts have been made to clear the smog, but no reasonable success has been achieved. There have been measures taken to stop the problem from getting noticeably worse, but it is not a long term option. The smog in LA is caused fundamentally by the Californian sun. The heat of the sun creates a layer of warm air that acts as a seal, trapping the cold air in the basin of the Los Angeles harbour. This effect traps all of the industrial pollution and the car exhaust above the city. The millions that live there are all exposed daily to harmful levels of carbon monoxide. It is not yet known what the long term effects of this will be. Due to this hazard to human health the Los Angeles authorities have been urged to cut down on pollution, which means burning fossil fuels more completely and restricting the industries, all at the cost of millions of dollars.

Total Accounts Receivable

Bradmark Wholesale General Supply ACL Case Study This paper contains the summary of the details and results of the audit tests on Bradmark’s Revenue and Expenditure Cycles. The audit tests were performed through the ACL Program. 2005 Rachelle Cultura | Trixia Ebol | Christine Fonseca Mary Rose Samas | Nadaine Tongco Ross & Specter Co. October 24, 2012 1 | P a g e REVENUE CYLCE Assessment of Internal Controls over the Revenue Cycle The assessment of Bradmark’s internal controls over its revenue cycle procedures were done through the analysis of the processes each department is undertaking.For the Sales Department, it is but right that the clerk will seek the approval of the credit manager for customers with insufficient available credit. However, the credit manager should not only verbally authorize the clerk to change credit limits. More so, it is inappropriate for him to delegate the said task to the clerk as it violates the general control of authorization. Reconcilia tion of the documents – packing slip, shipping notice, and bill of lading – with the goods to be shipped must likewise be done for independent verification.Several copies of these documents must be made to be filed for future reference and monitored by the departments responsible in the each of the operational processes. In conclusion, Bradmark needs to improve some of the internal controls over its revenue cycle procedures. Existence or Occurrence From Bradmark’s data files on sales invoices, cash receipts and list of customers, the ACL software was used to compute and determine the Accounts Receivable balances of customers in the books. January 20, 2005 United City 920 4 h Street Bridgewater, New Jersey 8807 Dear Sir/Madam, In connection with an examination of our financial statements by Ross & Specter Co. , Certified Public Accountants, 8th Avenue, Manhattan, New York (NY) 10014, we will appreciate it if you will indicate the correctness of the following info rmation. Our records indicate that, at the close of business on December 31, 2004 the amount payable on your account was $8,627 Please sign the confirmation form in the space provided below if this amount agrees with your records.If it does not agree, do not sign below but explain and sign on the reverse side. Please return this form directly to our accountants in the enclosed envelope. Very truly yours, Ross & Specter Co. Confirmation – Information is accurate: ________________________________ Signature and date 2 | P a g e In order to verify the existence or occurrence of what these accounts actually owed to Bradmark, confirmation letters were sent to certain customers. Customers with unpaid balances in the records received confirmation requests from Bradmark.The figure above is an example of a positive confirmation letter that was sent to one of their clients, United City, asking for a verification of their balance amounting to $8,627. Similar positive confirmation letters were also sent to other customers with outstanding balances to the Company. Completeness In terms of verifying whether the sales figure represent those that actually occurred and were shipped during the period, the Sales Invoice and Shipping Log records were joined. However, to find out which items were not shipped, using the unmatched category was necessary. Presented below is the result of this audit test.As observed, the sales last November 4, 2004 to Customer 65003 (University Electronics) was not in the record of shipped goods. This gap should be further investigated by verifying the delivery of the goods with the said customer. In addition to that, there were items that were shipped past the cut-off date (December 31, 2004). The ACL procedure used to determine this was the filter function. The filter â€Å"Ship_Date > `20041231`† was used and the results are displayed below. 3 | P a g e In total, there are ten records that should not be part of the Total Sales amount f or the period.These records amount to a total of $29,495. 70. After taking into account the results for these two tests, the should-be balance for the Total Sales of the period was computed to be $5,317,470. 36. Valuation or Allocation The total Accounts Receivable balance in the records of $4,752,257. 70 was verified by setting a filter of â€Å"Remit_Num = 0† and then getting the total amount due. By doing this, only those sales which do not yet have a remittance advice are part of the accounts receivable. The figure below is the outcome of this procedure. 4 | P a g eHowever, if the difference between the total sales and the total cash received (for the period ending December 31, 2004) was computed, then the total Accounts Receivable balance would be $4,578,008. 14. This indicates that the Accounts Receivable is misstated in the financial statements. Moreover, from the analyse tab and the function â€Å"Age†, an aging of the Accounts Receivable was performed. The sum mary of this analysis can be seen in this figure: 5 | P a g e It should be noted that based on this test, the allowance for doubtful accounts should be adjusted to reflect the actual accounts, which can be considered as uncollectible, i. . those that are already over 90 days. The balance would then be $1,945,870. 20. 6 | P a g e Compared to the current estimation method of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of Bradmark, this method of aging the Accounts Receivable is more appropriate. This also ensures that the balance is reasonable and properly valued. Accuracy To test the accuracy of the recorded cash payments from customers, the Sales Invoice record was compared with the Cash Receipts record. These tables were joined and afterwards, the amounts due found in the Sales Invoice table was contrasted with those actually received in the Cash Receipts table.The figure below shows the records that did not match and, in effect, constituted errors to the reported balances of the accounts receivable and cash receipts. There are a total of eight records that show inconsistencies within the records of the company. Nos. 12684, 12687 and 12814 were remittances that were recorded by the Cash Receipts clerk but were not found in the Sales Invoice records. These may be considered as a red flag to Bradmark. With these results, the management should verify if they have, in fact, received these payments as this may indicate theft within the Company.Other records like remittance nos. 12657, 12663 and 12709 demonstrate probable human errors while recording, since these discrepancies were due to lack or excess of digits as shown below. Lastly, remittance nos. 12651 and 12697 reveal that the amounts due have not been paid in full. This constitutes receivables from the customers. There is a need, however, to verify this and include those with partial payments in the list of customers to whom confirmation letters will be sent. 7 | P a g e Other Operational Concerns (Related to Reven ue Procedures)Moreover, to make sure that the credit policy is consistently applied and that no customer exceeded his/her assigned credit limit, the join function was utilized. After joining the tables Customer and Sales Invoice using the many-to-many category, the filter â€Å"Amount_Due > Credit_Limit† was subsequently set. The outcome of this test can be seen from the following figures: 8 | P a g e This shows that six customers (Customer Numbers 65003, 419449, 564291, 784547, 811002 and 925007) were given approval to purchase beyond their allowed credit limit.Particularly noticeable are customers 65003 (university Electronics) and 925007 (Galaxy Company), who have several purchases that exceeded their allowable credit. An in-depth inquiry on this matter should be done to uncover the cause of these violations. EXPENDITURE CYLCE Assessment of Internal Controls over the Expenditure Cycle After assessing its practices, Bradmark’s internal controls over its expenditure c ycle appear to be inadequate. To rationalize this: ? Mr. James Walker has sole control over the determination of when to replenish the Company’s inventory, by how much and to whom to buy.This way of restocking seems to be unsystematic and subjective and by doing so, the Company is not that assured that purchases are made in an arms-length transaction. ? There may be gaps in the receiving report numbering system as the clerk must void receiving reports when errors are made during the data entry, thereby losing its significance as a control tool. ? Check and balance controls in place cannot be relied upon as there is a lack of segregation of duties. Mr. Walker has means to override. To illustrate, since Mr.Walker is the one encoding if the ordered products have been received in the warehouse and also the one making purchase orders, he can make a phony purchase order and indicate that it has already been received, even if no delivery has occurred. The accounts payable clerk woul d not detect that such was the case because her only verification toll 9 | P a g e she has is the RR Number that has been placed in the PO record, which, in the first place, was also encoded by Mr. Walker. Furthermore, it is to be noted that Mr.Walker played a significant role when the system was being put into place and can therefore effectively administer the system. Completeness Furthermore, in order to verify that there are no unrecorded liabilities during 2004, the Purchase Order and Receiving Report files were joined. Then, the resulting table was joined with the Voucher’s Payable file. To search for the items that were recorded, a filter is made to extract unmatched PO number in the three files. The result of this audit test is shown in the figures below: 10 | P a g eThe results indicate that there are 21 incidences where a good was received (as recorded in the RR File) but no order was placed for it (based on the absence of the entry in the PO file). These received go ods are also unrecorded in the Vouchers Payable file conceivably understating the Accounts Payable for the year. Moreover, the results also showed that there are 22 incidences where an order (as shown in Purchase Order file) was not received (as it cannot be found in the Receiving Report file) but was paid for by the Company (as indicated in the Vouchers Payable file).The unusual thing about these incidences was that these transactions were made with the same vendor (Vendor Number 11663). It is possible that all those purchase orders were fabricated and vendor number 11663 is a fictitious supplier. 11 | P a g e The summary of the actions taken is presented in this figure: Valuation or Allocation The Inventory Account is currently valued at $ 1,108,194. 94 which was calculated as the lower between lump sum cost and the market value of the inventory. This was verified by using the Total Fields function.The results are shown in the figure: 12 | P a g e However, such computation does no t value the inventory items individually at their lower of cost or net realisable value in accordance with the accounting reporting standards. Thus, inventory is currently misstated in the financial statements. Thus, to correct the inventory balance, it is necessary to use the filter and total function. Inventory items whose costs are lower than their market value were first added. This resulted to a total of 140 items having a should-be recorded cost of $941,109. 79.Meanwhile, 11 inventory items that should be valued at their market value have a total of $129,986. 27. Adding these two figures together, the inventory balance should be at $ 1,071,096. 06. 13 | P a g e Accuracy In asserting the accuracy of payments to vendors, the Check Register and the Voucher Payable data were joined. This gives us 17 entries that show zero value. Filter and total functions were used to determine if there are payments made which are greater than what was actually owed by the Company. As shown in the figures below, the total disbursed cash is greater than the sum 14 | P a g e f the full amount. The full amount is the basis for the disbursing of cash; however, five records appear to have exceeded this limit. One shows that there was a check issued to settle a payable that has a negative amount. In addition, three checks that have negative values were issued to pay three negatively recorded payables. Further examination of 15 | P a g e these check payments must be made in order to ascertain if these discrepancies have resulted from mere human errors or were intentionally made to cover a fraudulent act.By searching for duplicates, another anomaly was uncovered. One out of the 25 records shows that two consecutively numbered checks were issued to pay for one invoice. The management must investigate on this incident as this involves an explicit misuse of financial resources. 16 | P a g e 17 | P a g e Operational Risk This test focuses on the operational efficiency of the company. To ensure that the discount for their purchases are taken advantage of, the payment due date was compared with the actual payment date.This was done by first joining the Check Register and Vouchers Payable files using the matched category. Subsequently, those checks that do not have a check number were filtered using â€Å"Chk_Num ‘’†. This is to make sure that only those checks that were actually issued are compared to the accounts paid. The resulting data is again filtered using â€Å"Pay_Date > Due_Date† to arrive at those purchases whose actual payment data is beyond their due date. The following tables show the files after the employing the said filter: 18 | P a g e 19 | P a g e 20 | P a g e

Review of Related Literature and Studies Essay

Being always present in class and getting to school on time are two of the crucial determining factors of a student’s success, not just as a student but as a person who will be managing his/her own life in the future. Given the importance of being punctual, this study aims to explore and find out the factors that affect the punctuality of UP students. In this chapter, we will be discussing about the background of our study. It includes facts about tardiness, the different factors that causes it and its effect to the students as students and as bearer of their own lives in the future. From reliable research materials like online journals and research papers, we will provide some facts and theories from authors, teachers and notable people in order to have a concrete justification of our study. First, we will give a definition of tardiness and present some theories and facts about it. Next, we will discuss he various factors that causes the students to come to school late, the psychological theories, the observation of the teachers and the personal reasons of the students. Lastly, the effects of tardiness to students, not just to himself/herself but also to his/her future and to other people, will be discussed. Tardiness As UP students, we are expected to perform well with excellence in everything that we do, most especially in the academic aspect. One factor that dictates the quality of performance of a student is his/her punctuality that is, getting to school on time or being tardy. As cited by Nakpodia and Dafiaghor (2011), â€Å"lateness† can be defined as the â€Å"situation where an individual arrives after the proper, scheduled or usual time (Oxford Advance Learners’ Dictionary, 5th ed., 1995), Lauby (2009) puts it as a term used to describe â€Å"people not showing up on time† and Breeze et al. (2010) contributed by saying that, lateness is synonymous with â€Å"tardiness†, which implies being slow to act or slow to respond, thus not meeting up with proper or usual timing. Lastly, Weade (2004) defined tardiness as â€Å"being late for any measurable length of time past the stated or scheduled start time for work or school.† In most schools, a student is con sidered tardy  when he/she is not present when the school bell rings or when the first teacher starts to give instructional materials for the first subject in the morning class. One of the most recurring and the most â€Å"frustrating problem† that the schools are having with their students nowadays is tardiness (Sprick and Daniels, 2007). It creates problems, not just to the students but also to the teachers (Cowan Avenue Elementary School Community, 2007, para 1). Cowan Crier, the official School Publication of CAESC, also states that while having â€Å"occasional tardy† isn’t a big deal, unfailing tardiness is and it gives students problems including being ill-prepared for the job market. According to the results of the study of the U.S. Department of Education on â€Å"truancy†, which is related to tardiness, being present and on time in going to school are big factors on the â€Å"success and behavior† of the students (Zeiger, 2010, para 1). Thus, it is a lot important to value time and practice being on time while being a student. According to CAESC (2007) and Zeiger (2010), the most essential learning time of the day for the students lies in the morning, specifically between 8:00 to 9:30 AM. It is because the students are most mindful and observant at this time of the day. It is also the reason why the most important lessons and subject matters are discussed during this time. So when students are late or are not present during this time of the day, they, in effect, miss out most of the important lessons to be noted and learned. Factors affecting Punctuality Reasons for being late in class and other factors affecting the punctuality if a student vary. There had been some theories that pointed out that tardiness is caused by the personality of a person. Santillano (2010) stated that psychological theorists considered some â€Å"personality traits, including low self-esteem and anxiety† as triggering factors of tardiness (para 2). She also mentioned that while some theorists considered tardiness as an â€Å"inborn quality† since our being early or late is â€Å"partially biologically determined†, which she also agreed, other experts also believed that some people are â€Å"chronically tardy† for the reason that they consciously and unconsciously get good things from it (para 3). In the book cited by Santillano, â€Å"Never be late again: 7 cures for the punctually challenged†, the author Diana DeLonzor suggested that some  personality traits could most likely lead to a person being often late. Some of the traits included were â€Å"struggling with self control†, â€Å"feeling nervous or uncomfortable with social situations† and â€Å"getting distracted easily† (para 4). Santillano also discussed about the study conducted by DeLonzor at San Francisco State University in 1997 in which she surveyed 225 respondents about their habits that makes them late from their appointments. It was also a test on the personalities of the respondents that affect their habits. According to the results of DeLonzor’s study, those respondents that were often tardy apt to be anxious and gets distracted easily. Nakpodia and Dafiaghor attribute lateness or tardiness to a lot of factors or causes. Going late to bed and waking up late next morning are the most common. The authors added film-watching late at night as a cause for tardiness. The student may forget that he/she needs to be in school the next day. The distance between the student’s home and school or solely the school’s location is also considered by Nakpodia and Dafiaghor as a possible cause for tardiness. Not just because it takes more time to get to school, but according to the authors, the student is susceptible to more distractions and hindrances along the way. Parent’s untimely tasks and commands are also reasons that students come late to school. Habitual tardiness can also be learned from other members of the family, especially from the older ones. Lack of a firm and consistent policy on punctuality also encourages students to come late at school since there are no consequences attached to lateness or tardiness. These causes of tardiness will lead to serious effects. Another study was the one conducted by Enamiroro Oghuvbu in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the causes of the absenteeism and lateness among the secondary students in Nigeria and to seek for solutions to the growing problem. According to Oghuvbu (2008), female students are more likely to be late than male students because of â€Å"their involvement in domestic activities by their parents† (para 7). Also, as cited by Oghuvbu, â€Å"distance to school, school discipline, family background and school location† (Emore, 2005) are some of the common causes for the tardiness of the secondary students. Oghuvbu collected the data from a sample size of 17, 417 Nigerian respondents from 2005-2006. The sample was made up of 20 principals and 50 each from a set of teachers, parents and students. The means of collecting  data was through a thirty-item questionnaire answerable by either strongly agree (SA), agreed (A), disagree (D), and strongly disagreed (SD). The questionnaire had four questions, one of which was about the causes of lateness among the secondary students of Nigeria. The study revealed that the causes of lateness among the secondary students in Nigeria were â€Å"going late to bed because of watching films and home movies, resulting into wake up late in the morning, distance to school and keeping friends who are not students† (Oghuvbu, 2008). These results went consistent with the results of Oghuvbu’s reference studies which proves that tardiness among students have been a growing problem and that it is caused, not just because of the students but also because of the lack of imposing discipline from the parents. Another research partly studied about tardiness but tackled a specific reason or factor. A study by Pimentel and Quijada (2011) focused on the frequency of use by the UP Cebu freshmen students of Facebook and a part of the study tackled about the effect of the famous social networking site to UP Cebu students’ punctuality and academic performance. For their study, Pimentel and Quijada collected 60 respondents and provided them with questionnaires. The questionnaires contained questions that ask the respondents about their use of Facebook and its effects. A certain question asked the respondents if late-night use of Facebook has an effect on their punctuality. According to the results of the study, three out of 60 respondents are always late, eight said they are sometimes late, 12 said they are seldom late and 37 said that they never get late due to late-night use of Facebook. Generally, the results showed that the respondents are seldom late in class because of late-night use of the social networking site. Ledoux, as cited by Pimentel and Quijada, said that lack of sleep causes neural malfunctions and further affects a person’s behavior. In the study’s case, it is a student’s punctuality that is affected. Sometimes, it is not solely the students’ fault why they keep on being late in coming to class. Another factor that could affect the punctuality of a student is the response of the teachers to tardy students. Sprick and Daniels (2007) stated that the range of the teachers’ response was â€Å"from ignoring them to sending them to office† (p. 21). This variation could lead the students to confusion as to how important it is to be on time in going to class. Another reason is the lack of motivation. Students who  come to school on time are not given incentives or rewards. Also, responses to tardiness are lenient, that is nothing is done until the tenth strike or more. Another reason is â€Å"giving the student the impression that they won’t be missing anything if they are late† since in some classes, no important activities or instructions and no lessons are being done for first few minutes. Lastly, crowded hallways could create traffic, thus blocking the way of other students and making it hard for them to pass through. Effects of Tardiness Tardiness among students has its own negative repercussions. Nakpodia and Dafiaghor (2011) emphasized that lateness or tardiness is not just the problem of the late student but it affects the surrounding people. A student coming late in class distracts the rest of the students and disrupts the flow of the teacher’s discussion. It is even a burden to the student/s whom the late students ask for what to catch up with. The rest of the effects given by Nakpodia and Dafiaghor are about the welfare of the whole school, its productivity and revenue. Knowing the possible effects of lateness or tardiness, it is necessary for solutions to be executed. Studies have revealed that those students with â€Å"perfect or near-perfect attendance† have good grades compared to those students who misses classes often and late-comers (Cowan Avenue Elementary School Community, 2007, para 3). Moreover, as mentioned by Zeiger (2010), the results from the survey report conducted by teachers show that students with high tardiness rates have â€Å"higher rates of suspension and other disciplinary measures† (National Center for Education Statistics Indicators of School Crime and Safety [NCESISCS] (2007)). It also causes the students to have behavioral problems and to drop out. Lastly, Zeiger (2010) stated that â€Å"Students who are frequently tardy to school are also more apt to be fired from a job for showing up late† (para 5). A study conducted by Barbara Lee Weade on 2004 tried to â€Å"determine if school tardiness is a predictor of work tardiness† (Weade, 2004). It provided a lot of literature that observes correlations and factors affecting a student’s tardiness. As cited by Weade, the 3rd most common cause for the failure of a student is â€Å"excessive tardiness and unexcused absences† (Ligon and Jackson, 1988).  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Inconsistency of school rules† (Britt, 1988) and situations such as â€Å"crowded halls, limited opportunities for social interaction, irrelevant course content, and teacher indifference† (Damico et al., 1990) are also factors that affect a student’s attendance and punctuality. As mentioned by Weade, personal v alues, financial security and lack of parental guidance (Payne, 2001) as well as family background (Featherstone et al., 1992) influence tardiness and absences of students. Weade gathered data from the schools of participating students. First and foremost, she asked consent from the students and their parents in order to gain permission to collect their school records. She collected and studied the attendance and punctuality records of these students based on the number of unexcused absences and minutes of tardiness. Her study showed that among high school students, the grade point average is correlated with absences and tardiness. This means that students with better attendance and punctuality have higher grade point averages and vis-à  -vis. Her study was also able to show that attendance and punctuality of students are not consistent throughout the year. There were more absences and tardiness at the latter part of the year. Gender has also shown to be a non-factor in the attendance and punctuality of high school students. The study was very comprehensive in its subject matter. It tackles not just school tardiness but its implications on work tardiness. It shows that â€Å"students who are on-time for school classes are also likely to be on-time at work while students who are tardy frequently at school will probably also be tardy at work† (Weade, 2004). The study requires a lot of data but Weade was able to gather a sufficient amount. Though some possible correlations were not established, it is outside the scope of this research. Due to the fact that tardiness has been giving negative effects on the students nowadays, the most important thing to do is to develop a firm, consistent and functional policy that addresses late students. There must be defined sanctions and penalties for late students. Nakpodia and Dafiaghor (2011) stated that school administrators must lead by example. They should be punctual in their own meetings and classes to avoid students to think that being late is just alright since even the authoritative persons are doing it. They should as well teach it and integrate it in every lesson. The effort on the remedy on lateness or tardiness does not start and end with  the school. It must begin with the parents of the students and the government must take part as well. Transportation must be improved in order to avoid students getting stuck in traffic or encountering other obstacles down the streets. Some schools have already started finding solutions that would effectively minimize and/or eliminate tardiness among students. One of the solutions made by some schools is implementing tardiness policies, wherein they take steps in approaching the students and parents for them to solve the problem. CAESC has their policy worked this way. Other schools initiated interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates discipline and conduct in academics. Cordogan (as cited by Weade, 2004), said that a school in Chicago, Illinois adapted a similar curriculum and yielded positive results. Students under the interdisciplinary program exhibited more positive behaviors from students not from the curriculum. Interdisciplinary students showed less absences and tardiness, as well as higher grades. Other schools made smaller academic changes such as developing personality works and cooperative learning activities, such as creation of portfolios and tutorial to younger students. These taught the students better goal-setting, decision making skills and time management. In return, students under these behavior modification programs yielded less tardiness and higher grades. To summarize, many studies have shown the reasons and factors that may contribute to the tardiness of a student. One of the mentioned reasons of tardy students was waking up late in the morning, which can also be attributed to late-night activities, such as social networking, watching movies and television shows, as well as untimely academic and domestic errands. As proven by several studies, sometimes, it’s not also the act of the student that leads to his/her tardiness. The heavy traffic, the teachers, the school surroundings and policies may also serve as influences to the tardiness of students. Many studies have also shown the effects of tardiness on the students, the teachers, the school and the society. According to these studies, the tardiness of a student consumes his/her learning time as well as disturbs other students and teachers. The tardy student also poses as a threat to the school as an educational and professional institution and the student may be one of the less productive members of the society. A lot of studies as well gave testimonies to effective remedies  on tardiness. These studies promoted integration of personality development and interdisciplinary programs into school curriculum to aid students enhance positive behavior and personality leading to the decrease of tardiness. Our study intends to find out the tardiness of UP Cebu students and the reasons and factors that may influence this tardiness.